The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1873-01-14

CUS-THE SENATORIAL CAUCUS-SENA-
TOR CoNKLING AS SEEN BY A CoNsTITU-
ENT-THE stokes vERDIcT-THE GREEN
PALMER CoNTRovERsY-THE PROPOSED
CHARTER FOR NEW YORK.
NEW YORK, JAN. II, 1878.
could not resist the temptation to visit |
the State Capital on the 9th, inst, on the |
accession of q Republican Governor Four
years ago the lustre of the national victory
was clouded by the fraudulent defeat of the
party of freedom in the Empire State.
Through the audacious schemes of false reg
istering, false voting and false counting in the
city concocted by the then omnipotent TAM
many Ring, the rural districts were over
borne, and democratic Governor declared
elected. Scarcely anybody believed that he
had received a majority of the qualified voters
of the State. An effort was made to set
aside the election. But the power of corrup-
ton was too strong to be successfully resisted,
| and that exemplary and upright gentleman,
| Hon. John A. Griswold, was robbed of the
Office to which the people had chosen him,
and to the discharge of the duties of which
he would have brought perfect integrity and
rare executive ability.
! The Ring ran its course unchecked. The
Legislature gave itself up to venality and job
berry. No measure was too repulsive to meet
the docile approval of Tweed's subservient
followers. Even the new Governor, although
man of infinitely better reputation than
| most of the public men whom that untoward
revolution brought to the surface had not
moral strength enough to refuse to do the
bidding of the infamous cabal, whose triumph
had placed him in authority. The Erie
bill, the Ring charter, the two per cent tax
law, the Croton bill and other scandalous
measures were 'put through both houses
and received the Executive signature.
Intrenched in power by these notable de-
vices the democracy were able to achieve
second gubernatorial success, but pu ,lc in
dignation had even then began to assert it.
self and Tweed's gang found itself tied in the
Assembly in 1871. To remedy this difficulty
resort was had to holder outrage than any
which had preceded it. contestant was
found tor the seat OF one of the rightfully
elected Republican members, and he was
ousted. Then with bare majority in a
house of 12S members Tweed ruled with i'm
perial sway and not one man of the Is demo-
Gratis had the courage or the honesty to re-
cord his vote against a single edict which this
autocratic Mercury pronounced.
But the ehd was approaching. The next
election swept out more than two thirds of
Tweeds servile democratic tools, and so
efectually crushed out the leader, that he
did not dare to ppear in Albany to occupy
the Senatorial seat into which his Five
1 Point constituency had counted him.
| Unhappiiy the Republican majority which
succeeded was composed in large measure
| OF Fenton Republicans, and most of that class
ofpoliticians have always been noted for ex-
treme,y loose notions of political morality.
Hence there was no such marked and thor
ough reform in legislation at this session as
public sentiment demanded, and feeling of
general disappointment obtained all over the
State.
In this crisis. it happened, fortunately that
Mr.. Fenton, having become disaffected to
wards the administration, because Gen. Grant
entertaining an inconquerable distrust of him
had positively refused to provide his friends
with offices, threw himself into the Cincinnati
revolt, taking the worstof his followers with
him. This lucky quittance wrought the unity
and publication of the Republican party.
Fenton took from it the leeches and parasites
but made no perceptble impression in the
honest rank and file. So that when the State
was redeemed by $4,000 majority, the auspi-
clons result was unalloyed by any further ap-
prehensious of revival of Tweedism and |
huckstering in our own ranks.
Under the circumstances The 9th of Janu-
AIRY was memorable Gay to the Republicans
OF New York. was present at the first eau
Gus OF the majority in the Assembly. There
was harmony, good feeling, and genuine en-
thusiasm. Hon. A. B. Cornell, whose Won
derful ability as political leader is happily
set off by dignified presence, courteous
manners and a perfectly pure character was
nominated for Speaker by reclamation. A
like compliment was paid to ex-senator
O'Donnell who reluctantly yielded to the per-
sua.ions Of his party friends to accept the
position of clerk, in order that this important
Office might be filled by one in whose incor-
ruptihie integrity the whole people had i'm
movable faith.
But the browning moment came afteu the
organization of the House bad been COM
pleted. Then Mr.. Fort, of Oswego, intro
duced series of resolutions, indicating the
feelings of the members on the Senatorial
question. The hearty acclaims with which
the suggestion of an early joint caucus was
responded to revealed very clearly the intense
admiration with which Mr.. Conkling is re-
garded. Everybody seemed anxious to sig
nifty that the gallant Senator who led our
columns to victory, as honorable as it was
was his first, last and only choice
for reelection to the United States Senate.
The joint caucus was held two DAYS later
and Senator Conkling after receiving eulogis-
tic tributes from several Senators and As
'embly-men. was named by ever y member
present as his candidate, and will be returned
IN the 21st inst, by a decisive majority of |;
he votes of both houses.
Thus at the age Of 43, this able upright and n
loquent statesman, who has already been I
hrice chosen to the House of Representatives, t
nd served for six years in the United States
senate, goes back to that body the unchal- j.
ehsed leader o. the Republican party of the :. !.
-npire State. Neither Silas Wright in the VI
,on ,er.u days of Democratic ascendency J.,
,ontrou li,am H. Seward when the Wings r
NJ sn,o.l VIC otate ever held such undisput-
,artlas oa ~. e councils of their respective n,
,,o ~. - JUS gallant standard bearer has -
WI W 'ne iorce of his command;,,o 80. -,
IONS OF public policy, and vet ha VI all ques- q
ne thirteenth year of his Congresses, upon
zee, six years younger than Mr.. Sewars SER PC pc
Vhen he first took his place in the sa was "
d his seventy-four Senatorial associates W. dc
ut eight are his seniors in Vars. He is tha a,
rSt Republican to whom New York has az. 1t
orded the need of a second term in the Sen. p1
tie.