The New York herald., 1874-09-25
The Absent One.

AS we read tne glowing reports IN tn6 ioyN
administration journals of the Republican
Convention at Utica we are impressed with
the importance of good health and manly
exercise as elements Of political harmony.
The members came together like boys from
play There was the fresh breezy invigorat-
ing influence that seems to have affected even
those generally cold historians, the COZ
respondents of the press, for their accounts
read like carmagnoles' There was Collector
Arthur, ruddy with his salmon triumphs in
Labrador, and Surveyor Sharpe, in shouting
trim. whose hill climbing in Putnam and
Orange has been the summer sensation of that
pastoral region, and Naval Officer Latin, who
has had the most extraordinary religious ex-
periences at Martha's Vineyard camp meet
ing-a complete revival of his physical and
spiritual nature Although these three repre-
sentative pillars of the Custom House and the
party have had their sa larles reduced and are
denied many formerly existing comforts in
the way of moieties and allowances, their zeal
was unabated. The reporters make special
mention of the enthusiasm of General Sharpe
and Mr.. Latin; and we gather the impression
that they must have been in constant state
of cheering during the whole session of the
Convention This wholesome hearty spirit
pervaded the other members Of the Conven-
ton. There was the corruscating Tom
Murphy, fresh from Long Branch, where he
is said to have had sublime inspirations from
the source of all power authority, office and
wisdom. MI. Van Mort, head Of one ring
by the grace of Tweed, brought the pat
ronage Of his Office as his contribution to the
general harmony; while Mr. Deafeld Smith,
Corporation Counsel by the grace Of Oakley
Hall. and who never enters nest where there
are no feathers, was present. as wise as an
owl and as merry as a cricket. We do not
observe the presence Of Treasury Agent Frank
Howe in any published history but we can
well imagine that this sunny, limpid effervesc-
ing soul could not be absent from the Niagara
roar of Roscoe Conkling's eloquence.
Our New England poet tells us that there is
no flock, however watched and tended, but
there is an absent lamb. We look in vain in
this tumultuous, gladstone throng for the Wash
ingtonian presence Of Alonzo B. Cornell What
influence could have kept him away? Has it
come to pass that Roscoe Conkling can speak
without his faithful Alonzo to hold his hat
and lead the cheersP What grief, what hid
den, burning disappointment has fallen upon
Pythias that he sulkingly abandons his
Damon? We would as soon think of doubt
ing the affectionate loyalty Of Howe, or the up
roarious devotion of Sharpe, or the Wesleyan
enthusiasm of Latin, as to question the loyalty
of Cornell to the flag and fortunes of Conk-
ling. But some misfortune has happened.
Alonzo stands apart from this glad meet
ing, with detected behavior in his visage.
We wish We could suggest to our Custom
House friends some means Of inducing Alonzo
to cast his nighted color off and throw to earth
his unprevailing woe. Does he not stand
close to Roscoe most immediate to his
throne, chiefest cousin, courtier and son? He
is . young man, and has been petted and
nursed and tenderly cherished beyond any
other Of Roscoe's political family. Honest
Tom has been kicked and cuffed, Latin and
Arthur and Sharpe have had their wages low
cred, Bliss has been knocked from pillar to
post by rude newspapers, Frank Howe has
been pushed from one kettle of hot water into
another in the Union League, Pierrepont
has been more steadily overlooked by
the President in his selections for
high Office than any man in party
except Mr. Evarts, but they have
not complained Docile, flial obedient, they
do their work with cheerful alacrity But
Alonzo has always had the first place at the
table and the first slice of custard. He was
made Surveyor of the Port at time when
there were thousand leading and needy re-
publicans more entitled to the place. He
earned in this Office probably two hundred
thousand dollars, which no one has accused
him Of squanderng for purposes of political
corruption. He was elected to the Assembly
from district in which he did not really live,
and made Speaker in violation of parlia-
mentary precedent He at once became an
impatient candidate tor the Senatorship, for
he Governorship, the Lieutenant Governor
ship, and We have no doubt that if the pater-
nal Roscoe could have had his way his favorite
! Alonzo would have been chosen to either one
! of these places, or to all three of them if he
had desired
But this was not to be There was Centen-
NAL Dix to whom Mr.. Conklng held rela-
ton akin to that Of the sportsman who,
having tiger by the tail, did not wish to
hold on and was afraid to let go. There was
General Robinson, who would have been
slaughtered without mercy to crafty Alonzo,
only that the party dreaded the effect on the
soldier vote of his decapitated ghost hobblino