The New York herald., 1876-03-24

If there is any virtue in majority as the
representative of the will of party or a
convention then Roscoe Conkling is the
chosen candidate of the republicans of New
York. If this virtue has vanished then all
party harmony is at an end If this intrigue
against Mr.. Conkling, which began in the
smoking room of the Union League Club
and was championed by Mr.. Curtis and
Mr.. Roberts, is to be arranged, then the VI
tality of the republican organization has de-
parted. 1t is thoroughly selfish intrigue.
It's insincerity is not hidden by the fact that
an accomplished essayist like Curtis and
strong headed country editor like Mr.. Rob-
erts are at its head. 1t resembles the con-
test of Greeley against Seward, which no
one who honors the memory of Greeley
cares to remember now. The great journal
ist destroyed the Presidential prospects of
the great statesman because of personal
quarrel arising oat of disappointed ambition.
Seward lived as the dominant statesman
of two administrations. Greeley never re-
covered from the effects of his victory, for
there is a rude sense of fair play in the
masses of a party. The republicans of New
York saw their favorite statesman stricken
down and an alien put in command because
of political and personal quarrel five
years before. 1t was revenge that took
Greeley to Chicago. 1t was revenge that
sent the dagger into the breast of Seward
But State pride was wounded New York
saw herself robbed of an honor she coveted.
The result was that while Lincoln's nomina-
ton came AS q direct result of Greeley's
triumph Lincoln himself never showed his
appreciation of the honor which he had re-
ceived. The Chicago triumph in 1860 was
the end of the political career of every one
who shared in it, simply because it violated
the party sentiment of fair play.
Roscoe Conkling to-day is in the position
of William II. Seward sixteen years ago.
He is the chosen leader of the republican
party in New York. He has shown his de-
votion to it in every way. In order that he
might not be taken out of it's ranks he de-
clined the highest Office in the gift of the
President-that of Chief Justice of the Su-
preme Court. He preferred the danger and
uncertainty of post in the field to the Sc
cure and lofty seclusion of the bench. He
has q stainless and honored name. His elo-
quence and his courage have placed him at
the head of the party, precisely as Mr.. Sew
ard had been. No New Yorker ever has rea-
son to blush for his State when he looks
from the Senate gallery upon the majestic
presence of Roscoe Conkling. His faults
those which are urged against him by his
enemies-are only another name for virtues.
He has the capacity for anger He would
rather quarrel than lie. His manners are
imperious his frankness sometimes wounds.
Now we yearn for some of those qualities in
public life. We have too many men who
would rather lie than quarrel for manliness
and courage and sincerity.
The political faults attributed to Mr..
Conkling are that he has always supported
Grant, that he has been servile champion
of the administration. These are faults to
be considered in their proper time-when
Mr.. Conkling is before the people as q candi-
date, and not when he is before q republican
convention. When we see whom the demo-
Gratis nominate we can discuss "Grantism,
and how far it affects the Presidency. But
we submit that for any republican conven-
ton, for Mr.. Curtis, or Mr.. Roberts, or the
loungers in the Union League smoking
room, to assail Mr.. Conkling on this score
is a political outrage. Who has done more
for Grant than these very men who oppose
Mr.. Conxling? What republican conven-
ton has said a word against the administra-
ton What has Mr.. Curtis been doing these
seven years, that he should mount to the
highest place in the synagogue-Pharisee
among the Pharisees? What act of Grant,
what feature in his administration have
these gentlemen opposed? When they CEN
sure the "Grantism" of Conkling they CEN
sure themselves, and the party is not
deceived by their hypocrisy. No, gentle
men, you are strong as Grant is strong, you
are weak as Grant is weak. The party honors
Roscoe Conkling because he has been true
to every article of his faith
How will this nomination affect the coun-
try? Well, so far as the country is con-
cerned, the New Hampshire election proves
two things-namely, that it does not crave
change and hesitates to trust the democratic
party. 1t would rather bear with the ills it
has-even Belknap-than fly to others it
knows not of. We fear it must be laid down
as political fact that the generation which
fought the war of the rebellion will never
give power to the party which aided the
rebellion. We wish this were otherwise, for
many reasons. We would have new men in
public life and a clearing out of all depart
ments But we must take facts as they are.
We see democratic party which has learned
nothing and forgotten nothing, which would
undo the emancipation in the South by
establishing q system of political slavery,
whose leaders in the House act as if there
was no Union outside of the Missis sippi