Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1876-04-29
From the Chicago Tribune, April 18th
COnkIing--- Blaine.

We are often asked If il Is true that the
distinguished statesmen whose names
| head this article are unfriendly to each
other, and if so the cause of il and if it is
of such 4 character as would be likely
! to prevent the cordial support of one by
the other for the Presidency in case of
! his nomination at Cincinnati. We have
been compelled to answer that we did not
know; but, to enable our interrOgatOrs to
| judge rs well as we, il may be stated for
their information the cause of the quar-
rel, and leave them to form their own
opinions. We believe that these gentle
men have exchanged no cOurtesies for
the past ten years, but common danger
to the country it is quite likely would
bring them again together. On the 24th
of April, 1866, while the Army ApprO-
priatiOn bill was under discussion in the
House, Mr.. COnkling reflected severely
upon General Fry, PrOYost-Marshal GEN
eral during the war. Blaine defended
Fry, declaring that there was not a more
honorable and heightened officer in the
army than he. He further said: ''That
officer, l doubt not, is ready to meet the
gentleman from New York or anybody
that l do not think that it is any very
creditable proceeding for the gentleman
from New York here in this place to ira
duee General Fry as a military officer
when he has no opportunity to be heard
Conkling responded: "If General Fry
is reduced to depending for vindica-
ton upon the gentleman from Maine, he
is 90 be commiserated certain. If l have
fallen to the necessity of taking lessons
from that gentleman IN the rules of pro-
priety, or of right or wrong, God help
me-" On a subsequent day Mr.. Blaine
read letter in the House from General
Fry, which closed as follows: 'He
(Conkling) can therefore only escape the
charge of deliberate and malignant false
heod as a member OF Congress by con-
Tossing an objectionable breach of duty
as Judge Advocate. He held both offices
aud took pay for both ut the same time;
he has certainly been false to honor in
one, and perhaps, as the sequel may
show, in both"
This drew an explanation from COnk-
ling of the manner he was employed by
the Government. Blaine charged that he
violated the law, which he quoted, pro-
hibiting him to receive compensation
while holding the office he did. In the
progress of the discussion, COnkling said:
''If the gentleman from Maine had the
least idea how profoundly Indifferent 1
am TO his opinion upon the subject he has
been discussing, or upon any other sub
iect pertinent 10 me, l think that he
would hardly take the trouble to rise
here and express his opinion, and, as
matter of entire indifference to me what
that opinion may be, l certainly will not
detain the House by discussing the ques-
ton whether it is well or i'll founded, or
by noticing what he says, and cOnclud
ed by calling Dlaiue's conduct ''ung gen
tlemanly, impcrtinent, and having moth
ing whatever to do with the question"
Blaine closed the discussion as follows
Gas to the gentleman's cruel sarcasm, l
hope he will not be too severe. The con-
tempt of that large minded gentleman Is
so willing; his naughty disdain, his
swell, his majestic, super
eminent, Overpnwering, turkey gobbler
strut has been so crushing to myself and
all the members of the House, that
know that it was an act of the greatest
temerity for me to venture upon con-
trOVersy with him. But, sir, l know
who is responsible for all this. L know
that, within the last five weeks, as nIem-
bers of the House will recOllect, an extra I
strut has characterized the gentleman'S
bearing. 1t is not his fault 1t is the
fault of another. That gifted and Satir- |
zeal writer, Theodore Tilton, of the New !
York Independent, spent some weeks re- |
Gently in this city. His letters publish |
ed in that paper embraced, with many /
serious statements, 4 little jOcose satire, |
n part of which was the statement that 1
the mantle of the late Winter Davis had I
fallen upon the member from New York. 1
The gentleman took it seriously, and it I
has given strut additional pOmpOsity. |
The resemblance is great. 1t IS striking. |
hyperion to a Sat5r, Thersites 10 Her /
cules, mud To marble, dunghill To dia- /
mond, singed eat 10 Bengal tiger, a ,
whining puppy tt q roaring lion. Shade 1
of the mighty Da Wis, forgive the almost /
PROCLAMATION of thar joCOse SATIRE"
mat passage-at-ar ms between the two /
distinguished statesm IN ended their I er I
onal and social relal 'd'ia, and t. each I.
'fher they have never 81 NtEen since.