New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-02-09
BRJSTOW. CONKLTNG-HOUE.

BRISTOW, CONTINUATION
And now comes BristOw, who says he has not
seen Conking for month. We can only say that
he ought; and that it is bad, very bad for
both. that he did not Bad for Mr.. Conkling,
for this was the month big with the fate OF
Howe. Howe, as all the world knows, was
tbe disciple that COnkling loved; and yet
when they threatened to remove MIR. Howe
from that position he had 40 long adorned,
what does Mr.. Ccnklingi Mr.. BristOw tells us
| nothing. 81 have not seen Mr.. Conkling for
" n month"; The master was too lndolent, too
cowardly, perhaps only too Indifferent, to In
teryene, and the beloved disciple ceased to he
a special agent of the Treasury. And this
too when Mr.. Bristow was the Secretary,
whose ned could perpetuate or destroy this
political life. Not Gov. Shepherd, that stern
and incorruptibe Puritan not Frelnghuysen'
that self-wied and independent statesman
not the mpracticable Sargent was Secretary,
but Bristow BristOw, whose relations with
:" Mr. Conklng are of the most friendly kind"
IL would have been asking much that n
proud man like the Ncw-lork Senator should
ask favor of Shepherd, Frelinghuysen, or
Sargent; but 1t was Bristow, mark you, and
notliing therefore TO ask favor OF one so IN
innate and friendly. And yet, says MIR.
Bristow. 81 have not seen Mr.. Conkling for
"a month" Conkling had but to whisper
Howe in the ear of the Secretary. and Howe
WAS saved. And Conkling whispered not
Alas for the magnificent torso that shrines no
heart Alas, for the Oritammcs, curs, ana
Oneida clubs Of the man without soul Mr.
| Howe was the bosom friend of this great
| Senator-if we may so speak of man VINO
has no bosom. Mr.. Howe was the lamb to this
Senatorial Mary:
And everywhere that Conkling went,
Frank Howe sure to follow.
MFR. Howe was the fdus 1chates of the Utica
| Eneas But for bosom friend-for lamb, for
Achatcs-Roscoe Encas Conkling did nothing
Not thus the great Kncas Yet for him fdus
Achafcs had done nothing except to stand
around, while for COnklng, Howe had stood
around in an elegance of toilet, figure, and
posture that ryaed his chief-and more His
was the Metropolitan shrine where the great
Apollo came to rest and feast. He was the
lieutenant who marshaed to Sunday feasts the
satellites of his chief. Few gatherings have
been more select and unanimous than these
| The mighty of the earth were there. NO
Seizures, or Summers, or Trumbulls, or Cur
tises, or Evartses-none but the great. Great
capitalists like Murphy, great orators like
Arthur, great lawyers like Bliss, great
statesmen like Spcncer-the friends OF
Conkling gathered here. And in their
midst, greater capitalist, orator, states
man. and lawyer, lowered the great chief, by
| merit raised to that bad eminence. Here the
Senator heard pleasant news unheard else
where-that in the memorable duel in the
| House he vanqushed Blaine-a subsidized press
| to the contrary Notwithstanding Here too
| he spoke with persuasive eloqucnce unknown
| elsewhere; and convinced all, even Charley
Spenccr, that il was right for Senator to try
| a case before his own Judge. against his own
| Government, and against his own District
| Attorney, secure judgment which should last
| until the Supreme Court unanimously reversed
| IT, Here too he told the secrets of his noble
| ife-all except what he did with the $4,000
| he wrling from the stingy pockets OF the crafty
| Dodge. And yet, with these memories, in all
of which Howe played a useful and Ornamen-
| tai part, he would not speak one word for
him. Il have not seen Mr.. Conkling for a
month"; said Mr.. Bristow; and the relations
of Mr. Conkling with Mr.. Brstow are
| "known to be most friendly"
| 1t Is DAD TACT LOT tonhllnS, Dut IL Ddu III
Bristow TO tell of it. 1t was right enough for
the Secretary, who has to toll and spin, to
envy and hate q Senator who has but to sit in
the glory of Solomon to receive the homage
Of a Senatc-for Bristow, like most men, is
human. But why had he the inhumanity to
shock and destroy the popular faith, that be-
yond the bcaming glance and gentle manners
of this handsome Senator there lay self-for-
gctfulness, q chiyalrous devotion to others,
which was the foundation of his extraordinary
popularity And this gracious faith in their
idol Mr.. BristOw has shattered at blow.
There is but one explanation. The strong
mind of the Secretary was weakened by the
extraordinary privation he had submitted to;
for he cOnfcsses he had not seen Mr.. COnk-
cling for q MONTH" Any mind faints in the
effort to compass such desolation. There is
no suffering like it-except not to hear Mr..
Conkling for month; and this is suffering
which the country as yet has been spared.
Sad as this matter Is for all, 1t is saddest
for Howe. The faithlessness Of friends, like
Mr.. Conkling's eloquenoe, Is not new but very
painful; and Mr.. Howe is victim to IT.
pangs. Had his death boon natural, . simple
stone was to point tho wayfsrer to tho 70