National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1876-05-02
Mr.. Conkling as a Candidate.

Mr.. Conkling as Candidate.
CFrom the Albany Evening Journal, April 81
"Advices from Washington of the most re-
liable character"-says the Cincinnati Gazette,
one of the best-informed of Republican papers
-"leave no doubt that the most formidable
candidate to come before the Cincinnati con-
vention will be Senator Conkling." This
commanding prominence of the choice of New
York is not surprising. Mr.. Conkling has,
indeed, made no effort to promote his own IN
terests. His friends know how little amena-
Bile he is to any reproach Of self-seeking and
with what difficulty he is persuaded to yield
to their wishes. No man Is more averse from
the arts of selfadyancement. He has even
abnegated his natural and proper leadership
in the forum of public discussion. lest the ex-
preston of his usual intellectual activity
might be imputed to personal thought. He
will enter no struggle for a nomination.
Whatever force his name may carry in the
canvass will be due, not to any movement of
his own with this end In view, but to the gen.
eral recognition of his fitness and to the efforts
of those who believe he would make strong,
worthy and successful candidate.
And it is not surprising that, in spite of his
own refusal to take a single step, the sugges-
tion of his candidacy should assume the for
midable character described by the Cincinnati
Gazette. There are two decisive reasons for It.
The first is personal, touching his own individ-
ual fitness; the second political, touching his
relations to the real battle-ground of the con-
test. The one rests upon his conspicuous
personal qualifications to lead the Republican
party in u canvass, as well from his eminent
ability and spotless character as from his IRE
proachable public record; the other rests upon
the fact that he, more surely than any other
man, would carry New York, which will
decide the issue. On this latter point there
can be no question. The nomination of Mr..
Conkling would inspire an effort IN this State
which, gathering power as the canvass went
on, would carry everything before it.. There
never has been such thorough organization,
such systematic work, such earnest, pervasiye,
irresistible activity as his candidacy would
arouse. The Republicans of New York will do
their utmost for the Cincinnati ticket, whoever
heads it; but We believe that the nomination
of Mr.. Conkling would give them a strength
and animate them with q determination
which would place the Empire State beyond
any doubt. The general realization of this
truth cannot fail to make a profound impress
sion in a contest where New York will turn
the scale.
When the public mind passes from Mr..
Conkling's peculiar relations to the vital point
for the great trust of the Presidency the favor
bic judgment is strengthened. His name is
stainless. No suspicion rests upon his honor.
No opposition ever yenturcd to question his
pertonal probity. In all the roar of charges
no reproach falls upon him. With this purity
of character is united an ability which CON-
mands the respect of the whole country. Mr..
Conkling is everywhere recognized as a
trained and practiced Statesman, with large
experience in public life and thorough &C
quaintance with public men-a statesman who
would bring to the management OF affairs the
highest political culture and the practical
knowledge of men and measures, which would
avoid mistakes and lead to wise conclusions.
The rare intellectual gifts which have given
him so commanding position In the Senate
would insure an able, digniied and honorable
career in the field of administration.
Beyond all that, Mr.. Conkling is a states
man not only Of acknowledged intellectual
force and talent, but of earnest and well-set-
tied principles, which are calculated to in
spire the confidence Of the country. Upon
every question of public policy now before the
people his record is without flaw. He has
borne distinguished part in the great strug-
gle of the past fifteen years, and has never
once faltered In the good cause of national
freedom, union and honor. If we want q can
didate who can be trusted to protect equal
rights and preserve the fruits of the war, we
can ask none better than Mr.. Conkling., If
we want one who will firmly uphold the ma
tional arm while wagiug no acrimonious war
upon any section, we can find none more
trusty than Mr.. Conkling. II we want one
whose record upon the financial question is
sound and who has uniformaly represented
the true sentiment OF the Republican party,
we can select none more steadfast than Mr..
Conkling. Uupon every question of equal
rights, national security, public faith and
financial honesty, he has been right, and right
from principle, and a record thus unimpsach-
able adds public confidence to the universal
recognition of his great abilities.
Mr.. Conkling is thorough, earnest, IN
iinchiDg Republican. In more than one crisis
in the history Of the party his services have
been inestimable. In one, especially, he
acted with chivalry which tells the quality
ofthe man. 1t was in 1870. The Tweed ring
was at the height of its power. The Republi-
can party seemed hopelessly gone In this
State. Mr.. Conkling's own political career
was, apparently, about to close. If the Tweed
regime continue Republicanism was lost in
New York, and his own seat in the Senate
would soon be filled by Democrat. Just at
that Lour he received an offer the most fatter-
ing to his professional pride, and the most ad-
vantageous to his personal interests-the offer
Of law partnership in Now York with a
guarantee of $50, 900 a year. To q man whose
POLITICAL future seemeu CLOSED through DenO-
cratic ascendancy 1t was exceedingly tempting.
To accept it was to make splendid provision
for himself, and leave his party to fight out
an apparently hopeless battle against Tam
many. To decline It was apparently to sacri-
fee himself and continue futile contest with
certain defeat. But he cast aside the tempta-
ton, remained faithful to his trust, stood by
his party, buckled on his armor for great
fight with Tammany, and inaugurated that
work which, with other aid, led to the re-
stored supremacy of the Republican party.
In 1872 it was the speech Of Mr.. Conkliug
at Cooper Institute which rallied the Repub-
lican party OF the whole country and gave the
inspiration of victory. In 1874, when Con-
gress and the county were trembling over
the Louisiana question, 1t was again Mr..
Conkling who recognized the broken and dis
ordered columns of the party and imbued it
with fresh courage. The one single reprosch
the only oRe-which his adversaries attempt
to lay up against him is that he has been
friend of the Administration. In other words,
he has been staunch Republican. 1t is true
he has warmly supported the Administration,
and, If mistakes have been made, there 10 no
telling how much friendly counsels have saved.
We believe that Senator Conkliny would give
the country an able, pure and sound admins
tration. If We did not, we should not favor
his nomination. And it is the general recog-
milton OF the points we have touched upon
which turns the eyes of so many Republicans
throuphout the country towards him az Our