Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1876-05-06
VIRGINIA TREE PRESS.
.E.T.&F.F.B. GALIlHER. EDITORS
Charloatown, JeiIerson ., w. Va
Saturday, May 6, 1873.
Blaine and Conkling.

It is well known IN political circles that Mr..
Blaine aud Conkling have not spoken to each
other for years. The cause of their estFanGe-
ment grew out Of a debate in the House some
ten years ago. On the oath of April, 1866,
while the army appropriation bill was Under
consideration, Mr.. Coukliog made severe at
tack upon General Fry, provost marshal gene
raj. Mr. Blaine defended General F'y, aud
in the course Of his ren arks, said:
"That officer, doubt not, is ready to meet
the gentleman from New York or anybody
else il the proper forum. must say that l
do 10, think that it is any very credtabIe pro-
cecdipa for tie gentleman from New York here
in this place to traduce General Fry as mill
tary officer when he has not an opportunity to
Be heard.
10 this Mr.. Conkliog replied: " If General
Fry is reduced to depending for vlndicalion
upon the gentleman from Maine, he Is to be
can,miserated certainly. II have fallen TO
the necessity Of taking lessons irom that gen
tlrman in the rules Of prcprety, or OF night or
wrong, God help ne"
On a subsequent day Mr.. Blaine read let
ter from General Fry, which closes as follows
" He lConkling) can therefore only escape The
charge If deliberate and malignant ialsehood
Is member Of Congress by con!essing an un-
na dcnable breach Of duty as Judge Advocate.
lie held bath Offices aud took pay for both at
the same time} he has certainly been false to
honor in one, and perhaps, as the sequel may
show, in both"
Mr. Conkling then made an explanation OF
the manner Of his employment to the govern
mcp, MIR. Blaine asserted that he bad viola
ted the IaN which .u.ohibted him from receiv-
inc con rcnsaton while q representative. In
the discussion Conklug said: " If the gentle
man from Maine had the least idea how pro-
Gourdly indifferent am to his opinion upon
the subject lie has teen discussing or upon
any other subject pertinent to me, ihinii that
be wouG hardly take the trouble to rise here
and express lis opinion, ard, as It IS matter
of entire indifference to me what that opinion
NAV be. certainly will not detain the House
" discussing the question whether 10 Is well
or illicuuGcd. or 10y noticing what he says,
conc;uliuc by characierizins Blaincs conduct
as uuscuGcmanly, iG lor;iccat, and having
nothing whatever 20 DO with the question. =
Blaine closed the discussion rs follows: As
IN tle oc,tlcnan's cruel sarcasm, / hope he
will not he too severe. The contempt oi that
arce minded gentleman is 50 wiling; bis
naughty disdair, his eranlilcquent swell, hi,
maie,tic. superiminent, ovcrpoweriug turkey
cubbler strut has been so crushing To myself
and all the members ci this House that know
that it was an act of tie greatest temerlty TOR
ne TO venture upon C. controversy with hun.
But. sir. know who is responsible Tor all thIs.
| know that within the last five weeks, as
members of the House viii recollect. an extra
strut has Characterized the gcuteman's bearing
II is not his laalt. II is the fault Of another.
That gifted and saiirical writer Theodore Til
ton. Of tic New York Independent, spent scmc
weeks recently 10 this city. His letters pub
lj.hed in that paper embraced, with many seri-
dus statements, a little jocose satire, part OF
which was the statement that the mantle OF
the late Winter Davis had fallen upon the
member from New York. The gentleman
took it seriously, and it has given his strut
additional pomposity. The resemblance Is
great. 1t is striking Hyperion to a Satyr,
Tbersites to Hercules. mud TO marble, dung
hin to diamond. a singed cat TO Bengal, a
whining PUPPY to roaring lion. Shade OF
the mighty Davis forgive the almost proiana-
tiun of that incose SATIRE
From that day to this Mr.. Conkline aud Mr..
Blaine have had 10 personal or social relations
hatever.