The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-04-10


Senator Conkling in the south.
Our esteemed republican neighbor, tho
Times, seems good deal disconnected and
chagrined in view of the formidable and exs
banding dimensions Of Senator Conkling Al
a Presidential candidate. Our respectable
contemporary took too narrow view OF the
situation when it decided to abet Mr.. Curtis
in his attempt to injure Senator Conkling in
his own State. 1t was expected that DEM
onstration against Mr.. Conkling at Syracuse
showing that the republicans Of New York
are not unanimous in his support would
make it impossible for him to get any dele
gates from other States; but MIR. Curtis DEM
onstration was a blunderbuss which did
muzzle. 1t provoked President Grant to
hasten his decision to put his influence on
the side of Conkling. This was a necessary
result of the open affront offered to the Presi-
dent in opposing Senator Conkling on the
ground of his steady support of the admins
tration. As Mr.. Blaine was at the bottom Of
the movement and used Mr.. Curtis as po-
litical catspaw the President knew exactly
where he could lay on the chastising rod
with most effect, and he has given Blaine
good reason to repent of his intermeddling.
He has executed flank movement on the
Maine candidate which deprives him Of sup
port in the South and takes away from him
his native State of Pennsylvania.
We need not 60 beyond the columns Of the
Times itself to find evidence that the admin
istration is vigorously aiding Mr.. Conkling
in the Southern States. When the Washing
ton dispatches of the HERALD had furnished
proof of this fact the Times attempted
contradiction, but it happened, oddly
enough, that on the same page, and imme-
diately following its Washington despatch
denying the HARRISON interview, the Times
printed q long letter from Richmond, fur
nishing more significant evidence of Presi-
dent Grants active support of Conkling
than anything contained in the statements
of Mr.. HARRISON. The intelligent Richmond
correspondent of the Times stated that
Mr.. Blaine had made pretty sure of
the Virginia delegates, when it was sud-
denly discovered that the President in
tends to support Senator .Conkling, and
there was an immediate stampede from the
ex-Speaker. On the 9th of April the general
impression throughout the State was that
Blaine would undoubtedly have the Virginia
delegation. ION that day, however," says
the correspondent, "Judge Morton, the
Chairman of the Republican State Execu-
tive Committee, returned to Richmond from
Washington, where he had been for several
days, and Immediately the whole prospect OF
the campaign was changed. Judge Morton,
upon his arrival, at once put him
self in communication with several
prominent republicans and by some
mysterious process can use no other
expression-convinced them that the strong
est candidate for them to nominate was
Senator Conkling, of New York. It is stated
upon good authority that he said he was en-
powered to announce that the Senator was
the first choice of General Grant, and that
the administration expected all those en-
ployed by it to support him in the Lynch
burg Convention. Judge Morton has just
been appointed special agent of the Post
Office in this State. He is thought to be
high in the confidence and esteem of those
who have most power in Washington, and,
as politicians 60, he is a very respectable
man and has no small share of influence.
In consequence his statements were poten.
tial with many ofice-holders and others, and
he has succeeded in commencing q very
strong movement in favor of the Senator
from New York"
We give this paragraph as specimen Of
the contents of the letter, which abounds
with detailed confrmatory evidence.