The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-05-23
lFrom Harper's Weekly, Nov. %, 1872, Editoriall
George William Curtis Opinion Of ROs-
cOe COnkling i'm 1879.


One Of the good results of the election is the
return of Mr.. Conkling to the Senate for six
years more. His part in the campaign in New
York has been most conspicuous. 1t has, in
deed, been one of the most vigorous and effec-
tive canvasses ever made. At the Cooper In
stitute in July, Mr.. Conkling made very COM
prehensive and powerful speech, which has
probably been OF as much service as any speech,
IN the campaign, as magazine of fact aud ar
gument. The Senator Immediately began a
tour of the State, and from time to time, until
the election, by day and by night, in cities and
towns and villages, he addressed hundreds of
thousands of people. He has made bimself
personally known in every part of the state,
and we presume that all who ha ve heard him,
friend or foe, agree that in Roscoe Conkling
the empire state of New York has a fit repre-.
sentative in the Senate of the United States.
A man OF the highest honor: of great and
conceded ability; of profound political convc-
ton; OF long and ample legislative experience;
a trained and admirable debater; highly cult,
waited; OF ready wit and piercing satire; thor
oughiy conversant with public affairs; with
marvellous memory that holds all its resources
at easy and constant command, and flowing
eloquence that impresses and persuades-.arr
Conkljng is one of the chiefs of the Sapata
and one OF the most lastly eminent Of our pub-
lie men. N P~o
,.I II was the fashion among those who became
Llperar Republicans to decry him as one of
the senatorial ring" and to insinuate that in
some manner he coHtenanced disrenntahle men IN
ana measures. The phase senatorial ripe''
means on1y this, that the recognized leaders Of
the ma gority usually act in concert; and as thew
thasu!aly tha vote with their party associates, and
~ M.uey prevall, whatever is done is attributed TO
taem and they are declared to act from unwor.
my motives. Thus Mr.. Conklipg and his friends
were SAID during the session to have ATTEMPTED
70 smother investigation. Nothing is more un-
s;9 sr9e Ihey promoted investigation, but they
oid, most properly, seek to prevent a peryersion
OF Investigation. The Liberal game, as we
STATED at the time, was to appoint a committee.
Witn an opponent of the administration at the
neao, to sit indefinitely, upon the eve of the
rresloentlal election, with power to examine
ana 10 print, and so to hold prolonged hostile
inquislton upon an administration which the
Lioerals sought to overthrow. 1t was the
prostitution of investigation to party nur-
pose that Mr.. Conkling and his friends most
properly opposed.
OF an ardent temperament, Mr.. Conkline il
IKE Mr.. Sumner and like all great Senators in
our history, warm partisan. Believing that
tne Lloerar detection would end, as it did
enc, IN an attempt to destroy the Republican
party, he and his friends in the Senate did not
strive TO concliate the recusants, nor stay TO
parley with those whose purposes they knew.
Shey delared war and have never faltered. and
the result vindicates their precedence, The per
slstent aspersion of the Senator as maiien
friend OF the President has doubtless preiudic-
ed many persons; but they will observe that
what is said in hostility to the one is as vague
as all tnat was urged against the other during
ths campaign Intrepid, upright and able, with
certain chivalr!c quality that binds his friends
very closely to him, Mr.. Conkling will be re-
turned with the hearty applause and sympathy
OF the immense multitude in New York who
voted Tor Gen. Grant, and who despise the cal
umnies that are uttered against the Senator.