National Republican., 1876-05-19
Mr., Curtis on Mr., Couklinp.


We print below an article from Hdrpsr's
Weekly of November %, 1872, upon Roscoe
Conkling. The spirit that breathes through it
from beginning to end is the spirit of George
William Curtis, the distinguished editor of the
paper named. In the fullness and richness of
its praise of the subject it is the voice and the
soul of Mr.. Curtis. Nothing THAT has been
said in the preliminary stages of the present
campaign in eulogy of Mr.. Conkling exceeds
in warmth and feeling this expression of Mr..
Curtis, made little more than three years
ago. Nothing likely to be said in praise of
him throughout the whole of the canvass,
should he be nominated, will be more gene
rous, just and true than the words here spoken
by the editor of Harper's Weekly.
Mr.. Curtis is thus arrayed against Mr.. Cur
tbs. Mr.. Conkling has not changed. He is
the same man to-day that he was when the
commendatioD that we quote was written of
him. Then Mr.. Conkling was msde the tar
get of unjust and ungenerous assault, just as
he is made now; and it is curious to note that
the basis of the attacks upon him was very
much the same in character that 1t is now.
But it is still more strange to see that Mr..
Curtis then defended Mr.. Conkling against
these peculiar assaults. He upheld his con-
duct-he praised him for what he had done
and was doing. These words from the article
we quote are especially significant: "The per-
sistent aspersion nf the Senator as q malign
friend of the President has doubtless preju-
diced many persons; but they will observe
that what is said in hostility to the one is as
vague as all that was urged against the other
during the campaign" Mr.. Curtis most un-
accountably seems to have imbibed the preju-
lina 1;o6 fe ha.
same vague and-uncertain source. But the
words he then wrote in defense of Mr.. Conk-
ling now confront him, and are the best an
swer to the persistent aspersion" that is
heaped upon our eminent Senator at the pres
ent time.
Mr.. Curtis cannot say that though Mr..
Conkling has not changed, the times have.
They have not changed. The leading and
representative men of the Republican party
are maligned to-day as they were in 1872.
Almost daily we are told the President has
been "caught" in dishonest practices, and his
Impeachment is threatened. Mr.. Blaine, Mr.
Bristow, Mr.. Morton and Mr.. Conkling are
each and all assailed. Star-chamber courts
are sitting at Washington whose sole purpose
is to prove that these distinguished statesmen
are thieves and scoundrels. Even lunacy is
pressed upon the stand to swear away the rep
utation Of the President, and the most un-
blushing perjury is brought into requisition to
blast the names Of Republican leaders. Inone
instance only has an official culprit been eX-
posed, and the same shot that brought him
down also brought down prominent aspirant
to the Democratic nomination for the Presi-
dency, and an ex-candidate of the same party
fortheVice Presidential office. A chivalric sense
of duty to his party and its representative
men SO wantonly traduced should lead every
Republican to stand by them in this hour Of
universal calumny, and to defend them as Mr..
Curtis defended Mr.. Conkling from like as
sault in 1872. The words he then uttered
were truthful and just, but not more SO then
than now. Mr.. Conkling is as honest to-day
as he was in 1872. He has not in the inter-
vening years fallen away from the principles
of lifetime. He is as much of patriot to-
day as he was then. The country never knew
purer allegiance than he bears 1t. He is as
devoted to the principles of the Republican
party, and as brave and chiyalric in defense of
them, now as he was then. If others have
proved recreant to those principles, and fol-
lowed after distractions, or indulged in vague
and persistent aspersion of the truest and most
loyal defenders of the Republican faith, Mr..
ConkliDg has pressed onward in the path of
duty, and never for a moment been confounded
by the noise and clamor around him. No
false guides have for single instant turned
his steps aside.
But to the article we sat out to introduce
with single word. Nothing that we can say
of the worth and deservings Of our great Sen
stor can begin to equal the words that follow
from the pen of George William Curtis. as he
wrote them in 1879:
One of the good results of the election is the re-
turn Of Mr.. COnkling to the Senate for six years
more. His part in the campaign in New York
has been most conspicuous. 1t has, indeed, been
one of the most vigorous and effective canvasses
ever made. At the Cooper institute, In July, MIR.
Conkiing made O very comprehensive and power
full speech, which has probably been of as much
service as any speech In the campaign, as q maga-
zine of fact and argument. The Senator imme-
diately began q 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 hum
dreds of thousands of people. He has made
himself personally known in every part Of
the State, ana We presume that all who have
heard him, friend or foe, agree that in Roscoe
Ccnkling the Empire State Of New York has
tit representative In the Senate Of the United
States.
man of the highest honor; of great and con-
ceded ability; Of profound political conviction; Of
long and ample legislative experience; a trained
and admirable debater; highly cultivated; of
ready wit and piercing satire; thoroughly con-
versant with public affairs; with marvellous
memory that holds all his resources at easy and
instant command, and flowing eloquence that
impresses and persuades-Mr. Conkling is one OF
the chiefs OF the Senate, and one Of the most
justly eminent of our public men.
= 1t was the fashion among those who became
Liberal" Republicans to decry him as one Of
the "tenatorial ring, (" and to insinuate that I'm
some manner he countenauced disreputable mem
and measures. The phrase senatorial ring Y