The New York herald., 1876-02-03
Senator COnkIing as n Presidential
Candidate.

| in the PRESIDENTIAL canvass our solemn con-
temporary, the Tribune, attempts to turn his
pretensions into ridicule The distinguished
New York Senator is too considerable a man
to be much damaged by ridicule,
even if it were pointed with wit
and welded by hands skilled in the use of
that light weapon. Mr.. Conkling's friends
in various parts of the State are actively
organizing to present his name at Cincinnati,
although, so far as yet appears, without his
sanction or consent. He is currently re-
ported to be on such terms with President
Grant that he would not willingly be can
didate against him if the latter desires the
nomination. But Senator Conkling's per-
sonal relations with the President do not
bind the republicans of New York, who, in
their last State Convention, passed resolu-
ton assuming that General Grant had publicly
forbidden the use of his name in such con-
nection, and declaring an immovable hos
bility to the third election of President.
If therefore, the New York republicans have
preference among candidates they are at
full liberty to express it and to send to Gin
cinnati delegation pledged to support their
choice. And if they should send delega-
ton so pledged, as they are very likely to
do there can be no doubt that Mr.. Conkling
will be their candidate, unless he should
thwart their wishes by interdicting the use
of his name Mr.. Morton is as yet certain
only of the thirty delegates from Indiana
Mr.. Blaine is certain only of the fourteen from
Maine Mr.. Conkling, if he chooses to have
them, can rely on the sixty-six delegates
from New York, which would start him in
the Convention with once and a half as many
votes as both of his rivals together. We do
not know from what source either of them
can muster as many delegates as Mr.. Conk-
ling may have from his own State alone.
On the score of ability and fitness Mr..
Conkling is at least the peer of any republi-
can who has been mentioned in connection
with the Presidency In eloquence and the
personal accomplishments which would
grace and dignity the station he
is superior to them ALL In solid
judgment, public experience, extent
of knowledge, steadiness of purpose, politi-
cal consistency, depth of conviction and sim
cerity he will compare favorably either with
Senator Morton or Mr.. Blaine, and except
ing in steadiness and sincerity Mr.. Bristow
is every way his inferior. In the funda-
mental quality of integrity he is quite in
vulnerable, and his very foibes are of kind
which are seldom associated with sordid
love of gain. He inclines to be a little
more pompous and grandiose than is
quite consistent with good taste, but
personal manners, which seem rather
too assuming in a Senator debating
questions with his equals, might not be un-
becoming in the Chief Magistrate of great
nation. Should he be elected he would be
every inch President, at least in deport-
ment, and one likes to see certain kind of
propriety observed in the higher walks of
public life. But, conceding that his grandi-
ose loftiness is foible, it may, nevertheless,
be said that a man so long conspicuous in
! public life is fortunate when the worst and
almost the only thing ever alleged against
him is his somewhat too pompous manners.
His ability integrity, knowledge of public
affairs and acquaintance with men are equal
to the requirements of the highest station,
and superior in their combination and tout
ensemble to those of any of his rivals.
The Presidential election will, however,
turn on questions of public policy as well as
on the character and qualifications of candi-
dates. Mr.. Conklings course in public life
has at least been steady and consistent,
which is more than can be said of either of
his prominent rivals. He has never been
anything but republican, and as member
| ~ L. L Il
antics. AT the beginning of the war Mr..
! Morton was the democratic Governor of In
diana and professed all the horror of the
| democratic Bourbons for the emancipation
and equality of the negro race. When he
changed his principles and mounted the re-
publican horse he proved, as new converts
are apt to be, furious rider. In more re-
cent years he has been a leader in every fun
gus growth that has shot up in the republi-
can party. He was the Goliath of imitation
in the heated currency debates in the spring
of 1S74-a Goliath with ''six fingers on
each hand and six toes on each foot,
twenty four in all, and his strength was as a
weaver,s beam, and last fall he went to Ohio
to make ant-infation speeches. He has
taken extreme ground in every fresh crusade
against the South. and everybody believes
that he would be as jealous ON apostle of
magnanimity as he is Of malignant hate if he
thought it would equally promote his sordid,
ungovernable ambition. He is a man of
reckless aspirations, unrestrained by prin-
ciple, and citizens who yearn for peace,
tranquility and the resuscitation of business
on sound, steady basis should not hesitate
q moment if the choice for President lay be-
tween this able and unconscionable dema-
gogue-this lame giant of mischief, with
four-and-twenty Philistine fingers and toes
and statesman SO earnestly republican and