The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-08-23
The Question at Saratoga.

Perhaps the most interesting question TO
be decided by the Republican Convention
1t Saratoga IL whether the enemies OF
benator CoNKLINo shall succeed in their
plan Of crushing and humiliating him.
IL is pretended that there is no such pur-
pose on the part of those hostile TO the
Bepator; but the fact Ia too clear ana pal
pable for any delusions aboutit. OF course
they do not mean to drive Mr.. CoNKLINa
put of the party, for without him aud
his friends, they would be weak in
iced. They only propose to reduce him
TO the ranks, to make him take n subor-
dinate place, instead of standing forth in
the fore front of the battle, as the leader
and champion OF the Republican orgauiza-
ton I'm this State.
We need not say that Of late years 1t has
not been our fortune to share the politi-
cal views or to support the policy of the
distinguished Senator. When under the
disastrous impulses of Gen. GRANT, the
Republicans stepped downward toward
the abyss OF folly and corruption, begin
ming their decline with GRANTS mistaken
md illegal appointment of A. 7. STEWART
TO be Secretary of the Treasury, and his
fraudulent appointment Of ADoLPH Il.
BoRIE to be Secretary of the Navy-when
he gave men high ONCE because they had
given him gifts, and parcelled out the pub
lilo service among his greedy and dishonest
relatives, from that moment we separated
from him and from his followers,
md began to apply rigorous crit
lcism where Others bestowed only
unquestioning applause. About that
time GRANT, having quarrelled with
Senator FENroN, turned his affections upon
Mr.. CoNKLING, and that gentleman has
ever since been the recognized chief of the
Republican party in New York. We
BAN testify, without being suspected of
Partially, that he has performed the
functions OF that office with ability, judg-
ment, courage. and extraordinary fertil-
lty OF intellectual resources. No army
ever had drawer soldier, more astute
and indefatigable General. While some
Df those who are now assaling him have
fallen at times toward the rear he has ever
been found fighting at the head of the COL
umn, where the fire was hot and the
blows vehement. Always faithful to
his flag he has never been n sharer in
the corruption of those by whom he
has been surrounded. He has done no
craven deed; he has spoken no dishonored
word. Possessing, when he first became n
Benator, only modest competency,
the fruit of arduous professional
labors, he possesses nothing more now.
Others have grown rich in the legislation
and the administration of the Government |;
not 80 Roscoe CoNKLISo. And now n
cabal of envious or dissatisfied rivals
have gathered themselves at Saratoga,
sworn to strip off his epaulets. to break
bis sword, and to destroy his commission
and we shall soon be able to report whether
they have succeeded or have failed
1t may, indeed. it must be said now in
advance of the contest, that compared with
the crowd of greedy or OF jealous politl-
plans arrayed for his overthrow, RoscoE
CoSKLING is giant In intellect, a patriot
and a statesman in the breadth AMI scope
Of his conceptions, and a hero in the force
and dignity OF his character. To degrade
him to-day will be equivalent TO dissolv-
Ing for all time the Republican organiza-
lion in New York; and as II was formed
earlier here than elsewhere, IL is perhaps
proper that II should here first come to u
formal and historical close.