New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-09-28
MIR. COMBINES BLUNDER.


MR. COMBINES BLUNDER.
Is MANAGEMENT OF THE CONVENTION AND HIS
ATTACK on THE ADMINISTRATION Injurious
ONLY TO HIMSELF AND HIS PARrY-nIS SPEECH
A SPLENDID SPECIMEN OF oRATORY.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO TBR TKBUNE.l
ROCHESTER, n. y, Sept. 27.-The Great Senator
If New-York as his friends fond of calling HIM,
had his innings yesterday and last night; to-day
people are discussing the merits Of the performance
There is but one opinion, SO far L can judge, of
the elaborate speech with which he closed the de-
bate on the adoption of the resolutions. As an ezhi-
biton of OratOrcal power of brilliant sarcasm, well
rounded, graceful periods, eloquent inyectve'
great personal force and individual momentum, it
is conceded to have been mastery effort. 1t COM
nauded the earnest attention and un1agging inter
PSI Of the immense audience who listened to it, and
no one even of bis opponents, withheld the tribute
# admiration for ITS merits simply
q brilliant literary composition. 1t plain from
fine beginning of the debate. from the manner in
which he deployed his skirmshers TO lead of the
discussion; the intense interest with which he re-
c,rIel the progress Of the affair." and especially
which he took in every word of the speech OF hs
suecal antagonist. Mr Curtis, and from the careful
disposition of lis forces IN such order as to have
himself tic van &C ground Of closing cluscusson,
that he felt this to hc--f not the supreme moment
oil his lfe-at least of the most important crises
IN his career. Whoever else might speak eX-
temporaneously and at random, he stepped INTO
the field Of controversy thoroughly prepared, armed
M every point for tie work he had assigned him-
scf. lie spoke as he always does, with great slow
ness and deuberation, and with such portentous
Gravity and stateliness of style as invested COM
moupl9ce with mysterious dignity, and made his
tlafitudes seem aphorisms. Withal, he looked a
rieudlv audience in the face, and hs sc8tAng sar-
fa,m and bitter invectives were hurled against an
adversary at whose hands the men before
him had received tho injury OF hostile crti-
cism. and he himself had suffered rs he
f.ncied crevous personal wrong The majority
OF the convention enjoyed their own revenge IN the
ashing he gave their representative opponent The
spectators looked ON, as they always do upon such
exhibitions with the interest which attends per-
tonal encounters; and the small band OF Mr.. Conk-
lne's opponents listened in silence in the conviction
that they could better afford TO hear the speech than
the orator could afford to make 1t.
The rumor that had obtained some currency few
days De ore the meeting of the convention, tnat Mr..
Coukline would take this occasion TO settle
some old scores with Mr.. George William Curtis,
was half inspired. lie WAS not long in dis
closing this purpose to The full. Gladly recog-
oizing Nh Curtis as the central figure in tne
debate upon the opposing side, he directly
opened on him all the batteries of his speech. He
quoted HIM with Sheer, tragestled his opinion,
caricatured him as sentimental reformer, dended
him for his personal characteristics, denounced him
asuntruthful aud branded him false witness and
treacherous friend. The friends Of the Senator who
had chucied over the prospect of a set-to between
him and Mr. Curtis and had promised that he would
ete old scores with his adversary this occasion,
we're correct in their forecast. He settled He took
a...hh a bod tod nd Inn
proved it, and all his friends said it
great; magnificent exhibition Of intellectual
force and personal magnetism and power.
1t was great. As a specimen of that particular
STYLE of eloquence and Oratory, it has been rarely
oxcelled Was it eifectiveH Yes. 1t pleased Mr..
Conkhng's special friends, and il relieved Mr..
Conklings own mind. think have given you the
general judgment Of the people who heard the
speech. AS TO its quality and its merits; as to its
effects upon Mr.. COnkling and upon the party,
think there can hardly be two opinions. No one OF
his most partial friends pTetends to-day to deny that
the speech was exceedingly injudicOus and unwise,
and that its effect upon both himself and the
party must he damaging. This is conceded TO be the
general voice to-day. But his friends express the
hope that it will change in the course of a few
weeks, and that the general effect Will prove to be,
If positively beneficial at least not very damag-
they out Of the hall fresh from the sensation
Of excitement it produced: 81 1t is magnificent, but
IL is not war; 1t a splendid effort in its way
bat It accomplished nothing II did not even hurt
the gentleman upon whom all its batteries were
turned. Mr.. Curtis suffered nothing beyond
the embarrassment, which would be natural
under the circumstances, of sitting under such an
outpourng of personal abuse and denunciatlon.
Mr. Conkling did not weaken his position. or mt
any stain upon his character. The gentlemen who
enjoyed the performance 50 highly last night BEGIN
this morning 10 see that so far as any practicable
effect is concerned it failed even to do any harm to
the gentleman at whom it was directed; so now
they are making poor Mr.. Platt scape-goat, and
laying of the whole laundering business upon his
shoulders. on account Of the send-oi he gave it in
his opening speech.
There Is no one who does not SEQ now that Mr..
Patts speech was very serious mistake; but il is
IDLE TO look Tor scapegoas to attempt any shift
ing OF responsibility. Mr. Platts speech was pre-
pared beforehand, and had been printed. Mr. Couk-
hngs speech was also in manuscript before its de-
livery. There was nothing extemporaneous about
either OF these important features of the convention
III they were mistakes is now generally con-
coed, they were mistakes that did not originate in
impulse or that can be excused upon any such plea.
They were born of deliberaton and were part OF a
prearranged programme The intent cannot be con-
ceaieo nor the consequences evaded. Mr.. Conk-
mig meant In the first place. to make war
pon Tue Administration. and In the second to settle
1d scores with Mr.. Curtis. to whom hs attributes