The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1877-10-04
Senator Conkling's Course.


ton which met at Rochester last week.
He came there with the convention in his
-undoubted CONTROL by two to one, and
kept that body under his thumb until it
adjourned, two days thereafter. There
were only to be nominated candidates for
the comparatively unimportant offices of
Attorney General, Secretary of State, &C.,
so that the most important purpose of
the occasion was the opportunity which
it gave for senator Conklng to define him
self He declines the craftsmanship in
favor of Mr.. Platt, of Tioga who, on tax
ing the chair for the temporary organiza-
ton had made a bitter speech, assaiing
the administration, and making sneering
contrast between President Hayes and
Gen. Grant, praising the latter's fidelity
to ''his friends, his party and his coun-
try !"
1t became quite apparent that Conk-
lings position would be one of uncompris-
ing opposition to the administration when
the resolutions were read, reported by
the committee of which he was chairman
No issue is taken with the administration
on the Southern question, but there is
very decided one in regard to the civil
service rules. The platform is very YER
bose and tedious, and the pith of the at
tack on the administration is in these
| words
We hold honest service or labor the best and
highest eXertion for American citizens and those
who labor for Others, whether for the government
OF for private employers, are as fully entitled as
any citizen can be to absolute freedom i'll all polit
ical, civil or religious affairs. They owe the full
service they agreed to render to their employers
they owe nothing more The constitution of the
United States and of the State of New York and
the laws establish equal rights for all citizens and
voters and we deprccate as understandable and
hurtful all attempts by employers, whether repre-
sentlng capital or political power, to encroach up
Oh or cocrce others in the enjoyment of any of
their rights or the exercise OF any of the duties of
citizenship. In the State of New FORK the whole
number OF national office holders including clerks
and subordlnatcs OF every degree. is 1863 This is
one national official subordinate to 1872 voters
| OF State county and town officials there are in
| this State l&},5l3 This is one State county or
| town official to every 81 voters. When the p0lit
| cal functions of local officers are taken into &C
count, their nearness to the citizen and their pow
er over his property taxes and interests, their rel
| atVe influence becomes even greater than the
numbers indicate. The exclusion of public ser
| wants from political action would diStranchSc a
great body of our fellow citizens. The laws make
| no such exclusion and we deny as an imputation
| upon the people of New York, that they are or
| have been dominated by the nations subordinate
| officials. and we can conceive of no condition of
affairs short Of the extinction Of manhood and pat
rlotlsm in which Il postmaster or clerk could sub
due to his partisan will l52 other electors or exert
any other influence beyond such as his character
might give him.
The views of the administration were
championed on the occasion by George
W. Curtis, Editor Of Harper's Weekly,
and a long time advocate of civil service
reform. He offered as a substitute for
the denunciatory resolution, the follow
Ing
The lawful title Of Rutherford B. Hayes To the
Presidency is as clear and perfect tina. Of George
| Washington. We gladly recognize his eminent
patriotism proved i'll the field and in civil life. We
| heartily commend his efforts for the permanent
| paclhcation of the Southern section of the Union
and for the correction of the evils ard abuses il
the evil service, strictly conforming to his
pledges and To the declarations of the convention
that nominated him, and as tending to the promo
! is but begun we shall hail with satisfaction its
| prompt and vigorous prosecution. in which the
| President may confidently rely upon the cordial
! support of the country
| In the excited and acrimonious debate
that followed, Conlzling was very severe
on the champion Of reform, and defeated
his motion to amend by large majority.
| The Convention separated, excited and
vengeful. OF course this means divid-
cd party, and an easy Democratic victory
in the State in November.
knox County got up very interesting
and highly creditable County Fair at
Camden last week, The County has ex-
cellent agricultural resources, the lime
rock valley bearing treasures on its bosom
as we'll as under the surface. The enter
prising people Of the good town of Cam
den lent every aid to the occasion, and
the result was most creditabe. In farm
stock and farm products the show was
first class, While the exhibit of local and
foreign manufactures was large and at
tractive. The always interesting feature
OF baby show, was this year included.
III which line an excellent exhibit was
made, showing that this branch of indus
try receives proper attention within the
socetys limits. The premium to the
handsomest child was awarded to Mrs.
Fred Lewis boy Edward Gushing Lewis
I'd to Mrs. Frank w. Commits little girl,
Lizzie Nj. For the heaviest baby, Mrs
Geo. Tltfany's boy, was awarded first pre-
MUM, weighing %! pounds at eight
months: I'd, to Mrs W. f. Clough's little
| girl, ~ pounds at IL months.
Mrs. Clater, of Boston, was in too much
haste in accusing an honest Young man of
theft. James McElwain, a very respect
Incorporating young cabinet maker, was
employed by the wife of Alfred W. Clatcr
to repair her dressing case at her house
No. Allen street. While he was work
ing upon the case she had laid IL gold
watch and chain and pencil, valued at
Sl2O, on the bed in the room where he
was at work. The property subsequently
disappeared and the Young man was ar
rested on suspicion, taken to the Chiefs
office and subsequently removed to Jail.
| Upon being arraigned in Court on Il charge
OF stealing he found bail, and the case was
continued. Mrs. Clater came into Court
next day and stated that her little daugh-
ter went into the room where McElwain
was at work, and seeing the watch, chain
and pencil on the bed, took Them laid
them away, went to school and said moth
ing of what she had done until night,
when she returned home.
| The world has been for years wrestling