The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-09-29
senator Conkling's Plunge-To What
shore Will He Swims

binary coup ct Rochester, but there was
also great deal of calculation. IT
he gave way to his impulses 1t was be-
cause they ran in the same direction as the
deliberate purpose which he had formed
while standing SO long on the bank of the
stream before making the decisive plunge.
What he intends to do further and
how hc expects to come out make
an interesting topic for political specula-
ton. He may have ''reckoned without his
host" and all his plans may be upset by
events; but there is so much method in his
madness Us to suggest deliberate purpose.
1t may not be difficult to sketch the outlines
of the chart which, be has mapped out for
himself in his own mind. He may have
miscalcnlated his longitude he may have
underestimated the force of opposing winds
and currents; but it will not do to assume
that politician OF his great ability has no
settled plan, nor that his plan, whatever it
may be, does not look beyond tho approach
ing State election.
1t may be safely assumed that his ulti-
mate aim is q reelection to the Senate by
the Legislature of 1879, and that whatever
he has done, omitted to do, or contemplates
doing has reference to that object. His
continuance in public life depends on his
reelection, for he cannot expect an appoint
i've Office from the President, and without
reelection to the Senate he has no chances
for that higher station which is the browning
achievement Of political ambition. His
xuho1a v1ou NOV ha q ,nicno 1c1 AZ op1 hio
first step in executing it an egrcgious
blunder; but he had to consider the posi-
bilities of the situation and accommodate
his tactics to the obstacles which lie in his
way. The chief obstacle, in his own es-
timation, is the opposition of Mr.. Hayes adj
ministration. which would in any event
have done all in its power to prevent his re-
election to the Senate. He, therefore, pre-
ferred an open quarrel with the administra-
ton to hollow truce, which would be used
to quietly undermine him. He precipitates
o fight now in order to take advantage Of ex-
listing republican discomfort with the
policy of the President before it is
healed. He thinks that his chances
Of success are greater while considerable
portion of the party is not yet reconciled to
Mr. Hayes policy than they would be if he
should wait until the dissatisfied elements
gradually come into line. He means to
transfer his opposition to Congress-to
"carry the war into Africa :" and what he
did at Rochester is only the prelude to what
he purposes to do in Washington.
Meanwhile he has adjusted the party
machinery in this State to his future exigen-
cies. The new Republican State Com
mittee, which consists of his supporters,
is to hold for two years, which gives
him control of the organization for
period which overlaps the Senatorial cleo
ton. This is done on plausible pretext.
Owing to the three years term of the Gov
ernor and Lieutenant Governor there will
be no State election next yeafcxcept for
choosing Judge Of the Court of Appeals;
and it is only by the accidental circum-
stance that Judge Aliens term expires by the
constitutional limit of age that there will be
State election next year at all. The State
Committee was empowered by the late Con-
vention to nominate q candidate for the
Court Of Appeals judgeship, or to call State
Convention for that purpose consisting OF one
delegate from each Assembly district. The
artful thing in this arrangement is that it
insures o continuance Of the Conkling
State committee. If o convention should
be called it will have no power to elect q
new State Committee, because it will not be
a regular convention of the party, which
must consist Of delegates chosen in each
district in proportion to the number of re-
publican votes in the preceding election.
A convention consisting of one delegate
from each district would not conform to
this rule and would have no authority to
discharge any other duty than the one pre-
scribed to it by a regularly organized con-
vention. 1t is certain, therefore, that Mr..
Conkling's new committee cannot be dis
placed before the next Senatorial election.
1t is empowered to fill vacancies in its own
body, and SO every point is guarded.
Next, as to this falls election. After this
fracas ut Rochester the republican State
ticket will, of course, be defeated; but the
chances were in favor of the democratic
ticket in any event, and probably nothing
has been lost which it was in the power of
the Convention to save. All that Conkling
needs is to secure u republican Senate-the
same Senate that is elected this year being
the one which will participate in the
choice of Mr.. Conkling's successor. That
he has impaired the chances of electing u
republican State Senate is by no means
certain. For aught we can sec they are rs
good as they we're before, and, on the whole,
are very favorable The republicans have
ut present nineteen of the thirty-two Scna-
tors, and unless the democrats should gain
foar the next Senate will be republican.
Now, the republicans of this State Of every
shade and stripe haye an equal interest in
keeping control of the Senate, whether