The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1878-05-04
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON D. c., April 80, 1878

WASHINGTON D. c., April 80, 1878
The defence that Senator Conkling
makes when the recently published
"interview' is brought to bis notice,
Is not an original one. aud not even
in the line of originality. Il did not
say it, says the Senator, "and when
said If tho man took no notes, and
the conversation was a private one.'
But the internal evidence of the re-
port itself is too convincing. Denial,
even less eqnivocal than the Senators,
would not change tie public belief.
The reporter may have added a line
or two here and there, bnt the snb-
stance is Conkling's. He called Mr..
Hayes "that man Hayes lie claim
ed the invention of the Electoral
Commission. lie said that Stanley
Matthews was pretty good man,
but weak. He said there was bar
gain between Gov. Nichols and
Hayes, and that Stanley Matthews
and Sherman were privy to it, and
that when the whole truth about Lon
isiaDa affairs was known it would
sink the administration "to the low
est depths of inEamy.' He said the
Administrations civil service reform
was humbug, which it is. He said
that Burnside was u niuny, and that
Hoar and Christiancy sold themselves
to Hayes for patronage, and that
Conover was kept up to the support
of the Administration by fear of a
criminal persecution. All these things,
no doubt, he said. His denial, if he
should make one, would of course
satisfy the Senators to whom untlat-
tering illusions were made, but the
public will still believe that what
is given as coming from ConkiinG
came from him.
The effect of the report upon Conk-
ling's prospects of succeeding fim.
self as Senator from New York must
be great. If he boldly announces
that the ideas and opinions of the
reported interview, omi,ing what is
purely personal, are his, and pro
ceeds to enforce them by speech and
act, thus compelling rupture of the
party with the Administration, he
will become of necessity the leader
of the party. If he pursues the policy
of silence in the public councils and
in the caucnses of the party, bnt let
his tongue run in scandalons riot in
his intercourse with individuals, it
needs no prophet to foreiell, not only
his downfall as a national leader, but
his loss of influence and power in his
own State. 1t is common talk, by
the way, that Mr.. Hayes will appoint
ex- Senator FentoD, Collector of Gus
toms in New York. just how this
wonld advance the cause of civil ser
vice reform no one can explain, but
that it would seriously threaten the
ascendancy of Conkling in the Re-
publican politics Of New York is I'M
questionable, as it would put the
enormous Federal patronage of the
Custom House in the hands of Conk-
ling's enemies. That they would use
it against him mercilessly and I'M
scrupulously, and wonld be encon,-
aged in SO doing by the Administra-
ton does not admit of doubt.
1t is gratifying that the earlier
statesmen and heroes of the country
are receiving attention now and then.
1t was good idea to set apart por-
ton of the Capital for a Hall of Stat
nary, in which each State might place
statues of her i1lustrious sons. A
resolution was passed the other day
which will enable the Washington
Monument Association to go on with
the work upon that great commemo.
rative shaft. The House only last
week voted money for the purpose of
erecting a monument to Jefferson.
Yesterday in the Senate Mr.. Beck
presented resolutions of the Keb-
lucky Legislature in reference to a
monument to General Zachary Tay.
lOr. The ideas associated with all
these men are patriotic, and such as
the Americans of the future may safe
ly cherish.
ALBION.