Vicksburg weekly herald., 1878-04-26
Conkllng's Yawp.


York World, of the I7lb, containing
COnkling's review Of the Electoral
Commission and cOgnste matters, the
salient points Of which have heretofore
been laid before the readers Of the
HERALD. The expose ls not calculated
to raise Mr.. COukling In the estima-
ton Of the people as 8 statesman or q
patriot. According TO bis account,
Grant was dumb.fOunded and paral.
yzsd on the verge Of the crisis which
threatened the country, and Coukling
was his adviser and counselor In the
emergency. Never had any man go
great an opportunity for the diaplay Of
stateSmanship as Conkllng had at that
time within bis grasp. The President
seems to have been willing 10
adopt any plan that would avoid
the civil war which he con.
sidered as impending, and had hlS ad-
wiser proposed an honorable and just
mode of settling the difficulty, although
Il involved the seating Of Tllden, no
doubt Grant would have accepted It as
q dernier resort. Such action would
have been al agreeable surprise
to the people, aud though 1t would
have lost the Presidency, would have
saved the Republican party. But Mr..
Conkliug was not capable Of rising
above the narrow limits Of mere parti.
Ssuship, aud bis story ofhow the Electe.
raj Commission scheme was cOncocted,
how be sneaked out OF the Senate
when the vote on the LoulsiAnS 70.
turns came up, shows that hiS plan
involved the whole system Of fraud
aud corruption which he he now chAl.
lenges and denounces. And what does
be do, in attempting 10 overthrow
the verdict which be helped, more
than any other one m an, to bring about,
but heap upon himself the largest
share OF the dlshonor aud disgrace
which he says attaches to Hayes, the
passive agent In the consummatiOn OIL
the fraud2 Can any one believe for 8
moment that Mr.. COnkliDg would be
found in bis present attitude, If Mr
Hsles had proved q plant and truck
ling tool of the Republican party, espe'
cial, Of those leaders Of whom the New
York Senator is the head aud front
What then 10 his motive2 |, he stunV
to confession By the qualml
Of couscience7 Does he repent him o
the fraud1 Il he ashamed Of his party
and associations? Far from 1t. In hl
ave columns OF narrative aud denunci
atOns, we fnd no traces Of such incen
lives On the contrary, the secre
spring which ac.uates him 10 found il
this single sentence: "Hayes Is ownet
by the South" This is the sole cSus
Of Mr.. Conkling's trouble, aud he refer
to II very bitterly in the following par
sgraph:
"You think, then, Senator, that th
President is wholly In the hands Of th,
Southern Democrats?' p
II am sure Of1t. A Republican toll
me that not long ago be had occasion
TO visit the White House and he fount
the President polite but chilly as 81
iceberg. While be was there Senator
Gordon walked 10 without ceremony
and the Presidents countenaLce q
once lighted up and he rose from hi
seat, grasped the Senator'S hand warm
ly, aud throwing on arm a1ectionatel
over his shoulder drew him to the win
dow, where the Two talked together II
confidential whispers, and then Gordot
walked out as he came in-with the al
OF one who was perfectly al home. Th
other guest took his leave at once Il
great disgust. Hill, Lamar and olhe
Soulherners ere reported 10 be on th
same terms OF familiarity there, Will
the cold shoulder Is given to the oldes
and best Of our Republican leaders. |
looks very much like ownership on tn
part OF these gentlemen, and II is Ger
tain thai they are not disposed 10 rela
any Of their claims. Hayes cannot q
out OF their power II he would, and
am by no means sure that be desires 1
lie has an inordinate conceit Of his ow
power, and in spite of the fact that b
can command no votes at the Sout
seems possessed of the delusion that b
is able TO create party OF his ow
there"