Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-12-21
From the Albany Journal.
Senators COnkling and Blaine,


A. rule, journalists do not mean 10 be unfair.
There are exceptions. as to every rule; but take
them all in all, DO class acts under higher sense
of responsibility, OF poie earnestly seeks TO be
just AS between man and man. When they err il
is mole frequently though basty conclusions
without ad, quate inquiry than through studied
malice. The fault of Journalism is the buried,
supe' fetal view rather than deliberate misrepre-
sentation. In this eager. impetuous grasp grave
wrongs are often done. The journalist sees what
upon the mere surface hears a particular appear
ance. II he took the pains to look below he
would learn the truth. But 10 the hot haste and
tumutuous whirl of a busy life he accepts the
seeming without searching for the reality and
thus often tips his lance with the poison of injus
tice.
Take a case in point. The other day Senator
Blaine filed the eye of the country with an
eagerly expected speech on a great theme. The
Senate Hall was thronged While he spoke Sen
ator Conk ling was pouring over some manuscript.
As MIR. Conkling is a gentleman, the presumption
was that be had good reason for working when
he would have been glad to listen. Wellington
said there could not be conserva i've government
because he had no small talk and Peel had no
manners. No one ever accused Mr. Conkiing OF
being without manners, and it would have been
fair to assume, As very little inquiry would have
confirmed, that his employment had good ex
plaIation. In spite of this obvious truth, eyes
which, looking on the surface, only saw that be
did not stop while Mr. Blaine spoke, treated il as
a studied discourtesy towards brother Senator,
and so it was widely proclaimed. Some of the
real facts have since found their way into print,
but the whole story has not been told.
Senator Conkling was preparing Tor the printer
and for the Court bis argument before Judge
Blstchford in the electro nickel plating cases II
was an argument which involved many technical
terms and exact expressions, in which the mistake
of single letter-as. for instance, sulphite in.
stead of sulphste sulpbde-would have
changed the whole sense. and which, therefore,
had to he -cfutt zed ith the utmost care II al.
so had to be resuy rs soon AZ possible, and Mr..
Conkling had been up two nights on it. On the
day when Mr.. Blame spoke, Mr.. Corklng re-
ceived notice that case 10 which he wa.
counsel would soon he reached 10 the Supreme
Court. Until the very moment arrived. he wished
to be in the Senate ready for any vote or duty that
might present Itself, aud 1t ar anged with an
officer Of the court that if he would remain in
his seat where he could be readily found he should
be notified as hi, case was called and
time given him to pass fro n the Senate Chamber
to the court room. lie was, therefore, fastened
BY this arrangement to his seat while Mr.. Blaine
was spesking and compelled TO do th. re the work
which would not admit of delay. This work con
sisted 10 revising the manuscript which had alre adv
been prepared, and MIR. Conkling was careful to
use pencil instead Of a pen in order to avoid any
di.turbing noise.
Out OF these circumstsnces, thus entirely un-
ssoidsble, grew the reports widely telegfaphed
through The country, that Mr. Conkling had treat.
ed Nj. Blaine wi'h disiespect. How far such an
sct ~puid he from hi, true nature and spirit wa.
stusihsly Illustrated yesterday. The resolution
spDn sbch Sir. Blaine made his able and power.
igi spsteb provided for au investigation Of the
SHs'ls era 'sciiou frauds by the Judiciary commit.
re. nF. Blaine /. not member of that comuit-
fs$ NJ, fSbkhnK IL; and the resolution would
t&'s pa TIE ihvssigatioh into the hand. of Mr.
= <'Exl ~ As1 bic associates. But Nj. Copkling
NiA'ed yF.br3sy moved and carried an amend
IL ~ fFSVDi1R that select committee, instead
u BE Judiciary Con miitee. should conduct the
i~inHF ~ e"anesy he Senator who offered the
- "a iDs bcones chairman Of the select commit
mnits, aud 'bss by the act Of Mr. CoDkiiDy the
.A"thK pAfi 20 lhe In'esiigatiOn will be boz ne by
hi Blaine. That fact Of itself answers the i'm
p'.1uon o. hlse"nf"sy. Nor does 1t stand alone.
wear ago Senator CoDkliDg proposed a sp.cisI
lhqaf> ipto our relations with Mexico As the
moves he would naturally have been at the head
OF the committee. But 10 b.. Woodstock address
seha'of Blame had spoken earnestly on this ques.
ton, and Mr.. Conklrng took pain. 70 s,onifv ,hs,
he would be glad to have Mr.. Blaine named AZ
chairman. Mr.. Conkling, like Mr. Blaine, ha, bis
Puonc associations and hi. personal relations.
Each OF these distinguished Senators, with nj,
iespect i'f others, is not, we take it, lacking in
pVp.i sen-lesp' CT and, Whatever the differences,
neither is wanting in honorable impulse or chvsI'
ric spirit. VI N"'~'
e, So Noith, South, East or West. and you will
nno coughs and colds at this season of the wear.
remedy which never fails to give .al,,f.c,,o. il