Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-04-22
Why WattersOn Cultivated Conk.
ling

The Worlds interview with Senator
Conkling has reached Louisville, and Mr..
WattersOn rises to explain about the portion
OF it in which his name is introduced as hav-
ing sought the acquaintance OF COnkling in
connection with the bargaining going on be-
tween the Southern democracy and the friends
of Hayes, while the electoral commission was
at work.
wattersOn says that the essential fact in
this statement is made the basis of false As
sumption He goes on to say:
About the time the Electoral Commission
began its work, 1t came to Mr.. Watters0n. no
matter how, that Mr.. COnkling had made up
his mind to see justice done: that he would
submit to no unfair proceeding: and that, If
need be. he was prepared TO lead republican
revolt against the radical cOnSpiratOrS on the
floor of the Senate A revelation so unex-
pected, Yet so gratifying. presented Mr.. COnk-
ling to MIR. WatterSOn in new and, it must be
owned, most attractive aspect. Mr.. Waiter
son felt that Mr. COnkliDg ought to be given
encouragement and cOuntenance in his good
intentions; and this was the motive and the
cue for his offer TO meet him half way, an
offer which MIR. COnkling accepted, putting
himself, as he says, to the trouble TO come
over to the House, where an introduction and
"a few commonplace words were had. Mr..
WatterSOn was afterward given to understand
that the reason why delight full acquaintance
ship, so happily begun, should not riptn into
tender friendship, grew out of polite con
SlderatlOnS. The Senator thought and very
". u.
scheme of diSntereSted patriotism. too sudden
an intimacy with Southern democrats was not
desirable: and thus seeing that he failed in
the last II Oment, a most touching spectacle of
the communion Of the lion and the lamb was
deteatt by premature and needless excess of
caution On the ions part.
Mr.. WatterSOn proceeds 10 set forth the
Illogical nature of Mr.. ConkIng's surmiSe.
that it was his tWattersOn's) purpose to be-
Tray Mr. Tiden. and adds:
According to Mr.. COnkling, Mr.. HAYES was
brought in TO the Presidential office by in
trigueS TO which Mr. COnkling was superior,
hut that, Notwithstanding both his convictions
and his knowledge on the subject. he stood
and saw the crime perfected without uttering
a word That is what Mr.. COnkling says, and
that far he is right. There was a conspiracy
to cheat Mr.. Tilden out of the place to which
he had been chosen. There was a time when
MI C0nkllng had it in his power to defeat
this What positive engagements he entered
was the belief that he would make the at.
Tempt that one morning the democratic side
OF the House was half emDtied by q hegira
Of OF curious and eager members who sought
the Senate chamber to see him do it
that the Republican side of the Senate
was quite empty: that the eXpectant demo-
Gratis waited and waited. patient yet anxious
mat after while the republicans, who had
Deen holding caucus, began one after an
other to straggle in: that when nearly all had
entered and still no COnkling, Senator Nor
ton, With Il cold, significant smile upon his
dark face. appeared upon the scene, announc-
ing, without word. the futility of the demo
cratic hope. To be sure there may have been
nothing III ali this. Human calculations like
human nature itself, are very uncertain and
deluslye. But the presumptiOnS INDUCED with
respect to MIR. COnkling are at least as plauSi-
BE as those which he charges upon Others
Time will doubtless reveal all that is of public
interest and value. Meanwhile Senators who
1--we In glass houses should not throw StOnes.''
Altogether, whether the interview was
bogus or gueSs-wOrk, or partially or wholly
true, the publication seems likely to bring out
considerable of the unwritten history of the
Great Adjustment.