The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1879-09-05
The 99ailg Argns,
ROCK ISLAND.
lConoluded from second page. J

Concluded from second page
10 the last fortnight, have not hesitated to
assert that Conkiing had lost none of his
power, and that when the proper time
came he would make himself felt. The
sagacity of such views is shown by the
result, yesterday, at Saratoga, where
Senator Conkling succeeded, in defiance of
universal expectation, and against the
wishes of large, respectable and most
influential element of his own party, in
putting in nomination a man of no perso-
nal standing, and who is certainly the very
weakest man whom the republicans ofNew
Y ork could have selected as their stand
ard bearer at most critical period in
state as well as national politics. As tenn
porary chairman of the convention, SeDa.
tor Conkling called attention 10 the fact
the action of New York at the coming
election would exercise most marked. If
not decisive, effect upon the approach
ing presidential struggle; and yet it would
seem as if he had done the precise thing
calculated to insure the defeat of his party
and the importing, if not the total rout, of
the republican party in 1880.
The very most that can be claimed in
the nomination of Cornell is that it dem
onstrates. not the wisdom of the men who
nominated him, but the personal strength
of Conkling. 10 the last named direction
1t is Waterloo for the senator's oppo-
nents, and an apparent Endorsement of
Conkling as against the administration.
The Waterloo thus gained is in no sense a
popular victory. 1t was not fought and
won by the people through their repre-
sentatives, but through mercenaries, every
one of whom was in Conkling's pay, and
who voted for Cornell because ordered TO
do so by their leader and owner; and who
would have just as soon and freely voted
for some other candidate had Conklipg
ordered them to turn their guns in some
other direction. The men who supported
and nominated Cornell are political free
lances, who, for the time, are in the sery-
ice of Conkliug. and who do not, in any
sense, represent the men who elected
them, or who have any heart in the cause
for which they fight. In other words, the
nomination is machine one, thoroughly
and absolutely. 1t proves Conkling's
power, but it will give the state to the
democrats unless they go into the fight
with unusual dissensions, and conduct it
with more than their usual amount OF
laundering.
Except in connection with some minor
positions, Cornell is an unknown man.
Take away from him Conkling;s support
and he could not get to be an alderman
from his own award, He first came into
prominence at Albany by aiding Conkling
to become senator. He was given in re-
quital federal appointment, from which,
as is we'll known, he retired with anything
| but honor. AS chairman of the republican
| state central committee he has had oppor-
tunity to manipulate local delegations in
his own interest. He has not single
element of popularity; and, in short, is
one OF the most wretched selections which
the party could have made. If he be not
beaten out of sight it will be because the
democrats will blunder far worse than
they have upon any Of the ten thousand
occasions when the only obstacle in their
road to victory was their own unrivaled
stupidity
The platform adopted is of the usual
character. 1t defends the supremacy Of
the nation: declaims against pretended
attempt to make it a league: eulogizes the
republican party, and depouuces the dem.
ocrats for the extra session and their
course during the last meeting of con.
gress. Upon the whole, there are probably
three people 10 New York who are pleased
with the result of the convention; ConkI
ling, Cornell and-Tilden.