New-York tribune., 1879-01-21
LIE SEN1I0R FROM NtW.YOEK.

THE SENATOR FROM ~ U-YORK.
Mr.. Conkhng has been unanimously renom-
mated by the caucus of his party, and his
election to-day by an overwhelming majority
follows as matter of course. l. Is the
triumph of unque5ioned personal ami
poiitIca force, of vehement RepublicaniSm,
and OF large capacity for partisan leadership.
The enemies and even the impartial critics OF
Mr.. Conkliuc have pcrpctually undcrrated
him: and, on thr occasion OF triumphS like
that of last night, are brought face TO
face with the fact that some cie-
mrnt has been left out Of their calculations,
which has made them ridicnlOns. The man
whom they had supposed to be on the point
OF political collapse dcfantiy seizcs up0a
convention, assalls his ablest and most pop
ular opponents, commits political SUI
eide. as they proclaim, and comes out
of it stronger than ever. The man
whom they had supposed intensely unpopular,
comes to the front in IA critical campaign,
confcs,edy the most effective popular leader
in the State, arousing everywhere the most
enthusiasm, having the largest meetings, and
Ca, the returns show making the most votes.
The Union League Club Eliminates, the'press
bnmbiTlS, the chief men OF the chief city in
the state openly or secretly aSsali, and when
the caucus of the strongest Republican Lcgis-
Ltine ever elected in the State comes to-
ccthcr 20 choose ms successor, there Is not
man named against him. The secret
of this contrast between what many III
this city have supposed to bc the pop
ular feeling, and what the action at
Albany proves 1t to be, is to be found in
4, NI.,.r, ~, ,,ftq
makes it better informed about events
in Minnesota or III England, than in
,he interior of the State OF New I Ork.
Acute politicians have frequently, and
not without some reason, complained
that New-Yorkcrs knew nothing OF pub
lic sentiment IN the interior OF their
own State. The phenomenon of Mr..
Conklmg's absolute supremacy, III spite OF the
hostility OF the city press and most Of the
metropolitan influences, goes strongly to
prove 1t.
Mr. Conhling il not always n wise politi-
can We have had many occasions III the
past to cgitici,e bis conduct with un-
sparing severity, and it is not i'm
probable that similar occasions may arise In
the future. To-day il Is enough to point ont
the uumstakablc proof OF his power in the
continued success which he eXtorts from
the most adverse circumstances. We should
be glad TO see this power Oitener eXerted III
different drcctiOns-tO see IL less frittercd
away on purely personal politics, and
less controlled by personal feelings. Yet,
even in these respects, it must be confessed
that Mr. Conkling has often DISAPPOINTED
his critics. Nothing could have been more
the promptness with which he came to
the defence of his Old rival. and
secured the confirmation Of Mr. Fcnton. The
idle stories of bargain to secure the Fcnton
support in the State which instantly
cloudcd the air, were utterly baSolrS'. There
was no bargain, 10 understanding of any
sort rt-nOthing but the honest conviction OF "a
Senator Of AewYork, that IA man of stain
less character and recognized ability,
vino had also been Senator, as well az
Governor of his State, being appointed
to a prominent puhlic Office, for which his
studies gave him special fitness, was
entitled to all the support and nii1ence that
the State of NewIo Iorf, through her one Re
publican Senator, could command. Nothing,
again, could have more surprised those
holding the average Ncw-YOrk idea Of
Mr.. COubilnE's disposition and purposes, than
! the admirable speech with which he opened the
Saratoga Convention. His enemies at once
attributed it 10 his desire for rcnOmina-
tion; and yet it Is known that at the
very time when he was preparing tins speech
he had definitely made up his mind to with
draw entirely from the Senatorial canvass, lnthc
belief that the personal controversies Ill which
he had become involved would prove weight
IN the struggle, which he had no right to ask
the Republican party TO carry. We should DC
clad if Mr.. C0nklng's great personal triumph
to-day might be "A means of allaying some Of
the acerbities of the Republican household.
He Is secure now, in the place that best
fits him, till the expiration of President
Hayes's term, and the term of President
Hayes's successor. He has no occasion to