Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1879-06-22
nAmAR Ann CoNKLING.

After all, there is much OF the animal IN
tie human family. A combat between two
hostile forces, whether 1t be men, women,
beasts or birds, always attracts attention.
Intellectual men, who boast their civilization
and their adherence for the groveling In
stincts of the brute, cannot pass dog-fght
on the street without becoming eager specta-
: tors; and poets, statesmen and philosophers
viii do without their breakfast to watch two
gane-coOks whiting each others head on
cold, frosty morning. Bull-fghting was an
ancient and popular amusement, and is still
practiced among the Spaniards and Portu-
guese. If Barnum were to announce that a
6ght was to come off on the fourth of July,
between tigers, hons and grizzly bears, he
could not erect an amphitheater large enough
to hold the coneourse who had purchased
tickets at the cost of five dollars. The love
of that excitement which any SORT of COM
bat inspires dlvests the battlefield of
many of its horrors. 1t is not, therefore,
surprising that the recent conflict between
Lamar and Conkling in the United States
senate has created such profound sensation
throughout the country. The excitement
winch animated the belligerents seemed to
be contagious. 1t caused an increased flow
oil perspiration from the oleaginous carcass
of David Davis, whose flesh, even when the
proprietor is in repose, quivers like a pyra-
ND of Jelly. The venerable Hannibal Ham
In, who is as stoical and imperturbable as a
xorn-out boot, lost his equanimity, effer'
vesced like an uncorked bottle of ginger-pop,
and whisked about the senate chamber,
shaking his swallow-tailed coat, bedizzeBed
withs brass buttons, with as much defiance
rs hairy comet wagging It's tail in
the heavens. Little Dawes, of Massa-
chusetts, who was in the cloak-room, mock
ing the stiffness OF the midnight's solemn
awe with the bowling snore of his brutal
nose, heard of the episode in the senate and
frantically rushed to his seat, and as his
unkempt hair stood on end like the quilts
upon the fretful porcupine, he looked as
venomous as vipers usually do when en-
ragged. Gordon is the bosom friend of La
mar, and he wRs charged with as much cleo
tricity as the evening storm-cloud. Every
senator seemed to be crammed to the muz-
zle with excitement over the scene which had
just occurred. The next morning the whole
country read an account of the combat be-
tween these two senator's, and it has been no
less excited. In locating the blame, men are
generally biased by political and sectional
preiudices. In the eouth where the code is
understood and recognized, no one questions
the impregnability of Lamar's position. It is
true Conkling used more epithets, rant,
and buster; but no amount Of abuse, black
guardian, rage or Aippaney can be received
as a sufficient reputation for gross insult. 1t
has been said that the cause was not sufficient
to provoke Lamar's severe comments. This
may be true. But Mr.. Lamar, under
the peculiar circumstances, was justified in
appropriahng Conkhng's offensive remarks
to himself, and it was the duty of the senator
from New York to disclaim any allusion to
the senator from Mississippi, so soon as he
saw that he was laboring under a mistake, and
thereby have prevented the unpleasant scene.
MIR. Lamar, in debate, has always been cour-
teous. As the COHriey-JoWr7laI says: mo
man in America has sweeter, gentler, more
womanish nature than Lamar. He Is
dreamer, a poet. His life has been passed
! among books. He was long college pro-
fessor. Just enough of active, practical
experience, as a soldier and as a
traveller, he has had to give HIM
somewhat Of the knowledge of a politician
aud ran Of the world. But he makes poor
6gure IN either character; he is a statesman
and a philosopher man of profound con-
yictions-and owes his great place in popular
esteem TO his genius, sustained by physical
and moral courage of so high an order that
ais enemies respect him. All men, who
know him at all, know him to be incapable
'hof rremeditated discourtesy or offense.
known to be fearless man, he never had a
difficulty or alteration in his life; and nothing
short Of the intolerable insolence Of Mr..
Conkling could have stung him into the kind
az rsioinder which he made" Mr.. Lamar
has had many political discussions here in
Memphis, and kss always won the admira-
Ntion Of bis opponents by his knightly cour-
Nay. On the other hand, Ccnkling is known
= clustering bully. Proud Of his personal