Nebraska advertiser., 1879-07-03
Roscoe COnkling.

There are ieW mon VINO ever reaGh
an neutrality-suspicious. where there
are not some to deride their powers
and dispute their superiority. A man
may be "a Triton among the min
nows," but he is rarely giant among
the Cyclops.
The names OF American statesmen
can be counted on ones fingers who
have reached q place prominently
above their fellows. Indeed, it is diff
fcult 10 remember but very few who
have aOt had close competitors for
the palm ofsuperiority, and where the
first place has finally been conceded
It has generly been after the death OF
the favorite, and when he no longer
barred the way to the narrow summit
which scarcely affords room for two.
Whether history is to go on repeat
ing itself In this as in other affairs we
know not, but it certainly looks as il
Roscoe Conkling were near that place
where universal testimony comedies
the palm, and when by general &C.
acknowledgement a man occupies an ele'
vation above his fellows, unquestion'
ed and undisputed. We never re-
member a time when such general
confession was made Of a statesman IS
pre-eminence. Mr.. Conkling has
Il - A ri IA IN
statesman ever before accomplished
| In his life time-wrung tributes of IN
stinted admiration from parties abso-
lutely and unqualitedly opposed to
him, and intent upon defeating the
measures lie advocates. Even those
who entertain feelings Of personal dis
like toward thes New York Senator,
stop to marvel at his power, and for
get to hate in the absolute necessity
for admiration. Possessed ofmanners
which repel, rather than unite, the
multitude, and devoid Of that person
al magnetism which is deemed so in
dispensable TO leadership, he still
passes swlftly 10 the front, and sees
clustering around him men, themsel-
yes leaders, but who are content to
follow where they never followed be-
fore.
There is q combination OF greatness
about Mr.. Conkling seldom witnessed
In any one man, however eminent.
He has not only remarkable brain
power. but the physical strength to
give 1t full play. He has none, or at
least no prominent eccentricity, or
infirmity, which SO commonly attach
es to genius, but presents to the world
fullan complete picture of around
ed aud symmetrical life, mentally,
physically, and morally. 1t is not
often that your eloquent speaker is at
the same time a close snd logical rea-
soner but Conkiing combines both
elements of greatness. He has the
force and cogency of Morton, the cool
ness and satire Of Edmunds, the fire
and readiness Of Blaine, the boldness
and daring of Logan, and the polish
and elegance of Bayard. Not all of
these, perhaps, In the degree enjoyed
by their exempt ars, bat sufficiently
so to make him dangerous opponent
in any of the particular fields men
toned.
In pertinacity he is the Grant of
poIiticts In brilliancy the Sherman
or Sheridan. This may seem extrav-
agant praise, but it is simple abstract
of the tributes paid to him by his po-
litical opponents themselves, and
while 1t is superlative in degree, can
hardly be termed blind and undis-
eliminating eulogy. II Is a satisfac-
ton to know that this man has sue
ceeded in bringing tributes Of respect
from all quarters, even in a time of
great partisan bitterness, and that
whatever a mans party ties may be,
he is proud to acknowledge Mr.. Conk-
ling as an American statesman, whose
oonsummate ability may well ohal-
lenge the admiration of the whole
oountry.-IHteT Ocean.