Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1880-12-30
The Mentor Compact.

When professional or political dis
plomatists are about to negotiate an inn
portant treaty, they do, not take all the
world into their confidence - to the
proposed terms, nor do they sit with
open doors fos<ehe benefit OF caves
troopers The cool heads - together
privately, and Try to drive the host
possible bargain for their respective
sides. -
| Now. it Is alleged that when Ceck
ling. Grant, Cameron and LTNrS9
| to Mentor there was no secf 81
ence4 between them and Gar and
| all their proceedin g were ab0tg BARD
Grant appears a. . witness to this fact
| ON behalf of one of the contracting
parties, and . personal friend OF Gar
| field. who claims to have been present.
testifies to the same effect ON behen OF
the other party.
This volunteer testimony does not
touch the real point in dispute. Ii goes
all around it. Nobody pretends or has
pretended that Mr.. Conkling and his
followers went to Mentor to make .
treaty openly with Garfield. That is
not the way such business is done.
/ Their presence at Mentor was . rati-
fication of an arrangement which had
been previously made and accepted.
| and the terms Of which had been sub
stantially dictated by Mr.. Conkling as
the leader of the Stalwarts. Without
such a compact, Mr.. Conkling would
never have taken part in the campaign
in the West, nor would the Grant fac
ton have come to the front, as the
chiefs all finally did.
The external facts leave no doubt as
to the nature of this bargain, the exact
terms of which remain TO be revealed.
Garfield was nominated at Chicago as
compromise to beat Grant Personal
antagonists prevented the nomin alton
of either Blaine Or Sherman, and their
strength was utilized up to the critical
moment in holding the lines tightly
until Blaine gave the signal for the d.
version which succeeded.
This was no sudden stroke, as has
been supposed. 1t was contingency
foreseen and provided for at Washing
ton weeks before the Convention met.
While Blaine had, as all candidates have,
hopes of being nominated by one OF the
! impulses that often sweep over conven-
tions-such, for instance, as nominated
Lincoln in 1S60-still he knew the
chances were against him, and, like a
shrewd politician. he sought to make
the most of bad situation by defeating
his rivals and putting up new man
:, over their heads.
, Blaine nominated Garfield. Grants
defeat was made doubly bitter by the
: methods used to effect it, and es-
pecially was it hateful to Conkling.
: from his old-time feud with Blaine.
I The selection of General Arthur for the
E second place, intended as a peace
offering BY those who proposed it. had
no influence in soothing his resentment.
, The leaders returned to Washington,
4 where the first public meeting was
4 held to ratify the nomination. GARFIELD
addressed it. and though MIR. Conklingg
i, was within sight of the spot where il
! took place, neither he nor Mr.. Gamer.
on had q hand in the affair. Logan
G went from curiosity to see the expected
> and actual failure, and was literally
captured in the throng and made &c
I speak. 80
: Altogether, the nomination fell flat
I and the GOODNESS of the Grant faction
e seemed to make defeat certain. In this
dilemma. after the adjournment OF Con
gress. Garfield appealed to Simon Cam
Q eron for advice and aid. They met 81
L Harrisburg by agreement, and went to
r oether to Pittsburgh. What occurred
ON that journey is only known by the
developments since then come to light
Q Subsequently, Garfield came to New
York to hold q conference with the Ma
= tional Committee in regard to the des-
!. peratc situation of the party. The out
- look was cherries. and the campaign
had opened with gloom. The Grant mel
had made no sign. JEWELS committee
e met at the Fifth Avenue Hotel. Gar
n field naturally went there, and
r Mr.. Conkling was established on the
= same floor with him.s Mr.. COnklins
" made it point neither to pay Garheit
= the cheap compliment of visit nor tt
:. attend the conference. and this wa.
y published all over the country. Thi!
o was the welcome he extended to the
candidate at his own political fireside
and this was the recognition he oheree
: to the committee representing all tht
:. States and charged with the RESPONSE
10 bjlity of the campaign.
ID In view of this condition of things, II
ID it reasonable to suppose that Mr.. Conk
ling would have suddenly emerged
~ from his seclusion, put aside his ange
er and assumed the actual conduct OF TIT
Presidential canvass without some ex
J. traordinary inducement? Or that afte
1t treating Garfield with contempt n
would have gone out of his way to visi
Mentor unless there was an agreemen
l. which gave him the assurance OF con
III troll?
ANY other theory, as human natur
y, III is constituted, and as politicians 20
d. would be absurd. The third-termer
err never would have budged from thei
a position of passive hostility until
I'd guarantee had been given which pu
y them in the ascendant. OF course MI
r. Conkling did not take a contrac. wit
to him to Mentor for Garfield to sign n
did not expect him. to execut
political deed before Commis
ia ia sioner in due form. with wit
N nesses, and send it to Utica But b
he took very good care before he en-
e. barked in the business of making Cal
so fald President tn bo sure of the Ou