New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-05-05
SENATOR COYKLINGS POSITION.

Senator Conklng will hardly thank the gentle
men who in their discussion of the probabilities
of the Chicago Convention, are putting such an
extravagant estimate upon his influence IN
controlling its action. For there is danger that
this sort of eXaggeratiOn may either reach the
mitch of absurdty and lie laughed down, or be
sufficiently credited to excite hostility on Its
own account; in either case the effect being to
diminish rather than increase the Senator's
legitimate and proper influence In the councils
of the Convention and the party. The Senator
undoubtedly fully appreciates his commanding
position in the party, and especially his power
in his own State. The consciousness of having
walked straight forward to his place, without
obseguiousness or even seeming to court the
favor of the people, and the feeling that he owes
more to direct methods and plain speaking than
to dcviousness and servility, have had their
effect in entrenching him in the natural pride,
bordering sometimes on arrogance and haughtl-
ness, which comes of clean-handed success and
honestly earned power The Senator's intiu-
ence in the party is large. 1t amounts some
times to control So far from affecting to con-
ceal his knowledge of it, he often ignores the
existence of any opposition to it. The holiness
Of his self-assertion touches at times the point
of audacity but even his cnemies!must cOnccdc
that thus far in his career he has Oh most Occa-
sions, either through intuition or as the result
of prudent calculation, recognized the limita-
lions of his power and kept himself within
them. Between self-poise and self-conceit, to
the superficial observer, the line is thin and
vague to the discriminating mind the distinc-
ton is wide and important
No reasonable person will deny the weight of
Senator COnkling's influence in the party as it
is exerted in favor of General Grants n0mina-
ton. 1t is only truth to say that in spite of the
jealousy attending his success and the hostility
excited by his uDcOmprOmising attitude and
manner he carries more weight III the councils
of the party than any other one citizen OF the
State he represents. 1t would be the grOssest
untruth, as well as the most fulsOmc fattery, to
say that his preference will govern the party In
the State; or that his opinion, profoundly re-
spected as it is by majority of the party, Is the
party's law. But it has been seriously urged
by some, in the discussion of Republican candi
dates, not merely that the whole vote OF the
New-York delegation would DO cast for the Sen
ator's choice, regardless Of individual prefer
ences but that, In the event of that choice being
defeated, no one of the now prominent candi-
dates can be nominated, because the Senator's
personal relations with them are such that he
will not permit the State of New-York to be
carried for any one of them. Now this is in the
first place an unjust and unwarrantcd reflection
upon the integrity and independence of the
whole body of New-York Republicans. They
are not any mans men to the extent of throw
ing away the State to crafty personal spite or
personal pride. 1t is mach more unjust, how
ever to Senator COnkling himself, for it pre-
supposes a degree of blind and unrcasOning
selishness on his part that is incompatible with
the intelligence and saGacity which have pro-
cured him his success. The Senator is not so
easily gulled by fiattery as not to see that wnen
these gentlemen go about saying that neither
Blame. Sherman nor Washburne must be nOmi
mated, because he would take it as a personal
affront and defeat them, they are impugning his
honor and imputinG foolhardiness ana pre-
SUMPTION to him, rather than paying tribute to
his influence and power
When we are told that unless Mr.. COnliling
"approves the Republican candidate he has no
@chance in New York, and without New-York
his election is impossible" and that i" the great
apractical problem for the anti -thrd-term Re-
@publicans is to find a candidate who will dis
earn the hostility of Mr.. Conliling and yet BE-
by our contemporary The Herald-we feel that
Injustice is done both to the party and Senator
Conkling; to the former by the intimation that
in matter of 80 much moment its action would
be governed by such considerations and to the
latter by the assumption that he would defeat
his party to resent personal affrOnt. The Sen
ator has thrown the weight Of his great influ
ence in favor of the nomination of the eX-Presi-
dent, and is doing all he can to promote it. Il
is his right to do this, and he is fairly entitled
to use in that effort the political power which
he has legitimatcly and honestly acquired. But
there is not between him and any other Of the
prominent candidates the slightest difference in
principle to warrant refusal to support them if
nominated. There is not, SO fur as we can
learn, the least basis for such a suspicion and it
is hardly legitimate to use any such implication
to influence the Conventions choice. Speaking
by no other authority than that derived from
our knowledge of Senator Conklings public
life and our confidence in his intelligence and
sapacity, we do not hesitate to say that who
ever is dominated at Chicago will receive his
hearty support That candidate, too, whoever
he may be- will receive the electoral vote OF New
York.
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A NEW ISSUE.
II ia renOrted from Washington, though not