New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-04-16
poLITTcAL FRIENDS AND FOES.
AR. CoNKLNWs PRESENT POSITION.

The reticence of Senator Conkling has given
sise to o rumor IN Washington that If the
nominee OF Chicago is not General Grant, Mr.
Conkling will lend his influence toward throw
ing away the vote Of New-York State, in order
60 defeat the candidate. This rumor Is regarded
rs improbable. A letter from Washington
printed below describes some Of Mr.. Conkling's
peculiarities of bearing at the present time, and
eiyes come of the current chat about Blaine,
Sherman, Washburne. Justice Miller and others.
FACTORS IN THE COMING CONTEST.
AN IMPROBABLE RUMOR THAT SENATOR CoNKLING
WILL WIN WITH GRANT OR LEAVE 1HE CANDI-
DATE WITHOUT THE FULL STRENGTH OF NEW
YoRK-TnDEN's POLITICAL HRIR.
lFRoM STAFF CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUEE
WASHINGTON. April 15.-rbe third term people
fallen back to their last line Of argument In the
mast few days they have been saying that Senator
Conkling Is 10 q very bad humOr with the state of
the Presidential canvass and that he win be sure to
throw away the State of New-iork and thus defeat
tbs Republican nominee II that nominee is not
General Grant He took no interest in the CAM
paign of 1879, they add and in the speech he made
at the eleventh hour did not once mention Hayes,
and che result was that Tilden carried the State.
This argument has had some effect upon class OF
men who are not committed to either OF the Repub-
iican candidates and who have an almost morbid
dread Of the consequences which may follow
from Democratic victory this year They do
not stop to consider how wildly improbable it is
that man like Mr.. Conkllng whose entire political
career has been identified with the history and
triuuphs OF the Republican party will seek
The defeat of that party In momentous
crisis for the sole that the candidate OF his
choice has not boon successful in securing ma
iority In q National Nominating Convention. MI
Conklipg is above all things party man there
sre mono of the tendencies Of the 'scracher" in his
composition. The story that he is threatening to
beat Blaine, or Sherman, or Washburne, in case
either of thoss gentlemen should be successful at
Chicago, may be set down as an invention OF the
thrd-term advocates. who are getting desperate at
the fiat failure of their movement to awaken any
popular enthusiasm.
Were IL not for Mr.. Conklings way of wrapping
himself up in an atmosphere of isolation, such a
story could gain no credence. Since the retirement
of General Grant to private life. the New-York
Senator has taken his place as the Sphinx of our
politics. He has no iptimates No one pretends to
speak for him, or to know the currents of his
thought He rarely goes into society, and wholly
dsdains the social arts which many politicians sue
cessfully employ to increase and strengthen
their influence. He cultivates nobody, and
holds off at arms length those who try to cultivate
him. There are men who sit every day within
few feet of him in the Senate Chamber with whom
he has not spoken for years am told that he has not
recognized member Of President Hayes Cabinet
since the Spring Of 1877 Senators say that he has
not had word of conversation with Vice-President
Wheeler since the first day Of the session, although
there is not believed be the slightest il-feelng
between them He never goes over to the House as
do other Senator's to look after legislation In which
they feel an interest or to talk with the members
from their States. 1t Is said that he hos only once
in many years appeared IN the other wing Of the
Capitol, aud that was when q bill was pending re-
latng to the taxes on the estate Of the late Chief
Justice He asks no favors Of the Administration,
recommends no one to office, condescends to no ef-
fort to gain the good will of bis Senatorial col
leagues seeks to make converts TO his ideas re-
speeding the Chicago nomination. and in q word,
goes his own way, naughty, reserved and alone 1t
is easy to ascribe to such man motives which he
does not feel and purposes which be does not
terrain, because he will not trouble himself about
what is sand of him aud contradicts no reports
which the Official gossips of Washington set aoat.
Mr.. coNKLING's ANTAGONISTS.
Mr.. Conkling Is q firm friend and a
frst-rate bater. He never forgives an in
Jury and never fOrgets kindness or a
service. Somewhat of his extraordinary devotion
to General Grants candidacy no doubt be set
down to his dislike to the ex-Presdent's rivals for
tho Chicago nomination. Everybody knows the first
cause of his opposition to Mr. Ba1ne-how the two
auarrelled In debate in the House, and shot sharp
Invectivs arrows at each other. Both young at
the time for the affair occurred nearly fifteen years
ago Both were obscure and both were ambitious.
Since then they have kept pace with each other In
the race for fame and power. Mr.. Conkling got to
the Senate FIRST, but Mr.. Blaine stepped up to the
Speakers chair Of the House at the same time. They
were rivals for the Presidential nomination at Gin
cinnati in 1915 and were both defeated, but Mr..
Blaine kept in the field and extended bis influence
throughout the county, while Mr.. Conkling, con-
fnng his political activities to his owA State drop
ped helmet and declined to enter the contest this
year. 1t would be hardly human for him to look
with pleasure upon the lourishinR candidacy of his
old rival.
Mr.. Conklings antagonsm toward Elihu B.
Washburne also dates back to the time when he
served In the lower house. Washburne was much
older member of that body. and had acquired habit
of lecturing HE colleagues with some aeerbity when
ever measure was pending which did not cOmport
with his rigid ideas Of public economy. do not re-
member the occasion of his collision with the i'm
pulsye young member from New-York, bat an insin-
uation some say epithet, applied to the latter
which was not Of sort that gentlemen receive with
eQuanimIty or remember with charity. Mr.. Conk-
ling was the last to forget It, His present op-
position to the contingent candidate from Illinois is
only O rather tardy payment of an old score.
With Mr. Sherman Mr. Conkling was never on |
very cordial terms during the time when they |
served together in the Senate. but there rup
ture of personal relations. according to current re-
part until just after the passage of the Electoral
Commission bill In the Winter of 1877. In Re- |
publican caucus held to select the three Republican
Senators who were to be chosen members of the |
Commission Mr. Sherman Is said to have objected to
MIR. Conklng on the ground OF doubt as to his |
party fidelity. There was rumOr afoat at the