The weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1878-1881, 1880-07-06
A L v v

The chances are that our well-informed and
intelligent Washington correspondent has
correctly interpreted the reply made by Conk-
ling when interrogated respecting the part he
intended to take in the campaign. Conkling
represents the machine in republican party
politics. Any attack upon the machine, any
resistance offered to its despo.ism, he consid-
ers as opposition offered himself personally
and AS he is vlndictiveness itself in DISPOSE
ton, we need not be surprised at any lenSth
to which be may proceed in repulsing such
attacks. His nomination of one of his crea-
lures, Cornell. for the governorShip OF New
York, was Il proceeding OF this KIND. Inc
president had censured Cornell for his viola
ton of the civil service order prohibiting led
eral officers from taking all active part i'll pol
tiles. Conkling chose to consider this as a
declaration of war upon the machine and ITS
leader. and he adopted no half measures in
accepting the gauge Of battle. In the next
| republican state convention he not only
| forced The nomination of Cornell for the
NUNGIlttSlltt's bNl NO ~ - ~ NN'fN 1850
accompanied by language so lisrespectful
towards President Hayes, that nothing but
the absence of 4 proper degree OF spirit, OF a
proper share of selE-respHct on the part OF the
latter prevented a rupture which would have
nut an end to harmony in the republican
camp. OF a piece with this was the nomlna-
ton of Arthur, which was undeniaoly Conk-
ljur's work. Arthur had been removed from
the collectorsliip of the port of New York for
the shameless prostitution Of the pablo pat
ronase to party ends. But this abuse OF
the patronage was made in ConklinS'S inter
est III the interest of the machine; ana
hence at Chicago VT fluid the arrogant New
York senator bringing about the nomination
for tue second highest Office in the Gift OF the
nation Il man who had been removed "in
order that the office might be honestly admin
islered." This nomination meant Tot only Il
yindicat;ou Of the machine; it meant le-
veugn - personal revenge upon President
Uaye>. for whom. as is well known, Conk-
ling cherisues SO Intense a dislike that he has
never once spoken to linn since his nOmlna-
tion in &c to the Office which he reached
without being elected TO it. Since this WAS
the view universally taken of Arthur's nom
i~nation. We might at least have expected the
president to resent with Aiglitial silence the
iuuignity Of which he could not have failed
to appreciate the true character. Instead OF
this lie lumbIy eats the leck presented by the
hand Of Conkling, and "Sincerely congratu-
latns the man whose nomination was a
direct personal insult himself.
Such q triumph would suffice for any
reasonable man, but Conkling, we must re-
member, hctrays a far from ordinary devel-
opment of arrogance and yindictlveuess. 1t
is altogether likely that he has decided upon
forcing his enemy to the still more ahject
humiliation of an entire rccantation Of the
civil service order, so odious in the eyes of
the machine boss and if he has thus decided
it is even more probable that the President.
he of the vetocs, he of the "backbOne,' will
bully. If he does, though, he will by so do
ing ilretrievably destroy what little respect is
now felt for linn by the American people,
and at the expiration of his term of office
President Hayes will retire to private life, the
object of contempt on the part of his fellow
citizens to a degree equalled in the experience
of no other ex-IresideMt except, perhaps,
Franklin Pierce.