Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-06-08
CoNKLrNG,s GREATEsr.

Only about once year Hon. Roscoe Conk
ling makes ''the greatest effort of his life
Each year in the past thirty that he has beel
in public life he has made that effort. VIVA
it has cost him there is at present no accu
rate information. Bat nevertheless he con
tinues to astonish the country with his great
est efforts year after year. His first, hi
second, his third, his fourth and his thirtietl
have equally been "the greatest efforts o
his life." His last effort, on Saturday, wher
he placed in nomination before the Chicago
convention Gen. Ulysses s. Grant for Presi
dent of the United States, was also his great
est. Few men can boast of so many "great
est efforts"
It must indeed have been an effort fol
him or any other man to say complimentary
things of Gen. Grant. 1t is true he was sue
cessful as military man, but when this was
said all was expressed that could with pro-
priety be uttered. In speaking of his favor
tie protege he exclaimed with true dramatic
power:
His services attest his greatness and the coun
try knows them by heart. His fame was borr
not alone of things written and said, but OF
the arduous greatness of things done, and dan
gers and emergencies will search in vain the flu
ture, as they have searched in vain in the past
for any other on whom the nation leans with
such confidence aud trust.
The idea of nation of forty-fve millions
of people leaning upon any one man will
strike the average intelligence as somewhat
ridiculous. Lord Roscoe may be inclined to
lean upon him, but the rest of the people
who have little more backbone, will prefer
to lean upon themselves or upon the institu-
tions of the great republic they have built
up.
Grant, according to Conkling, "never had
a policy to enforce against the will of the
people; he never betrayed a cause or q
friend" 1t is not true that he never had a
policy to enforce against the will of the peo-
pie, as evidenced by his persistent advocacy
of the San Domingo annexation scheme
when nine-tenths of the people of this coun-
try were opposed to it, and more than two
thirds of the members of Congress were OF
like mind. It is true that ne never
BETRAYED or deserted friend. When Bel.
KNAPP had covered the nation with shame by
the sale of Indian traderships, Grant parted
with him with regret. When Williams had
been convicted of petty thefts while cabine
officer, Grant paid high tribute to his mora
worth. When Babcock was accused of com
plicity in the whisky ring, Grant gave hin
a certificate of good character, which was
used with effect on his trial. When Rich
ardson was accused of malfeasance in Office
when secretary of the treasury, Grant &C
cepted his resignation and appointed him 6
Judge in the court of claims. After the
gravest charges had been made against Robe
son, secretary of the navy, Grant chung tc
him and kept him in Office till the close OF
his term of Office. These we're all Grants
friends, and he neither betrayed nor deserted
them, and they are now the most trusted of
his companions. OonkIing was right in this
respect.
Mr.. Conkling's latest greatest effort
may be great one in some eyes, but it vii
hardly bear analysis. It is a strained euology
of dangerous man, and all the ingenuity o.