Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1881-05-20
OLYMPIA, WASHINGTON TER.
FRIDAY EvEN'G, MAY 90, 1851
Political Middle at Washington.

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Political Middle at Washington.
The resignation Of the New York
Senators is q move on tho political
checker-board which took all players
by surprise. That it was not foreseen
by the most astute prognosticators
of transporting events, is amply shown
by the comments from all leading
sources. In the Senate the an
ncuncement created profound SEN
sation, and the general impression
seemed to be that, whatever
might be the object sought, crisis
in the history of the party had
arrived which would require the
wisest craftsmanship to carry it
safely through. The New York
press was equally apprehensive of the
result. The belief is that Senators
Conkling and Plat perceivins a grow
ing disposition among Senators to
vote for the confirmation of Robert
son. have adopted denier resort to
INTENSITY the opposition of their
State to the proposed appointment.
II they should be returned by the
Legislature, now in session, their
position would receive the most pos
tive and unequivocal endorsement,
and if others are selected, the cur
rent OF opinion in the State has set
in SO strong against Robertson, that
they would scarcely favor his con-
firmation. So there was something
possibly to gain, and absolutely
nothing to lose, by their Napoleonic
strategein of STOPPING to conquer.
A large majority of the Republi-
can journals, prefering doubtless the
possible favor of President clothed
with the panoply Of power to one
who merely lives in the expectation
of some day filling that coveted po-
sition, with very strong probability
that his hopes will never be realized,
side with the President, who has
certainly exhibited a nerve worthy
of q much better cause. Mr.. Gar
field did not appoint Robertson
from any particular fitness he has
manifested for the Office, nor because
there was any good reason for re-
moving Gen. Merritt, the present
incumbent, in the middle of his
term; but simply to reward Robert
EUn for organizing the bolt in the
National Convention through which
Garfield became President. His
obstinacy in refusing to withdraw a
nomination repugnant not only to
those who by the Constitution are re-
quired to assent before commission
can issue, but the large mass of
citizenship of the State, including
majority Of the mercantile firms, and
of every branch of trade and indus
try, is the most significant acknowl-
edgement of the debt of gratitude he
owes the principal manipulation of
the Convention for his services in
misrepresenting the Republican par
~ Of New York and securing can
didate who was not the choice of the
party of the nation. We do not
wonder that machine politicians bow
to his will, however humiliating it
may be, when three years of his
term remain, in which they may hope
to overcome the evil effects resulting
from such a dictatorial policy, and
while in the meantime they may
gorge themselves with the good
things at his disposal.
It seems to us eminently proper
that the wishes of the members of
each State should be consulted in
making Fedora. appointments. 1t
is only by this means that the will of
the people can be commeasurately
subseryed. When this is done, the
Senate should confirm, except per-
sopal unftness in some shape be
shown. The course of the two Sen
ators, in resigning is, however, an
alternative of questionable propriety;
but if justifable under any circum-
stances will certainly find much to
palliate it under the attempt of the
Pre- sident 10 subordinate the wishes
of the people of State to carry out
the details of a nefarious political
bargain.
The Executive Committee of the