The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1881-05-25


evil omen should thus flock together, to con
dole with the vulture who has derived hi
power and influence from the %corruptions o
| the Republican party. But Mr.. Conkling ha
found that the American people have nc
mistaken his resignation for anything more
| than it really is-a dramatic attitude in which
he has assumed the role of martyr, to draw
| public sympatby-and they are disposed tc
take him at his word and let him retire to tht
silence of private life. The administration
has had the most unmistakable proof of pop
dlar support. and this popular impulse has
driven the politicians in locks over to the
administration, as the popular side,
The people of this country very well I'M
derstand the nature of the conflict which
has been going N in the Senate, and have
watched its course with an interest more in
tense than any political move since the cleo
toral commission Of 1876. They see in it
only the old struggle Of the government
and regard the success of the administration
as a step in the direction Of democratic gov
eminent, by destroying the pretensions Of
the oligarchy Of the Senate.
The constitutional functions of the execu-
tive were absorbed by the Senate, when it ig-
nored and impeached President johnson, and
placed the Secretary of War, General Grant,
at the head, with the assumed powers Of q
dictator. This absorption was hardly resented
by Grant (the strong MANI, when President,
who finally became its creature, and most shin
ing exponent Of the senatorial policy. 1t is not
necessary to recount the corruptions which
ageness and brutality which marked its
course toward the unhappy south. The pow
erful protest which it brought forth from the
honest element of the party, and which Gull
ing the first symptom of disagreement, which
in 1876 led to the compromise on Hayes, and
in 1880 to the final vanqlishment Of the
Grant clement at Chicago, after d fight which
almost disrupted the Republican party.
Garfield then assayed the impossible task
of creating harmony between these discord-
ant clements, and found at once that no act
ion would be either recognized or supported
which did not imply an unconditional sur
render, and when, after giving to Conkling
all he asked, he placed the name of Robert
son on the list only to find that not even the
share would satisfy the Unsuitable
but that nothing less than the en-
control must be given to this man of The
magnificent strut and his innu1nerable fol
lowers.
The PEG pie of America had seen so many
of its Presidents go down under this Senator
ial assumption, that it hardly expected to find
in Garfield q man of sufficient backbone to
Withstand the assault. But they have wit
messed with intense satisfaction the complete
overthrow, $50 far as the present phase Of the
is concerned), OF the corrupt misrep-
resentatiye of American institutions.
But the conflict is not ended it is only be-
gun. 1t is almost idle to presume that the
Senate will thus give up the struggle, and re
the perogatives Of government
which it has assumed, and maintained. with
% much force and persistence. While there
S a great majority of popular support in IA
7or Of The President, there is a minority
enough to invite g contest, which
must continue until the very form of gov
,"nment is remodel1ed. There can be but
wo results from the contlict-either the
states must become subordinate to the gov
'rnmenI, and the Constitution remodelled to |
their relations in that line, or the gov
rnmcnt must he subordinate 10 the States
condition OF anarchy Of which our
government has been Il shining example
the war. 1t is not q mere party |
but g National one, and the ques-
cannot be settled by the parties as
t present organized because Of the division
# sentiment in each. Each camp has been
ivlded for years, and the National idea is
bou. relatively equal in both. Il the Repub-
can party should split on this issue, and the
sqlaTeiy dttile themselves, tie Dem
cratic party could not take eides With either
RAISING the very same issue in their
ranks and when it was raised 1t would
g found that, like the Republican party, the
lajority would favor the National idea. II
le Democratic party was to hold together as
unit, il would only compel a compromise,
Ike the Last, and a postponement of the real
sue. But we do not believe that the issue
IN be much longer postponed there are
any signs OF restiyeness and Impotence
the people, who find themselves tied
} by the completely Of our many govern
ents and diverse legal codes, and rendered
0Werless to contend with the powers of
onopoly and the spirit of cooperative des-
which issgradually overshadowing ev-
ything else in America, including the gov
nment. States have tried to meet them and
we succun1bed to superior force. The gen
al government has assumed to cure the
ii, but has found itself paralyzed by fac
%, and now this very fight is finding its ex-
'ession in the fight between Garfield and
onkling, and taking q phase which will not
Init of compromise.
Conkling or one of his creatures may be
turned to the Senate and the administration
nfronted by the Legislature Of New York
staaH of it's Spnotor. himoo1f or hi, orno