Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1881-05-26
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON. Nav 81, 1881.

w ASHINGTON, may 81, lools
We have had a week Of lively sensa-
tions in politics. Mr.. Conkling. who has
been the subject of great deal of discus
sion and dissention forsome years, wound
up his career with "the greatest effort of
his life," and of course it created a COM
motion. Conkling is in the habit of Great
ing commotion, but it begins to look as
though he had overdone the thing this
time. What was intended for sensa-
tional dramatic secure admiration, SYM
pathy, and delay-fell upon the country
in the first act as farce, and ended In a
tragedy-the political death of the prin-
cipaI star. United States Senators seldom
die, and never resign; and Mr.. Conkling
is one of the last men who would be sus-
pected of voluntarily retiring from politi-
cal life. Nobody now believes that his
late step was taken with that end in
view. But it seems likely he has mis-
calculated the effect and over-estimated
his own strength. From all that can be
learned up to this time he'has very little
chance of obtaining the vindication he
sought, or even of saving his political
neck. Some sympathy is felt for Mr..
Platt, whom Mr.. Conkling led off by the
ear and whose senatorial career is thus
cut short before it had faialy begun. Platt
probably exclaimss
"Since so coon I am done for,
- wonder what was begun for?"
But Conkling is credited with having
made him, SO of course it was his privil.
ege tounmake him. Mr.. Platt must have
said to himself, 'Conkling is mighty; he
giveth and he taketh away 1t is rather
hard however, for the new Senator en-.
ioyed his position. and had just purchas
ed fine house in Washington.
The feeling here is very diverse. Mr.
Conkling has many admirers and friends
especially among the late supporters ol
| Grant. and the Administration is bitterly
assailed by them as well as by the "stal
route" crowd. Yet very decided ma
iority of the Republicans are with th'
President. 1t could not be otherwise
Without inquiring into the real senti
ments of the politicians, we all know tina
Senators and Congressman who wan
/ favors, and Office holders or Office. seeker
who have or want positions are not like
lv to turn against the hand that dispen
ses. This is one great advantage posses
sed by the Administration all through
such a contest, especially in spoils an,
plunder party, such. as the Republican
organization now is. Meanwhile all thi
| is nuts for the Democrats. You can
find one in Washington anywhere VIII
hasen.ta broad grin on his honest coun
| tenance. Said a Democratic Senator t
nue. last night: 'sAny Democrat who
not satisfied with the way things ar
working now, e1fght tY drown himself.
| Basss 'isko ssl ed I Hats Until ageDpoi
Etuhity occurs 4a. directly and unmistaka
bly,. profit by doing otherwise, policy 9
non-interference will be maintained
Nothing has been gained in the past b
going into combinations to klll off on
Republican to elect and advance another
The party gained nothing by helping t
defeat Chandler with Christiancy an
Matt. Carpenter with Cameron in 1877.
Both the men elected by Democrat
votes, were meaner and more illiberal
every way than the ones defeated.
Conkling is defeated by Republican vote
well and good, but Democrats shoul
thik twick before they contribute the
strength to the work. 1t is question
whether Conkling returned would al
vantage the Democrats of New York
of the nation as much as Conkling in Il
Senate acting independently of the r
publican caucus and fighting the Admi
istration.