The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1881-05-12
THE NEWS IN BRIEF.
The Battle Bes,,s,a.

a most profound sensation was
created in Washington political circles on May
5th, by the withdrawal, by the President Of
all the New York nominations except that of
Judge Robertson, for the position of Collector
OF Customs at New York, and Richard Elmer,
for Second Assistant Postmaster General
determined on by reason of the course of the
Republican Senatorial caucus in refus-
ing TO consider the nomination of
Judge Robertson, who, of all the New
York nominations was singled out for de-
struction. Tue persons whose names were
Withdrawn were all personal friends and politi-
cal adherents Of Senator Conkling, and this
action of the President renders absolutely
Impossible any future compromise between
the statesman from Utica and the President.
Nothing has TRANSFERRED in Washington for
years of so grave political nature as this,
and it is impossible to forsee the outcome. The
backbone" of the President in thus throw
ing down the gage of battle, can no longer be
doubted, and his future success depends on
his staying qualities in this instance.
The National Republican of May 6, SAYS,
regarding the withdrawal Of the nominations:
The remarkable action of the president in
Withdrawing all the New York nominations
except that of collector of customs at New
York, is either the first step toward a recast
of all the appointments of that state, or it is
an open announcement of an unreIenting war
upon the two senators, the vice-president, the
state organization, and the main body of the
Republican party of the great Empire State
1T is too serious a matter to be discussed with
out further information. The situation is a
ha rail- Nv IL,
president himself. All Republicans desire to
see safe deliver ence of the party from the
present peril The president has been urged
to withdraw the nomination of Robertson by
many OF the Wlsest and most moderate of the
senator's. If this fails it will remain for the
caucus to agree either on the rejection or the
rostponement of the nomination. Confirma-
TORS cannot beagrced upon. The administra-
ton can prevail only by a coalition of Demo-
cratic senators and portion of the Republi-
cans. The country will not believe that any
great public exigency exists requiring SO I'M
natural an alliance, y .. +
The New York Times thus comments on
the Presidents action:
" The withdrawal of these nominations for
The mere purpose of reserving them until
Judge kObertSOn's name is acted upOD con-
dennis the President FOR making them. If
Garfield hopes to gain any advantage over
Senator Conkling by any such tactics he only
descends to that eminent politicians level and
renders himself far more vulnerable to these
modes OF attack in which the Senator is an
expert. Mr.. Garteld's action greatly magni-
fies Mr.. Conli1ing's importance, and it gives
him reason where he had little or none before,
to claim that the difference between him and
the President is a personal one. 1t is not easy
to see what the President has to gain by civ
ing such an aspect to the SITUATION. -
The New York Su2s in its issue of Nav 6,
says:
Nothing is too strange for belief if con-
cluslveIy sustained by evidence; otherwise
could hardly credit the reports from Washing
ton that Mr.. Garfield has Withdrawn all the
nominations he had made of friends of Senator
Conkling to office with an intimation that he
will renew the nomination of these candidates
provided his own nominations which are OBJ
jectionable to Mr.. Conkling be first confirmed.
The nominations President Garfield had
made were either fl or unfit. If they were
NJ 1t was mean, base, contemplate in him to
withdraw them before they were acted upon.
If they were fit, nothing within the power of
another man to do could have made them I'M
tit. If they were unfit they should never have
been made. If they were fit they should not
have been withdrawn. President Garfield has
lowered himself immensely and UNNECESSARILY.
he has lowered his high office, grand for its
powers and glories, because a trust from a
free people. He is the owl that cannot look
upon the sun, not the dauntless and never
blinking eagle"