The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1881-05-17
From the N. Y. World, 9th inst.)
The Democrats and the Republican
Row.

The Democrats and the Republican
Row.
The Republicans at Washington are
really by the ears to-day over the choice
of New York delegates to the Republi-
can National Convention in 1884 1t is
to catch nomination BY that Conven-
ton that President Garfield and Mr..
Blaine, as we'll as General Grant and Mr..
Conkling, are now setting their traps.
Why does so much partisan emotion
center around Mr.. Robertson2 Simply
for this reason! As delegate from
New York to the Convention which nom.
mated Gen. Garfield. Mr. Robertson
contributed mainly to the defeat OF the
plans of Mr. Conkline and to the defeat,
therefore, Of the nomination of Gen.
Grant. Mr. Robertson prevented the
casting of "solid" New York vote for
Gen Grant. Hence in the shiudy now
going on in Washington over the con-
(irmation Of Mr. Robertson, the old ap.
pointees and beneiciaries OF Gen. Grant
and the "workers" for Mr.. Conkling are
all found openly or slyly denonncing the
nomination of Mr.. Robertson and crying
ont for the application of the civil SER
vice reform they despise to the case Of
Mr.. Merritt.
Mr.. Conkling. on the other hand, de-
featel the candidacy OF Mr.. Blaine in
1873 and in 1880. But for Mi. Conkling,
Mr.. Blaine would have been nominated
in 1880. Mr.. Conkling defeated Mr..
Blaine just as Mr.. Robertson defeated
Gen. Grant A sudden combination be-
tween Mr.. Blaine and Mr.. Sherman
brought forward Gen. Garfield and put
Elm where he is. President Garfield
naturally remembers the course of Mr..
Robertson, and so too does Mr..
Conkling. A vote in the Senate against
Mr.. Robertson will he vote for the
candid.cy OF Gen. Grant or OF Mr..
Copkllng in 1884. With Mr.. Robertson
as Collector at the port Of New York,
Mr.. Conkling will be unable to nnanipu-
late the choice of all the delegates from
New York to the next Republican Ma
tiopal Convention.
For long time after the election in
November last our esteemed Conklipg
contemporary, the Herald, never wearied
OF proclaiming that it was Mr.. Conkling
who by his speeches and labors had res
cued Maine from the Democracy and
carried Indiana as we'll as New York for
Garfield. But since the doings of Dor.
sey and of the Star route contractors
have been exposed, and the letter OF
Gen. Garfield to Mr.. Brady has been
published, Mr. Conkling's "heelers" are
less bumptious. The dinner given TO
Dorsey at Delmonico's told the whole
story, or II any element were wanting to
the exposure it has been supplied by
Gen. Gar6eld's letter to Brady.
There is really very little room for
choice, so for as Democrats and honest
men are concerned, between Grant and
Conkling on the one hand and Garfield
and Blaine on the other hand. Did not
each and all applaud Dorsey2
But into the office Of Collector OF this
port, the actual President Of the United
States is entitled to put man agreeable
to himself provided that man be simply
honest and capable. If President Gar
field had nominated an honest and capa-
BILE man, who was friend Of Mr.. Conk
ling and an enemy Of Mr.. Blaine. the
Senate should confirm the nominee. The
President is as much entitled to put a
man agreeable to himself in the place of
! Mr.. Merritt as in the place which Mr..
Evarts vacated to make room for Mr..
Blaine. Let us have no more cant and
nonsense about this business of the nom
ination Of Mr.. Robertson. A President
of the United States has some rights
which even Mr. Conkling must be made
to respect. and one of these is the tradi-,
tional and accepted right OF every Pres
ident to put confidential and trusted
friend into the Office OF Collector Of this
great port. A Democratic Senate q
quarter of century ago would have
conceded this without a question TO
Wing President. For IN those DAYS none
hut statesmen were sent to the Senate.
While Democratic Senators will he wise
not to interfere actively in the fight be-
tween the Republican bears and the Re-
publican hedgehogs OF the day. Demo-
cratic Senators will do we'll also to main
tain on every fitting occasion the dignity
and traditional power of the office OF
President We are less than four years
off now from the time when the Demo-
Gratis of the United States intend to elect
and inaugurate Democratic Chief Mag
listrato of the Tlniop