The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1881-05-13
coNKlM VS.. GARFIELD.

President Garfield when entering
upon his official duties, TO doubt
supposed himself authorized to, exer-
else the same prerogatives under the
constitution of the United States as
his predecessors had done before him.
Among other things, the appointing
power to various offices such as col
lectors of customs, post masters,
u. s. narshals and many others of
like nature having always been exer-
eised by the president. He likewise
after being inaugurated proceeded to
appoint certain officials to fill the diff:
ferent positions in the state of New
York. Among others he appointed
Robertson for collector of customs at
the port ef New York, without first
consulting the wishes of Roscoe Conk-
ling, the Senator from New York. MI.
ConkIing being displeaseG with such
appointment, for some time past has
been prosecuting contest IN the
Senate to ascertain if the president is
authorized to make such appointment
orwhetherC Conkling shall be permitted
10 exercise that prerogative. At last
the president has assumed an attitude
of defense, and we hope that it will
soon dawn upon Mr.. Conkling's vision
that he does not possess that authori
ty. IF MI. Conkling had been living
during the time when dictators were
common. he would no doubt have
been fit subject to exercise the au-
thority of such position, but in this
day and age of the world, the people
Of q repvblican form of government
want but few dictators. And we
sincerely hope and think that presi
dent Garfield possesses sufficient abil-
ity and force of character to soon con-
vince MIR. Conkling that he will not,
under any circumstances, be dictated
to by one man or any faction when it
is contrary to his own views and not
likely to be conducive to the interests
Of the people. In short we hope that
Garfield will during the term for
which he was elected president, be
governed in his official capacity by
his own good, common sense and for
the general good of the people at
large, and not be subservient to- the
dictations of any faction contrary to
his own sense~of duty.
By commenting thus upon the con-
duct of sMr. Conkling, we do not
mean to detract. from his ability, for
we concede him to be gifted. with
great ability and untiring perseve-
rance, both qualifications being very
essential to one occupying his high
position, and while occupying his
seat in the councils of the nation, if
he would devote bis attention to the
many questions of legislation which
the nation is 80 much in need of hav-
ing them pass in the form OF laws,
and not be continually engaged in
promoting dIscord and confusion, his
efforts in that direction would no
doubt result in much good to the
country.
But if Mr.. Conkling's endeavors in
obstructing the machinery OF the gov
ernment are continued in the future,
as they have been in the past, there is
no doubt that the republican party had
best sit down upon him effectually
and for all time to come, for under
such condition of affairs as he has
been instrumental in bringing about
in the present senate, the sooner his
political function are at an end the bet
ter it will be for the republican party
and the people generally.
The time has arrived in our coun-
try's progress when the people want
the persoH whomthey elect to occupy
the important position of president to
perform all the duties pertaining to
the Office as prescribed by the CON
stitution and laws, and not be duped
or frightened into the practice of
using his official position and powers
to promote the private schemes of
tho-c who may take upon themselves
the too often repeated and unwarrant-
able privilege of debating terms to
the dstriment Of the public welfare.
he dispatchesof the week presents
sss with a somber and tragical picture
eli the interior life of the Imperial
lssasehold. The Gar, a-selfsenten,
..s,l prisoner at the castle of Gotschi-
IN, is described as in momentary dread
o, assassination, Notwithstanding the
,aalt,plied and unheard Of precautions
tn battle the murderous, enterprise of
lsis mysterious foe. Surrounded by an