, 1881-06-04
What il 10 All About

I[tSlucut anu ccuS'os So-
Judge Rober:son's nomination, Is to De
wsged TO the bitter end.
But why is Mr.. ConkEns so sternly
opposed 20 Robertson's appointment
Roscoe Conkling, J. Donald Cameron,
and John A. Logan, entered into com
bination two years ago to secure the
nomination Of Gen. Grant for q third
Presidential term. Their plan was to
hold conventions at AL unusually early
day in New York, Pennsylvania, and
Illinois for the election of delegates TO
the National Convention, and TO pass
resolutions instructing each delegation to
support Grant as unit.
In pursuance OF this plot the State
Convention Of Pennsylvania met in the
frs. week Of February; and, By t'ampllng
down the minority, Cameron carried
through his part of the scheme. The
New York State Convention was held a
little later in February. They had 4
stormy scene; but by much cheating, a
little persuasion, and the application Of
the gag rule at the opportune moment, a
resolution instrueting the delegates to
Chicago to support Grants nomination
was adopted, though in the face of large
minority vote. Thus Conkling had exc
cuted his part of the plan, and all seemed
to be going forward toward Giant and
the empire with encouraging alacr'ty.
In further pursuance Of the original ar
rangement, Logan got the State Com
mittee of Illinois together for the pur-
pose # calling convention to elect dele
gates. But the cummi'tee hesitated,
auarrel!ed. and then adjourned for seve-
ral weeks.
Just at this crisis, Judge Robertson
issued his celebrated Letter. He hal
been elected delegate TO Chicago. As
in the case of all the other delegates from
New York, he was designated. not by
the State Convention at large, but by
the delegates who appeared at the State
Convention from his own Congressional
district. These latter delegates were
hostile to the third term, and Robertson
was their faithful representative, In his
latter he declared that in this National
Convention he should not be governed
by the resolutions of the State Conven-
ton, which claimed TO instruct him te
vote for Grant, but should yield to the
srntiment Of the majority OF the Repub-
licans Of his Congressional district, who
we're opposed to the third term.
The letter exploded like bomb in the
Grant camp. Immediately q strong
body of del gates in New York rallied to
the side of Robertson. The anti-Grant
men in the Pennsylvania delegation, Who
had been covering under Don Camerons
lash, rose to their feet, asserted their IN
dependence, and adopted the doctrine OF
Rob.rssnn's letter. The Republicans IN
Illinois who were opposed TO a third
term, took heart at these demonstrations,
and prepared for that desperate struggle
which resulted in wrestling from Logan
about one-rhird of the delegation from
his State to Chicago.
1t IS correct. therefore, for the op-
ponents of Robertson 10 say that he,
more than any other man, Set in motion
the ball that finally crushed the third
term conspiracy at the Chicago Conven-
ton; and certainly Mr.. Conkling is con
sis,ent in doing his utmost to prevent his
confirmation by the Senate.
But whil- Mr.. Conkliag, a. one Of tn
original and most eonspicnous' Of the
third term leaders, may be amply iusti-
fed in his hostility to Judge Robertson,
wha. shall be said of the twenty-five OF
thirty Senator'S who, like Robertson,
were opposed to the third term, but
who, neve ,heless, for two months, have
aided c. nkling in keeping the SensIe
out of executive SESSION, lest Robertson
should be confirmed.