National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-09-28

able to avoid a repetition of the mistake.
There are many who believed that one
official change made there by the late
President was blemish upon his ad-
ministraton. Whether it was or not it
is not now necessary TO discuss Those
who thought it was, included in their
number the present President of the
| United States There are others who
claim that act to be the entire edifce
known as " the policy of the late Presi-
dent" and they demand the worship of
that act-by those who regard il as n mis-
take-not only as test Of craftsmanship
and honesty, but as proof Of respect for
the dead President. DIR. Bellows is evil
dently one of these, and he demands in
their name and on their behalf that the
new Presidents policy shall be an exact
copy of his predecessors, at the peril, in
case of disobcdience, of losing what he
snceringly calls "all the greatness now
thrust upon him" This means that all
similar official acts must harmonize with
the views of those who advised and APP
proved the one blemish.
But not only must this be condition
under which the Arthur administration
is TO be allowed even chance for favor
able consideration, but the ties of friend
ship which have so long existed between
the President and Mr.. Conkling are to be
sundercd at the command of the mutual
enemies of both. This is from one of the
hottest of gospelers, one of the most
sonorous of patriots, and one of the most
pretentious of all who pretend to "cul-
ture in America. Is IL not splendid
exhibition for the youth of the land to
emulate? A teacher of religion stirring
up strife; pretended patriot demanding
that faction shall be formed with no
object but to humiliate great statesman
and TO compel his friends to quarrel for
their rights; and a representative Of what
he calls culture engaged in an attempted
interference with the personal friendships
of others! He can have no other purpose
in this when he says that the President
"has been known forthe ardor
of his partisanship and for the close init
macy and fettddl facility with which he up
held, even as Vice-President, the chief
opponent of President Garfeld's admin
istration, the ringleader in the spoils-of-
office system, and the factionist par emf
nenCe Of the Republican party"
Chester A. Arthur and Roscoe Conk-
ling are distinct individualities. Neither
was created by the other, and neither
clans any right to control in the mi
nutest degree the conduct of the other.
Each has at different times been the
partisan or earnest supporter of the other.
As friends there long has been, and still
is, what DIR. Bellows may call "close
intimacy" II is based on mutual conf
dence and esteem-a relation unknown
perhaps to some, but not menacing TO the
public good because it exists between
noble men. The gross insult TO the Presi-
dent by the clerical spokesman Of his
enemies contained in the charge that he
upheld Mr. Conkling with "feudal fidel-
ity" is well worthy of its source, and
stamps the whole effort with the malice
which conceived it. Feudal fidelity was
the relation of serf to baron. The malig-
nifty of the phrase is tribute to the
President, for it is the outcry of pain at
the conviction that he is not to be less
noble friend in the future than he has
been in the past.
The friends of Roscoe Conkling know
that as no invitation to him would be q
favor, so no omission of one could be q
slight.
The friends of President Arthur know
r 4 IL \ l. 4 IL L..
of Mr. Conkling, in Office or rs the hon
orcd private citizen he is he will do it
without the permission Jf any for whom
the Rev. DR.. Bellows delivered his politi-
cal blast on Surday, and will be sure of
wise, pruden', and patriotic counsels.
And all inc world knows that, wherever
Roscoe Conkling shall be, he will honor
the station. There has been no greater
American, no purer statesman, no nobler
gentleman in all the Nations history.
Four years in the House of Representa-
tives and fourteen years in the Senate
proved his power, his intellectual pre-
eminence, and his absolute honesty.
Whatever record leaps to light
lie never shall be shamed.
T So far from being the ringleader in the
, spoils-of- Office system, the names of all for
! whom Senator Conkling sought place
during his fourteen years service in the
Senate can be counted on the fingers OF
} one of his hands.
} Finally, DIR. Bellows callsupon Presiden,
Arthur in poetic vein. Hesays;
There was King Arthur, with his knights
celebrated IN English song the centre of all tina
, Is inspiring beautiful, aud sacred in the earl!
legends of the later poetry OF our mothcr-land
That name may again become glorious. II has
great and almost unequaled opportunity but 1
must not be coupled and surrounded with tn,
knights who have hitherto rolled the honor OF tin
Empire state In the dust Alas the Empire State
has for generations been chiefly governed from
! the tail and not from the head and The one peri
9 | when citizen OF New York is President is tina
, the malignant influence of the Albany and cit
partisan poltics-always hatcful--should throw
its lurld shade over the whole policy and tone o
Q the country. Let our Arthur redeem the Empir
. State to honor, justice, and high patriotism an,
he shall revive the lustre and share the splendo
, Welsh Cells and not the slave OF the moder
Cets, who have so long ruled the city and State
, New York.
$ "The knights who have hitherto rollet
the honor of the Empire State in tn
, dust" will never gather around our Presi
, dent. When he shall summon tn
| knights of his Round Table we may b
f sure the company will not be pollute'
k with the presence Of any who stan'
@ indicted for bribery at Albany, or an,
G who have anywhere violated honorabl
| Ill