The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-05-26
CONKLING AND PLATT.
Their Resiguafi0ns ~ Viewed by the Pres
General Grant I'm sympathy with Them
What are the PrObabllitiesf

The resignation of Senators Conkling and
Piatt, representatives in the United States Sem
ate from New York, occurring on the 18th inst,
10 tagging in interest Gen. Grant, it appears,
wrote letter to Senator J. P. Jones from the
City of Mexico, under date of April "a, in which
he deeply sympathized with Messrs. Conkling
and Platt and particularly Mr.. Conkling. He
says: ''Nobody believes that he [Gar-
feld] could have carried the State
of New York without the active sup
port of her present Senators. Their passive
support would not have answered. Without
the State of New York General Garfield would
notn be President. His rewarding Robertson
is not only offensive to the New York Senators,
but It Is offensive to New York Republicans"
Speaking of the nominations, Grant says:
''When the first batch of nominations for New
York was sent in I was delighted. believed
that the President had determined to recognize
the Republican party, and not a faction, but
his nominations of the next day convinced me
that the first act was but part of deep-laid
scheme by somebody to punish prominent
leaders for being openly friendly to me. can
not believe that General Garfield is the author
of this policy. 1 give him credit for being too
big man to descend to such q means for the
punishment of the men who gave him a hearty
support of his election, and who are disposed to
give him the same support now, for the offense
of having had q former preference for some
one else for the Office which he now holds.
When it comes to filling the most in
fuential office in their State without consulting
these Senators, it is a great slight. When he
selects the most offensive man to be found. it
becomes an insult. and ought to be resented to
the bitter end.'
The following are a few condensed comments
from
THE NEW YORK PRESS.
The New York Herald says Messrs. Conkling
and Platt could not otherwise maintain their
dignity.
The Post pronounces the action ''childish
and contemplate"
The Commercial says Mr.. Conkling did it
''out of regard for the honor and dignity of
New York"
The Tribune says: 'Mr. Conkling has left no
resource untried-of menace, of intrigue, or of
slander-to weaken the Administration, to gain
recruits against it within and without the rank
of his own party"
The taat-Zeitung says: ''The Republicans
should no longer be blind to the egotism of
Conkling, who does not care for the welfare os
his party if he can not rule it. Republicans
should use their best endeavors to get rid of
Conkling, and to that end they should influence
the Legislature"
The Journal of Commerce, in an editorial
comment, referring to Messrs. Conkling and
Platt, says: ''We trust that honest and pa
triotic men, who are not slaves of party, will
refuse to lend themselves to such disgraceful
assault on the Chief Magistrate of the Nation.
He should be sustained in all honorable efforts
to discharge the functions of his high Office to
the close of his term. Those who are opposing
him are not acting in behalf of the country,
but for the interests of section of his late ad-
herents that rebel against his authority because
they can not control him as they DESIRE"
Says the New York Times: ''The represen-
tatives of the StateNof New York in the United
States Senate evidently intended to formulate
a challenge and defiance to the Administra-
ton. They have merely penned clumsy
apology for acts equally without precedent and
without excuse. There is no written law, and
certainly no unwritten precedent which ought
to be sustained that entitled Senators
from this State to demand that they
should be consulted before the nomina-
ton of new Collector of Gus
toms in New York. When they
had used in the Senate all legitimate weapons
of opposition to the nomination of which they
disapproved, their whole duty was done. When
they attempted to raise to the dignity of a ma
tional issue the claims of Senators from any
State to be consulted in advance about any and
every nomination made for Federal Offices in
their own State, they only escape contempt
through their unconscious helpfulness in ex-
ploding the very fiction which they seek to
harden into an extra-constitutional limitation
on the exercise powers by the executive"
Says the Utica Herald: ''The wording Of
Senator Conkling's letter proves the resigna-
ton is display of spite, because the President
refuses to surrender to their control the func-
ton of his Office. The act degrades the Office
Of Senator to the level Of q mere broker in
patronage The designations are made with
the expectation that the expiring Legislature
will Immediately re-elect both Senators. If
this should occur they would go back without
having added particle of moral strength"
The Albany Journal says: Senators Conk-
ling and Platt place themselves in the hands Of
a jury which they believe to be already packed
to render verdict in their favor"
The Albany Express pronounces the act an
honorable one.
THE PRESS ELSEWHERE.
The Washington National Republican says
Senators Conkling and Platt shave met with
nothing but arrogance and obstinacy at the
hands of a weak man adhering to wrong act
The Boston Journal says Conkling has made
| mistake.
The Philadelphia Times says: SIT make
fatal breach between the despotism Of the
| Conkling faction and independence, manhood
| and integrity of Republican citizen"
The North american hold that the Republis
| cans of New York can not afford to indorse
| Conkling.
terribly in earnest to rule or ruin the Admins
tration, let the consequences be what they may
to everybody else or even to himself"
Says the Philadelphia Ledger: "That Mr..
Conklin has asserted and does assert his right
to voice in nomination is blunder and I'M
tenable in the character Of his position"
The Cincinnati Gazette says: "It is like the
bluff game of q gambler, with stacked cards.
1t makes Conkling ridiculous and contempt
ible."
Says the Cincinnati Commercial: "Senator
Conkling's judgment does not appear to have
been at its best in this matter. The act seems
to us to resemble one of childish petulance or
disordered vanity, rather than the expression
Of a strong mans copsiderate policy"
Says the Cincinnati Enquirer: 'Tf Senators
Conkling and Platt are appealing to the mercy
Of Legislature they are appealing to the
mercy of a Legislature in which Robertson
himself is an influential factor, and to Legis-
lature which, a few days ago, was seemingly
opposed to Conkling and in favor Of the con-
frmation Of Robertson. Mr.. Conkling relin.
quishes this place of power in the face Of the
fact that the New York Legislature had asked
| for the confirmation of Robertaon"