Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1881-05-25

THE Philadelphia Times-a truly indie
pendent newspaper of wide spread int1u-
ence-photograph ex-senator Conkling,
in his contest with the President, IN the
following admirable style:
x x He forced battle upon President
Garfield by demanding the absolute con-
troll Of the Federal patronage in his state
and the relentless ostracism of all who
dared to question his omnipotence. He
was but feebly met atfirst in his arrogant
assaults upon the most sacred preroga-
tlves Of the Elective, but his challen ge
of battle was finally accepted, and he was
endorsed in his effort to defeat the con-
frmatlon Of Robertson. He displayed
consummate strategy ia playing such
mockeries of statesmen as Dawes and
Hoer to maintain deadlock that placed
the Robertson nomination beyond reach,
but he was finally compelled to take his
sword and shield and enter the arena for
death-struggle with the President. Just
when the first blow was about to be
struck, Conkling saw only defeat by heroic
battle in the national amphltheatre, and
he suddenly cast his plume behind him
and retreated to his own gIadlatOrial arena
in the Empire State. Seeing that the
confirmation of Robertson was inevitable
and that he would DC compelled TO report
the hated name to the Senate with appro-
val, he has refused the battle he challeng-
ed, and resorted to the desperate expedi.
ents of making New York voiceless in
the Senate to delay action on iH:obertsOn's
confirmation, and of appealing to the
Conkling Legislature Of his State to mail
him for future conflicts by reelection.
II has the semblance of the heroic. but it
is the last refuge Of routed commander,
sullenly retreating from the trial he pro-
voked to find shelter in his baggage camp.
There is no installing CoDkling's pur.
pose in reslgning the SenatOrship. Plat
follows him as the shadow follows The
man, but there is only one whom the
world will know in the desperate strategy
employed TO save vanquished leader.
The Legislature is now in session; Cor
nell is Governor; Sharpe is Speaker Of
the House, and only one strong position
held by the enemy is the Presidency Of
the Senate filled by Robertson himself
To the New York Conkl,ng Legislature,
and not 10 the people, COnE4lng viii now
appeal, and election will take place on
Tuesday of next week. The triumphant
re .election of Conkling and Plat Is conf
IDENTIFY expected by the vanqulsheG gladi.
ator of the national arena, and he expects
then to march back to the Capital with
the majesty Of conqueror and dictate the
submission of the administration. But
with all the stage tlnsel OF herOism, the
act IS not heroic. 1t is an assumed appeal
to the people that ostentatiously mocks
the people and their sovereignty, and
makes fatal breach between the despot-
ism of Conkling faction and the lndepen-
dence, manhood and integrity Of the Re-
publican citizen. 1t may triumph now
by the aid of upcrserviceable Legisla-
ture, but it will be the beginning of the
end of the Conkling dynasty, and the only
vital question for the future will be
whether Conkling Is strong enough to
destroy the Republican temple in his fail.
He is vanquished on his own issue; he
links the fate OF his party with himself,and
the great leader will either die alone or
date his party's dealt, with his own.