, 1881-05-08
cnNE1Jve AND THE PRESIDENT.

The posing of Senator Conklins III the
character Of 4 much-abused man will not
add any strength to his position. Ills sue
cess heretofore has been coincident to his
power and arrogance. He has not been ac-
customed to rely upon sympathy or pity for
his allies. When, therefore, All attempt IS
made By his friends to manufacture public
sentiment in his favor by representing tile
Withdrawal Of the New York nominations
as 4 new affrolt and additional Injustice to
the poor but honest, the weak but confiIing
Conkling, the rusc will only excite public
rtlicule Mr. Conkling las been hasnnlerlng
the Administration over the head during the
past two months, and, now that the Admins
tration has turned upon him in its own de-
fense. it is too late for Conkling's friends to
CRY cut that their hero has been wantonly as
sauIiel.
1t is equally absurd to treat President Gar
fields action rs a 's challenge" Conklllg Is
and has been the challenging party. The
President has simply accepted the challenge
when he could no longer avoid it with honor
Coukling's threat was two-edgcd sword.
He announced that he intended to secure the
confirmation Of all the New York nonilla-
tions which had been made to please him,
and then .'hang up'' over summer the only
one that dispieaseu him. 1t was i mean po-
sition lie took. He proposed to avail himself
Of all the fayors that had been bestowed, but
to make no concession in acknowledgment
thereof lie would grab all he could for
himself and his clique, but he won1d allow
nothing to 20 to the large line Of Republicans
in New York State who do not recognize
him as their lord and master. Lie wanted q
onesided fight i'll which he should have all
the munitions OF war, and the Liberal Re
pubiicans should be confined 10 biting their
thumbs. The President could not act fairly
and sanction the Conk1ing program.
By withdrawing the Conklns nominations
for New York which had been made pre-
yiously, the President has simply said 10 Mr.
Conking: "f you are making comblna-
ton in the Senate to exclude the Liberal Re-
publicans from all representation III the Gov
ernulent service in your State after ayailing
yourself Of the generous allotment Of patron
age which has been placed at your disposal,
must take such measures as l can to pre-
vent the consumtna:ion Of the scheme. I
owe my nomination to the Liberal sentiment
in the. Republican party and owe my cleo
tion quite as mulch to the votes that senti-
ment controls as to the votes which you and
your faction control It would be conspicu-
ously unfair, then, for ME to give you the
lions share Of recognition and reward Mt the
very time when you manifest the desire and
claim the power to shut out the others from
any consideration whatever The Presi-
dents recent course was suggested by self
defense and a scn!A of justice to large part
Of his supporters.
The Lord helps those who help them
Selves" says an old saw. Mr.. Conkling has
acted upon this theory. He helped himself
to all the patronage he could lay his hands
on. and then lie proposed to stand sentinel to
prevent anybody. else from getting a bite.
The President has seen fit to protest against
this greedy and selfish policy. Fortunately,
his protest has taken a practical shape. lie
refuses to furnish Conkling with guns and
| powder to make war on the Administration !;
| and he is right Strip Conkling of his
patronage. and he will no longer be the po-