New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-06-01
Mr.. C0YKLING AND HIS FRIENDS.

There is a world of difference between what
Mr.. COnkling considers due to himself from his
friends and what he thinks is due from him to
them. NO man is more exacting than he; none
ever drew more largely upon the good offices OF
his friends. To gain his friendship it has been
necessary to adopt all his likes and dislikes TO
love his friends and hate his enemies; TO be not
simply friend but parasite. But the whole
record of his public career may be searched in
vain for a single instance of self-sacriiice on
his part for the benefit of friend yes or for
even the surrender of within. His faithful
friend Arthur knows what labor and persuasion
it cost to induce Mr. COnkling to consent to his
Nomination as Vice President, and it is noto-
rious now that he would not lift finger for the
success of the ticket with Arthur on 1t unth he
had what he says he considered promise Oh
control of the patronage But he requires
Vice President Arthur to do for him what no
previous occupant of that high place ever did
for himself or an0ther-descend from the chair
of the Senate to the lobby of n State Legislature
to engage in the bargaining and intrigues of
Senatorial election.
Requiring from his personal adherents and
political dependents loyalty that abs0rbs all
other allegiance and service most unremlttlng
and unwcaried. he has never put himself to the
slightest Inconvenience to pay IN KIND never
abated iOt of his amazing conccl or sacrlhccd
a grain of his personal vanity to secure favor
for a friend. While calling upon his friends to
lay aside dignity, sclirespect and all personal
f., ling TO carry out his purposes, he has always
stood on his own dignity, pampercd his own pre-
induces and fed his own grudges to an extent
that must have largely restricted his ability to
serve his friends: and instead of putting himself
out 10 the smallest extent by conciatory
course to give them place or keep them in
countcnancc, ne turns tail and deserts them.
The supreme assurance with which, after hav-
ing abandoned them in "A hun of wounded
vanity, ne demands of them an ENDORSEMENT
of his folly and yindicaiion of his drScrtlon, Is
without parallel in political history
1t /, mi stake Ia attribute the singular drvo-
ton of his adhcrrntS entirely To sense oil
gratitude for favors received though that may
enter into the question AZ one OF the factors
II is more largely due to the unboundcd aNSur-
ancc and colossal vanity of the man. combined
with his arrogant disposition and lmplacaDe
tcmpcr Even if he had a reasonable SENSE Oi
gratitude his mental and moral constitution IN
capacitateS him for making any adequate return
for iavors. Circ instances have gwen INN
power 10y furnishing opportunities not so
much for winning friends aS for intlmldating
opponcnts He has carried il now too far, AMI
has come 10 the end OF his career. With the IN
strnmcnts and machinery furnished HIM 10y the
Grant Administration. he for long time dolnl-
mated the councils of the party in the Scrate'
and ruled 10y threats the Republican party OF
his own State. With supreme ana calculating
sclGshnrss he has taken advantage of the I'M
selfish desire Of the majority for harmony and
pcacc and 10y threatening mischief has hitherto
succeeded in holding his place
The time for that has passed. He could not
bulllozc the New York delegation TO Chicago.
nor the National Convention itself INTO sup
portng the third term scheme He failed to
friyhten President Garfield he did not succeed
in bullying the Senate He still thought he
could drive the Republicans of the Legislature
into caucus and force his own denomination.
He has now discovered his mistake in that
regard. And it would not beat all strange If those
whom hc deserted when he so fooliSIly resigned
hi, seat should leave him to the fate he invited
when lac asks yindication and reelection.