Daily Republican., 1881-05-17
FOURTH EDITION.
PRESS COMMENTS.
What they Say About the Rcs1gna.
tiOn OF Senators COnkling and
Plat

What they Say About the Rcs1gna.
tiOn OF Senators COnkling and
Platt.
NEW YORK, April 16 The Evening
Post says of the resignation of Messrs.
Conkling and Platt: "To-day, for the
first time since the organization of the
Government, the State of New York is
without any representation in the Sem
ate of the United States. The first
comment on this proceeding is, that it
is genuine surprise. If the report
was less circumstantial it might be re-
garded as a not very ingenious inven-
tion of some practical humorist in
Washington. Until the Senators shall
vouchsate an explanation of their course
there is wide room for conjecture as to
its meaning. 1t is hard to conceive of
any theory consistent with dignity
and manliness which are the most OBJ
vious qualifications for their high Office.
II they are seeking an endorsement of
their conduct by means of reelection,
the experiment is a dangerous one to
make with n Legislature that little
while ago unanimously approved the
nomination of Robertson"
The Express says: The double re-
signation fills the city with excitement,
and speculation is rife Senators refuse
to talk They evidently feel deeply. 1t
has precipitated crisis. Conking and
Platt, Of course, appeal to the Legisla-
ture of New York, whose "primacy"
they have maintained. Can they be re.
plnnfnlb a - Sn,nA ,f tbnir frtn L.,
emphatically. Others hang their heads
The Administration men say no." but
are evidently doubtful and shake in
their shoes. Conkling's splendid auda-
city in refusing to be crushed in the
coils Of the Administration anaconda,
leaping into the arena and seiZing fate
by the toretop, awakens admiration
The odds are against him. What if
the Legislature should elect Depew and
Curtis to the two vacant places.
The Times says: "rhe representa-
tives of he State of New York in the
United States Senate evidently intended
10 formulate a challenge and defiance to
the administration, They have merely
penned II clumsy apology for an act
equally without precedent and without
excuse"
The Herald says; Nothing could be
more unexpected than thereSignation of
Mr.. Conkling and Mr. Platt from the Sc
nate. Such a step could only be taken
under the pressure of a strong sense of
duty, and can only be considered. 1t
does not belong to the mere cunning
and waywardness of politics.
Men like Mr.. Conkling and Mr.. Platt
would not take the supreme step of re-
tiring from the Senate, unless it was
TO give the act the gravest pos
pSblc meaning.
The truth is that from the beginning, |
Mr.. Garfield has committed himself IL
revocably to Mr.. Blaine, and in his |
dealings with Mr.. Coukling and Platt |
and their followers, has followed poll
cy of duplicity.
This is a severe Judgment to pass
upon one holding the august position of
President Of the United States and we
write it with pain. But it is the truth. |
Commenting on the action of the Sena-
tors, the American will, tomorrow, say |
"lf it should appear that Mr.. Conkling
has really imperilIed his return to the
Senate by the Legislature which has al
ready indorsed Judge Robertson, he
will receive credit for QuiXotic pro-
ceeding out Of which no possible advan-
tage can inule to him. IT, on the other
hand as seems more than probable, Mr..
has simply set up an Albany
man Of straw to replace his Washington
man Of straw that the President bowled
down long ago, he would be laughed at
without thecNcuse Of QuixotiSm, and he
will justify the conclusion that there are
more angry boys at the Capitol than can
be found ut theWhite House or theCabi-
net "