Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-05-07

porter of Conkling that henceforth ne
intends to treat as enemies all who are
against the Administration, and, above all,
that he will not help any Senator to fight
him. OF course Senators are apt TO
be influenced by considerations OF
this kind, and in fact the more
stalwart they are the more amenable they
must be to such arguments. The Presi-
dent in effect says to them You have
the option of supporting Conkilng
at the sacrifice of your patronage, or OF
supporting me with the assurance that i
"will make things pleasant for you" No
doubt this is a thoroughly machine
policv, but then the whole Senate situa-
ton is g machine one, and the position
of the President in regard to the nomina-
ton of Robertson is in no respect more ad-
vanced than the position OF Senator Conk-
ling. In fact, no question OF political re-.
form is at all concerned in the present
quarrel between the Administration and
the New York Senator, and therefore it is
perfectly in order to conduct it after the
most approved machine - principles.
1t must be admitted however that the
adoption of machine" principles here
gives the President leverage which he
could not have obtained in any other way.
By using the Federal patronage boldly to
support himself and to enforce his own
nominations he is perhaps taking the only
method available for checkmating that
combination which under the euphemism of
" the courtesy of the Senate, aims at the
usurpation of powers never intended to be
enjoyed by that body. Long years of IN
restrained license have persuaded the Re.
publican Senators that the power of ap-
pointment vests in them, and that the only
privilege of the President is to formulate
their choice and register their DEGREES.
Practically they have given him to under
stand that if he will submit to be led, and
to renounce his volition in the matter of
appointments, they will remain on good
terms with him, but that the moment he
insists on the right of initiative they will
fall back on their unconstitutional privi-
lege, and combine against him. The firm
attitude OF General Garfield has, however,
had very evident effect upon many SEN
ators of late, and it is clear that his last
step is still more calculated to make them
reflect before they commit themselves to
course which may have very awkward i'm
plications for them in the end.
Senator Conkling is undoubtedly resolved
to fight the course. Having put himself
in false position at the outset he evil
IDENTIFY thinks that it would deprive him of
prestige to acknowledge his error. But it
is clear that there cannot be two Presi-
dents of the United States, and it is
equally clear that the one who has been
elected must possess the power of asserting
his supremacy if he also possesses the
nerve to hold out to the last. Mr.. Conk.
lings present position, therefore, is an ex-
tremely perilous one, for if he should fail
the very obstinacy of his resistance will
make his defeat the more emphatic while
the probabilities of his failure are on the
face OF the situation very much greater
than the probabilities of his success. He
cannot afford to be beaten, and yet he has
not winning cards in his hand.
Since the Presidents distinct announce
ment of his intention to force the fighting,
the stalwart Senators are, as we have
shown, placed in very delicate position
Whatever inclination they may have to
support Mr.. Conkling, they must see that
the new aspect the quarrel has taken on
is exceedingly dangerous to those who
adopt that side. For if they should help
Conkling to temporary victory over the
President they would compel him to treat
their nominations as he has treated those
OF the New York Senator And that would
involve political paralysis for every man
Of them, and consequently loss of influence
over the machine. Deprive a Senator of
control over the patronage, and he is like
Samson after his hair had been cut off.
1t is no use then to say The Philistines
" be upon thee - for his strength has de-
parted, and he is become like other men.
For these reasons we think the stalwart
Senators will be strongly indisposed to
link their political fortunes with Mr..
Conkling's just now, and that consequently
the latter will find himself deserted at the
pinch, and offered up as a sacrifice to the
prevailing lust Of patronage.