Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-06-27
Aailp 4tnnebtf Journal.
Augusta, Monday Morning. June 81.
Conklingites at Albany.

The republicans in the Albany legisla-
ture who adhere to Conkling appear to
be oblivious to outside public sentiment,
or at least to keep their position in spite
of it. They seem to know nobody but
Conkling, and to believe they have no du-
ty as republicans to perform but to follow
his directions in humble obedience. Some
Of them family admi: that he did wrong
in throwing up his senatorship. but right
or wrong they bend their necks to his
yoke and submit to be led by him into
whatever dark and devious and crooked
ways he chooses to lead them. If this be
what they consider to be ''stalwart," then
the word must have very different mean
ing to them from what it has to people in
general. When men give up their own
opinions at the command Of party boss,
when they adhere to him against their
own reason, against the wishes OF
their constituents. against the public opin-
ion Of the country. against party expedi-
ency. against the President who has sim
ply defended the prerogative of his high
office and refused to abdicate in ia
vor OF senatorial dictation, they are not
men of stalwart mold or true mettle, and
deserve to be ranked only as serfs and
underlincs, men born to be led and inca
pable of moving except at the nod Of their
master. If such men as these be the stall
wart republicans of New York, then God
save the party from its own weakness and
imbecility.
In New York State the sentiment OF the
republican party is overwhelmingly OPP
posed to the return of Conkling to the
Senate. His followers are but handful,
and they cling to him for paltry and pure
~ selfish reasons. The voice Of the re-
publican press of the State is virtually all
one way-opposed to Conkling, and siren
Gously opposed to him. That portion of
the republican party which neither asks
nor expects patronage from the general
government, but works and votes and
gives to promote the success of the repub
lican party because the carrying out Of its
principles are necessary to the prosperity
of the country, is all earnestly opposed to
Conkling in this fight. and demands that
two republican senators shall be elected
who will act in reasonable harmony with
he administration at Washington.
Outside of New York. in other States,
the sentiment is even more strongly pro-
nounced against Conkling. Into what
ever State one goes he hears but one
opinion among republicans, viz: that
Conkling is wrong, the President right,
and that the republican members Of the
Legislature at Albany ought to unite and
elect Senators to fill the places vacated by |
Conklng and Plat. And the republican
party ut large has right to express its
opinions upon this matter. For it directly
interests and affects the whole nation. 1t |
will determine the party complexion of
the national Senate, and it jeopardizes re-
publican supremacy in State the vote of
which may decide into whose hands the
government may fall in 1881. The re-
publcans Of other States view with amaze
ment and even disgust the puerile course
Of the Conkling men at Albany, who are
too feeble to break from him and act as
brave and conscientious men should. |
Surely the claims of the party upon them
ought to be superior to those of any in
dividual. And when friendship for
Conkling or any other man tempts
them to take the unwise and inexcusable
course which they are now pursuing, they
ought to put such friendship behind them
as they would the temptations of Satan
and go straight forward in the path of
principle and duty.