Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-07-23
1ancaster fnte[h8enrer.
SATURDAY EVENING. JULY %. 1851.
The New York Result.

EVENING. JULY %, lo0l.
The New York Result.
The New York senatorial election has
resulted in the defeat of Mr.. Conkling,
and the victory Of the administration
wing of the Republican party. The con-
test has been one between Republicans,
in which Democrats have been in
terested, but idle spectators. 1t was to
them a conflict that was sure to be to
their advantage, although they had no
part in the struggle. The policy OF our
party friends in the legislature was very
wise. No attempt was made to bargain
for the senatorships. The Republicans
were permitted to follow their own de.
vices without fear of Democratic intim-
idation. After months of contention
they have finally elected two Sena-
tors, but have not really any cause
for triumph. The wounds of the strug-
gle will tester and mortify and the party
will lose the power, in all probability, to
control the state. There is no such dis
parity in the strength of the two great
parties in New York as to have war
ranted the Republican leaders in engag-
ing in the struggle which has been so
fiercely waged between them. Who is
responsible for its initiation it is of little
profit to inquire. Mr.. Conkling is
credited generally with precipitating the
fight by his resignation of the senator
ship. Doubtless that brought the issue
to Il head :; but yet he may not
properly be charged with its origin.
The last war between France and Ger
many was declared by Napoleon, but
it Was really provoked by Bismarck. In
the light of events it is easy to see that
Mr.. Blaine had determined to crush
COnkling. The nomination of Robertson
to the New York collcctorship was i dis
tinct prOvOcation to battle. COnkling
was delivered by his presumptuous rash
ness into his enelny'.; hands more speedi-
ly and completely than Blaine could have
hoped. He could not have anticipated
that the New York senator would vol
unfairly 80 out of his Notification in the
senate and undertake to fight without
arinor and solely by the virtue of
his personal strength against all
the weapons and the power Of the
administration. That was an unparal-
lelled act of foOlhardiness and could have
have had but one termination.
For the present the administration
triumphs. How substantial the victory
will be the future will show. As we
regard it, there can he little doubt that
the first result manifested will be that
the Republican party in New York is
delivered in the hands Of the Democracy.
The more doubtful question is rs to the
degree to which Mr.. Conkling is elimin-
ated rs Il force in the politics of the
country. He certainly has shown great
strength rs Il political gymnast and
the Democratic party congratulates it
self very greatly, indeed, that he is re-
moved from the senate. Can that which
is cause Of congratulation to us, also
be one for joy to the Republican party ?
1t is not likely that both parties can be
benefited by the same thing. And it
seems to us that the Republican victory
which has put Conkling out of the SEN
ate is much more aptly called i Republi-
can disaster. There was no good reason
why his strength should be lost to his
party or to the administration. 1t was
costly, it is true; but it was worth a
great deal. If an unprejudiced servant
of the party had been in Mr.. Blaine's
place, in control of the administration,
Mr.. COnkling would not have been dis
missed from the party councils.
Tie duel which has begun between
these :wo Republicans will he continued.
Mr.. Conkling cannot submit quietly to
occupy the PROSTATE position in which
the forces of his antagonist have placed
him. lie cannot withdraw from politi-
cal life under this defeat. 1t has been
stated, and is most probable, that his in
clination has been to abandon politics,
and some say that it was with this view
he resigned his senatOrship. Then he
might have retired with dignity and
grace; now he cannot. lie is man of
nerve and persistency, and it will he
quite impossible for him to accept his
present situation. We expect to see him
get up and continue the fight. He has
an opening in the vacancy in the congress
sional district of Senator-elect Miller, by
which lie may place himself in the
House of Representatives, where he
could make himself quite rs important a
factor in politics as he would he in the
senate especially in the close state of
parties in the next body. Conkling
would he a powerful element in the
House and could not wish a better arena,
it seems to us, in which toplace himself
at this juncture of his affairs. There
would be 4 lively resurrection of the
dead if this funeral march that Blaine
has prepared for him should land him in
the House of Representatives.
EDITORS who have Just started in pur-