The daily gazette., 1881-09-29
From the Philadelphia Times.
What COnkIing May Do.

The Roscoe Conkling of to-day is
the same Roscoe Conkling who retired
from the recent Senatorial contest at
Albany defeated and humiliated but
he is not the same iu power and in the
respect that power commands. He
was then overthrown voiceless in the
dispensation OF patronage and friend.
less among the great mass that bow
the knee that thrift may follow. Now
lie is the most trusted adviser of the
President will be practically the die
tator of the party for three years and
a half, and three and half years is a
long period for ambition to wait.
Lapham aud Miller have been elect
ed 10 the Senate to take the places of
Conkling and Plat. That they were
elected by the corrupt purchase of leg
islative votes is not disputed by any
who are intelligentlY informed of the
inner history of the struggle. A large
pumber of The votes cast for both Lap
ham AID Miller were contracted aud
paid for at liked price for each, and
out FOR the corrupt purchase of legis-
lators, neither OF them could have sue
ceeaed.
Tho United States Senate cannot
justify itself In rejecting Senators Lap
uam and Miller on mere rumor or uu-
supported accusation. However Sen.
atofs may be convinced of the corrupt
election Of Lapham and Miller, they
cannot refuse TO admit the new SeNa-
toIs uul 81 formal specific and we'll
sustained charges sh II be present ed
10 the body. and that can be done if
Mr. Coukliug wishes to continue the
battle. lie and his associates know
where lhe corruption was, by whom it
was proposed and by whom it was ac-
cepted, ami they can make a case, if
they viii, that would preclude the pos.
slollIty OF the admission of the accu sed
| senators.
Conkllng will now control the COM
ing X publican State Conyention in
New FORK. 1t was doubtful before the
accession OF Arthur to the Pre- idencv.
but 1t is not doubtful now. The men
who howled down Conkling and Ar
thur To secure favor from the Garfield
adminietration, will now repent and
worship the rising sun that reflects the
power of Arthur Whether Conkllng's
State ticket shall be elected or not ia
not material. He has the Legislative
dis rlcts 80 gerrymandered that the
State may give Democratic majority
OF tens OF thousands and yet elect a
Republican legislature and in that
Republican Legislature ConkliDp
would be master of as old, and he
could e'urn TO The Senate himself or
dictate the ne<7 Senators.
1t would be violent policy for
Conkling to pursue, but If he shall
present a clear Case of the corrupt
purchase of legislative votes by Lap.
ham and Miller he would be more
than justified in preventing their ad-
mission to the Senate. Indeed, if the
evidence is in his possession, as is
claimed by his friends, it is a public
duty Tor him to present it to the Sem
ate and stamp the seal of national in.
fanny upon the corrupt barter for seats
in the first legislative tribunal of the
Republic. The country would cor
daily sustain him in such a battle
against corruptionists.
Lapbam and Miller could not re-
turn to the new Legislature as Conk-
ling and Platt did, to ask a re- cleo
ton. While the arrogant assaults
made upon the Garfield administration
were condemned by an overwhelming
majority OF the Republicans of the
country, no stain of venality attached
to Conkling or his cause. His lines
were broken and his forces scattered
by money and power, and he heroicaly
maintained his position, even IN the
face Of inevitable defeat, until defeat
came, and then he bowed to the vic
tors and retired. He is presumed by
all to have been clean-handed in the
battle. and he 10 free to lead bold
crusade against purchased honors II
he shall decide to do SO. Whatever
may be his policy, it is clear that il
Lapham and Miller reach their seats
as Senators, it must be by the assent
~ }'5~0~r Cr,,kIinr