New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-09-26
MIR. CONKLING'S GREATNESS
A DEMONSTRATION THAT IT DOES NOT
EXIST

for October Is Mr.. Frederick w. w o
dissection of the greatness of Roscoe Conkiing LII
common with the rest of the world, Mr. Whtridge,
he tells at the outset had often heard 1t stated
that Mr.. COnkling was great man. His friends
and admirers had simply reiterated that statement,
but had never anplifed it, or given any reasons for
il They never dwelt upon the great deeds, the
great learning the great plans of their hero, as
the admirers of other great men have done This
att tude OF theirs seemed striking and unusual
to Mr. Whitrdge that a few years ago he undertook
an examination of Mr. Conkling's life and works for
the purpose of ascertaining if possible why he was
great man. To this examination he has brought
great industry and has devoted thorough research.
He states results with quietness and at the
time with convincing force We give the following
extracts:
examined the Congressional, G,obe Record every
most of those delivered OF the Senate aud reported
through the reports the United states supreme
Court and of the New York Court of Appeals to find
NATIONS propose to give briefly in this paper
IN ISIS es See al eee a s
In iSG2 he tailed but was again elected aud reelected
1t only be said that Mr. Conkling then began to
attract attention as man of force During bis third
Tor him p place in the 'front.' rank Of his party and IN
He be considered a rising man During this
session he served upon the Reconstruction Committee
was not the author of any of the important meas
tsans share of whatever praise or blame belongs
to them
In 1866 the term OF Senator Ira Harris expired and
t "a t was GeSp eSg a a the younger rs
chosen from their number. Mr. COnklng, ardent Re
had been SO full Of and Who had not vet attained
the years when man challenged 70 account for his use
was selected as their candidate His for the nomt
Ellis H. Roberts then a member OF the Assembly and
Editor of he Utica Herald who presented his name to
he urhpr was adj mir nv Mr.
Andrew D.Whte. The caucus nomination was finally oh
influence these gentlemen though in the light of
the disclosures at Albany last summer it is interesting %
Mr.. Conkng nominated there was one more ballot
done in order to create delay by necessatng the order
that during the interval thus obtained between this and
The tnai ballot Mr. Hugh Hastnss who was npon the
to nominate Mr.. Conkng is coincidence worth recall
Ing. Having secured the nomination, Mr.. Conk
hng's election followed matter of Since then
he has been twice reelected and had served at the time
of his resignation fourteen
Great things have been before the Senate in this time
Grave Constitutional questions have been settled part
OF the measures OF reconstruction and great number
OF economic and administrative questions have been
of the Chief Executive contest which had never be-
bloodshed.
What part has he played during this time He has
served upon the most Important committees OF the Sen
ate and if not the leader he has been one of the leaders
of the dominant political party He has enjoyed the
prestige of reputation he has had the largest OPP
with possession the greatest abilities The great
opportunities which he has had he has not Improved
He is not the author of single of the important
measures of his time He has no identified himself with
OF those measures either in debate in any other
6uence
Considerng hrst what has been pt forward in his be
half find that his admirers in answer tn inquiries
authorship only three important laws These arc the
present law governing TIE election OF United States Sen
settlers to lands along the lines of railroads claiming
lands from the Government and the trade mark law or
II got before the courts, and the others amend
posing, carrying, either the laws the amendments
Great credit has been claimed for Mr. Coukng because
he has not been corrupt in matters but those
who thus praise him forget that ii would NJ
him for not doing, and that very ever
even been accused of corruption Blu! whle Mr. Conk
IN certain sense barren is not empty He has in
nonplace character His actual services proposer
or forwarder of legislation might have been rendered
from the New-York or Massachusetts Legislature.
plan Reorganization Federal judiciary but
he has not brought it forth; and the which
to his reputation was the Electoral Commission bill
Upon that bill he made ana very good
Mr.. Conklng is ever to be judged as a legislator
what he has treated with indifference, and This category
These have no hdS Hpon @ Tariff P re HS e
our commercial relations with other countries method.
and National Governments; the complete regulations
has introduced several subsidy bills, the decline OF
American commerce, and the interests the United
him than the passing shadow of cloud The tarn has
to be sure been only at twice, before the
Conkings position we had right TO expect expires
sion OF his views on this subject elsewhere On financial
questions lac has been indeed the right side when they
came to he voted but he has taken substantially no
share In shaping the questions to be- decided In all
bates upon the imitation measures refundng operations
part; and New-York which has the largest crest in
THESE questions might Ill the discussion OF tEem
been represented almost as well by deaf mute by
MT Conkng La the evils arising from the condition OF
the South he has been deeply interested but rather
party weapons than as questions for his solution and
proportion as the use Of the remedies advocated by
Conklng has been discontinued.
slliar record Great men nave often If not generally
been authors but to any inquiry Of Mr. ConkDgs wnt
works. and that he has written nothing Nor, aa an
orator, has lie established his intellectual superiority
mirers have constantly predicted great effort which
should settle the fact beyond cayi but II matter OF
froro time TO time for upward OF ten years.
Beside the speeches made in or out of the
several others made In executive session which
na t;c, been described a. great efforts but OF
Nearly all however. have related 10 the of
sou,e individual to some oiice,such those the
nomination OF Mr. Roosevelt Mr. Merritt or Judge Rob
ertson to tho Colectorship of NewYork. in each OF
rond eases s s. lne was mage ppSn personal
State.
Many of Mr Conklings speeches manifest great deal
or strength anu vgor but IL the strength of force
man. without any OF Mr. Conlings pretensions might
have made most of them In certain they are
naked there is noticeable dearh of the allusions OF
the tulness and of the anaogies which clothe and
odorn the expressions ola weLstored mind they
character which marks the productions Of az
ripe or a growing man In consequence they E
OCCASION and when that has passed away interest
has gone also Even for the occasion Mr. Conklng
only with the superficial and aspects
teot there is nothing luminous ia his speeches they