Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1881-07-22
COMBINES COLLAPSE.

at the time, by himself and friends, for
the resignation OF Mr.. Corklng. was that
he rs United States senator. and the
leaders Of a great party, could not main
tam his dignity and submit to being
snubbed by the president Of the United
States: that he as the great head of the
party--thc man who above all Others
held the success or defeat of republican
ism in his own hands and could use it
at will for the veal or woe OF the nation
must be consulted, in regard to party
and national interests. And that when
President Garfield assumed to name a
man for the position of collector of the
port of New York without consulting
the senator, and fatty refused to with.
draw the name at his request: then 1t
was contended that the rights of the
great party boss had been so infringed
upon, that he was justified in resign
ing the important trust which the New
York legislature had delegated to HIM,
and a few papers ola certain class and
few politicians, who can see no vir-
tue III any other system in politics than
the Joss system, were loud in their
praises of the action of COnkling and
bitter in their denunciations of the Ad-
ministration, even going so far as to
denounce every one who had the man.
hood to oppose Mr.. Conklmgs course
as enemies to the success of republican
principles. But 1t seems that when
Mr.. Conkling resigned his senatorship
he resigned his dignity also. One would
naturally suppose ifthe senator actions
had been founded on principle,
he would have taken his position upon
that principle, and have said to the
New York Legislature. and the people
of the nation MY record is before
you: 1t Is Tor you to say whether |
have done right or wrong" But in
stead of that he goes 10 Albany and
personally enters INTO the fight for re-
election to the position which he had
just resigned. and after wire pulling
upon the part of himself and threats
upon the part OF his friends he succeeds
in mastering strength Of less than
one third of the republicans in the New
York Legislature.
Yet his dignity is not sufficient to
cause the withdrawal of his name IRON
the contest, but he still contends and
prevents for weeks and weeks the cleo
ton of United States senators. At last
a caucus call is signed by Sixty-six out
of the one hundred, and five of the re-
publican members, and he and his
friends refuse to go with or abide by
the caucus decision. and when one of
the caucus nominees (Mr. Miller) is
elected to fill the seat made vacant by
tie resignation of Mr.. Platt, and only
four votes is lacking to elect Mr.. Lap
ham 10 The place made vacant by the
resignation OF himself, he still contends
and prevents the election, though %
vot es is all he can muster, while 1S are
necessary to choice. If this is dignity,
the less we have of it in American pol:-
tics the better. How effectually the de-
feat of Mr.. Conkling answers the argu-
ment that one man can boss the repub-
lican party, or that 1t is dangerous to
contend against such a leader. As long
as leader leads Alright lie will be fol-
lowed, but when he goes astray the mass
OF the republican party will not go
with him. 1t is only few who lack
and never think Tor them
selves who will follow a false leader to
destruction, and those of that class who
abused the Independent, thinking re-
publlcans of the nation for standing by
the administration in the war the Conk-
lingites made against the president,
If they are capable of seeing anything,
can now see their mistake. There will he
no division IN the republican party
neither will the republicans be defeated
in New York. Does anyone believe
there is true republican who would
refuse to vote the ticket because of the
defeat OF Conkling? If there be such
a republican the sooner he indentlfes
himself with the democrats the better
for the republicans and the worse for
the democracy. And if there he any
more United States senators who feel.
that because they cannot run the presl-
dent their dignity has been so trampled
upon that they must resign, the quick
.r they do so that their places may be
tilled by men of less vanity, the better
or the party and the nation. Let them
with Mr.. Platt and Mr.. Conkling.
De retired to private life. And
ct no man fear for the grand old prin-
'iples Of the republican party.
1t is stated that 100000 buffalo hides
lave been sent out of the Yellow stone
country alone this season. Last wear