The weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1878-1881, 1881-07-05
COKNLING'S MANIFESTO.
The Great Stalwart's Speech.

denounces the corruption Of railroad corpo-
rations and charges the stalwarts to stand by
their color until the 3lst day Of December if
necessary. He will not compromise with the
halfbIeeds. The dispatch under date Of the
22ud ult., from which we take the following,
says:
his remarks were mainly directed TO
counseling his hearers to be stsadfast to the
party of true republican ideas and principles,
and beware of the corrupt group Of politici-
ans who are striving to destroy the party and
its prestige. He warned them against the
men who are approaching them with corrupt
enticements, and referred in this connection
to the bribery investigation in progress before
the assembly committee and grand jury. He
said true republicans should disdain to EN-
ploy such means to accomplish their ends as
have been employed by the supporters of De-
pew. After dwelling upon the growing pow
er of monopolies in this country, he spoke of
the varied corporate influences arrayed
against the stalwarts. He said it was almost
inevitably a severe task to fight wealth, but
more especially was it difficult to do So when
millions were unscrupulously used by cor
rupt agents. He thought the time had COM
for true republicans to put themselves on rec
ord upon this subject, and affirmed that he had
no doubt of the final result of the contest be-
tween corruption on one hand and honesty on
the other. He continued:
"The power of the railroad corporations
has grown immensely in the United States,
and it is mostly to be feared when it under
takes to debauch sworn Legislators. When
ever such a state of affairs is az hand, there
can be no doubt of the duty of every true
lover of the party and his country. A sys-
TEN of corruption, no matter by whom coun-
tenanced, should be exposed, denounced and
checked, and on no account should anyone
be shielded from the consequences of such a
great crime" Cenkling then alluded to some
of the persons who have been acting as lead
ers of the half-breeds, and asked if any hon
Orable nan can for q moment think of com
promising with such notorious characters.
He drew attention to the testimony already
given before the assembly bribery committee,
Anu COuucutcu upou CCltoli parts Vi IL III
detail.
He added '.1f this condition of affairs is
to continue, where will the country 60 ?
What guaranty will the people have that the
republican party, which saved the union and
emancipated the slaves, was honestly en-
Where can a citizen of the state of New
York find a party to fight their battles against
corporate monopolies and against bribery and
corruption in every form, in Albany or else
where 2"
He left the question to be considered by
all who heard him as they might consider
right. So far as he was concerned, he con-
fessed that he could see no hope for any party
OF clique OF men which started out with
bribery as its cornerstone and acts of the
lobby as it decoration. He hoped, he sim
cerely hoped, the charges of profuse use of
money in the legislature were untrue. He
could not help, however, admitting that from
the testimony already taken he was thorough
ly convinced that there was cause to be vigil
liant and careful.
He would particularly warn all republicans
against prostituting public Office for money
or public patronage. Conkling dwelt further
upon the topics of corporate monopolies and
the official corruptions which they induced.
In his most earnest manner he desired that
his words should create the impression of
which they were capable. 1t was only at the
repeated request of some of his friends that
he had consented to attend the conference,
and he was induced to speak only after much
entreaty; but he considered it his duty to
warn his friends against the INSCRIPTIONS at
tempts which have been and still are being
made to prevent a free expression of opinion
on the part of the Senators aid assemblymen
Of the State of New York as to who shall be
elected to the United States Senate.
He opposed any combination
with the object of the electiau of
stalwart with a half-breed Senator
If two Republican Senators
were elected, they must be pur: stalwarts
and men whose characters were above sus
picion. They must stay here until the bribery
investigation was closed. If the halt. breeds
still press the selection of unfit candi dates
and continued to stand without the pale o.
the party organization, and it was impossible
to elect stalwart Republicans, they should ia
vor an adjournment, thus allowing the ranl
and file of the Republican party in the Stat.
to pass on the point at issue. Failing in this
the stalwarts should stand by their colors I'M
til the 31st of December if necessary.
Conkling was positive and emphatic in ad
dressing his supporters. He spoke over al
hour. HIS speech was filed with historical
precedents bearing upon the courtesy du,
Senators in making executive appointments
1t included the history OF the Simmons cas-,
in Boston. Conkling's statement did no