The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1881-06-24
GRANT AND GARFIELD.
Brother Blaine Incidentally Defended


part of Mr.. Conkling and be willing TO
let the public know where he stands in
the present controversy. Gratitude for
past services, and personal friendship,
perhaps, furnish an excuse for his recent
utteranccs at Chicago, unbecoming as
some of them are in n person who has
twice been President, and whose re-
sentiment at being set aside for a third
term crops ont in the bitter words with
which he assaiIs the Administration.
In singing out Mr.. Blaine as the
author of all these woes, Gen. Grant
adopts the delusion of Mr.. Conkling,
who assumed, from his old quarrel
with the Secretary, that revenge i'll
spired the opportunity to strike a blow
at the Senator, by which his pride
might be humbicd and his power would
be crippled in tho State. Mr.. Blaine
has many mistakes to answer for, but
the appointment of Judge Robertson is
not of the number.
That act, and all the responsibility of
every kind belonging TO it, attach
directly and exclusively to the I'rcsi-
dent, as do the preceding sC-called
Conkling appointments. No member
of the Cabinet was consulted in either
case, and there was as much surprise
inside as there was outside the Admin
istration when the nominations were
made known. The testimony on this
point is concurrent and conclusive.
After the decision had been made be-
You'd recall, without qualification, Mr..
Blaine had, of course, to take part in
the arrangements by which Gen. Mer-
rift was transferred to London, Baueau
was sent to Copenhagen, and Cramer
succeeded Fish ut Berne.
When the secret history of this mat
ter shall be revealed, it will be made
clear that if Mr.. Blaine had his own
way very different policy would have
been adopted, by no means objection
able to Mr.. Conkling, who was recos-
nized as the leader of the party in New
York, and who, therefore, would not
have been subordinatcd Extensively.
Like an infant attempting to walk
while only able to crawl, the President
battered by incompetent intimates,
undertook to play what he considered
a great part, and to astonish the coun-
try with surprising stroke of political
craft. He would satisfy both factions
in New York by fair distribution of
the spoils. lie would thus harmonize
tho party, and of course Illustrate the
promises of tho inaugural for civil ser
vice reform. More than this, he would
show himself to be President, like
another Jackson, and be independent
of Cabinet or council. lie was master,
and would assert his authority.
How well this programme succeeded
is known. In ninety days he split the
party into hestilc camps, and now the
weak cOntidants who stirred his frcakish
ambition, and who inflated his vanity
to make this rash experiment, have
made him believe that he has achieved
Il grand success, which all Republicans
but Il little faction applaud, and which
the country, irrespective OF party, APP
preciates. In tho midst of all the
uproar, he is gratificd to think himself
more popular than ever before, and
checrfully looks forward toa second
term!
Gen. Grant makes gratuitous denial
of having been Il party to the "Mcntor
treaty." That arrangement was
brought about by Simon Cameron be-
fore Mr.. Conkting emerged from his
tent of seclusion, and before the visit
of Gen. Grant and Mr.. Conkling TO
Mentor. They had nothing to do with
arranging it, but assurances were given
that induced Mr.. ConkHng TO take an
active part in the campaign, and to
bring into it the defeated candidate for
a third term. Undoubtedly they turn
ed the tide of battle and restored con
fidence, depressed by the defeat in
Maine.
Inc exact terms of the Mentor treaty
are not known. But they cannot long
be concealed. The main idea and the
OASIS OF the understanding was full pro-
lection to and recognition of the Grant