Daily Los Angeles herald., 1881-05-20

even in the Republican organiza.
tion. The San Francisco Post, a
Csnkling organ, after q long ira
vail, has delivered itself, without
reserve, In its issue Of May 18th, as
follows:
It is past peradventure-not now
oontroverted-that Garfield prom
tssd Conkling, at his first inter
View with him, that Merritt would
not be disturbed in the New York
Collectorship until his term had
expired. Now, Merritt wns not
Conkling's nominee. He had sup
planted Arthur, who was Copk-
lipg's friend, and was therefore dis
tasteful t. him. But Conkling did
mot seek to remove him on that &C.
count; he was too magnanimous
for such course as that. Merritt
was, however, tricked into resign
ing by . suggested foreign appoint
msnt; and the President, without
oonsulting Conkling, or consider
ing the effect such nomination
would have upon the Republican
party In New York, sent in the
name Of Judge Robertson, the biz
ter personal enemy of ConkliDg,
and who had done everything iu
his power to thwArt and humiIiate
him ut Chicago in the National
Convention. 1t may be argued
that Merritt's resignation exon
Grated the President from his
promise. The Post cannot regard
II In that light, however. 1t was
contrary to the true spirit aud In
tent of the compact; contrary even
to its letter, because he pledged
himself generally not to make nuy
nomination which would be peg
sonAlly dstasteful to Conkling.
Having msde that pledge he was
bound by 1t. fla deliberate breach
Of faith Is an odious act in private
life, what Can be said Of it in the
case of man so highly placed
among the potentates and rulers oi
the earth as the President of tie
United States? It Is an iutolorab!e
Offense-one which should be con-
demned by all men who desire to
see the executive chair OF this
great republic filed with dignity
and honor.
Now, what was the Presidsnus q
course? He sent ia tie names Of
gentlemen for sundry offices in
New York State who were friendly
to Senator ConkliDg. He there
upon also nominated Judge Rob.
ertson to the most important Off ce
outside the Cabinet, knowing tull
we'll that 1t would be offensive to the
Senator from New York. Conkling
took decided stand at the outset,
and procured the passing of rule
IL caucus that only uDopposed
nominations shonld be acted upon
1t the extra session. This would
have prevented II con nnict, but the
President. descending from his
high position, engaged in per-
sOnal quarrel with aSeDator on the
do0r OF the Senate chamber, and in
doing 80 committed another
act scarcely less justifiable than
his breach Of faith with Conkling
He withdrew all the names, eX-
csptipg that of Robertson, to whom
alone Conkling objected, and forced
the fight upon that nomination.
The President thus treated the
other gentlemen with great dis
courtesy, If nothing worse. He
sent their names to the Senate for
confirmation, knowing them to be
honest and capable citizens. Why
did he Withdraw them ? Had they
changed their characters in night,
or were they simply used AS u
means OF exasperatiug and weak
euing Conkling? In either case,
the President placed himself and
his nominees in false position.
This vindictive act of withdra wa |
naturally did exasperate Conkling.
1t was an outrage upon him which
he was bound to resent. But the
Republican caucus met without
consulting him, and rescinded the
rule regarding nominations which
he had hoped would stand between
himself aud still further indignity.
This was too much to be borne
tanely, and when it became evi.
dent that Robertson would be con-
drmed, the great Senator resigned
his seat in the Senate to save him.
self from further humiliation. And
bis friend and coil.sgue, Senator
Platt, resigned with him. These
gentlemen, who represented the
great State of New York-the chos-
en- Of four millions of people-felt
constrained, out of seli-respect, to
resign that distinguished aud envi-
able position. Surely this was not
light ma tier, aud Is to be credited
TO something other than personal
plque or wounded vanity. Politi-
clans are not SO thin skinBed as
this would imply, and Conkling
and Platt are experienced enough
10 public life not TO act IN @ spirit
Of unreasoning petnlance.
The probable effect Will bo to
split mp the Republican party in
New York and to weaken it every
where. The President has certain.
~ proven himself 10 be uograteful
90 Conkllng, who made him what
he u omcially, and ingratituds is u
teelt OF character which men, as a
rule, not only do not admire, but
0haracterize AS u crime. II may
sutt those who are hankeriDg alter
once to sustain President Garfield
against Conkling. but in this fight
the honest sympathy of the Post is
With the latter. II re.eiected by
The New York Legislature, as he
doubtiess will be, the President
Atf1 uuda RATS MI That tho I'm, nj re
State does not approve his action.