Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-05-14
DOMESTIC.

DOMESTIC.
The Altered "Enside History OF ilc Aast
Presidential Campaign.
New YORK, May 135h.-On Wednesday
the Herald commenced the publication of
series of articles from an occasional Washing
ton correspondent, giving what he chose to
call san inside history of the last Presiden-
tial campaign These articles have appeared
every morning since. Following are their
salient points The correspondent declares
that the great battle now being waged in the
Senate is really between Conkling and Blaine,
and that the President has taken the part OF
the latter.
The correspondent speaks of the President
thus: 1--WE have had some men in the Exec
utive chair who were not very strong
intellectually, men who were man
aged and nodded by crafty party
leaders among their contemporaries, and
whose names remain to US as synonyms
of political stupidity and imbecility; but it is
doubtful if there ever was an occupant Of
the White House who has been so completely
fooled and blinded as the twentieth President
of the United States. There is something
supremely ridiculous between the promise
and performance of his Administration.
Every move he has made since the 4th of
March has been blunder. He has become
exclusively a slave of petty spites and the
tool of reckless, designing politicians. Conk-
ling has not asked for a single appointment,
though Garfield has frequently sent to Conk
ling for advice
The correspondent says that before the
election, when things looked black for
the Republicans, a conference was held
in New York, at which Conkliug was invited,
but refused to attend. Garfield, however,
met Levi P Morton, who had also refused,
and asinducements TO him to raise money of
fered him his choice of these offices First,
Secretaryship of the Treasury; second the
headship of the new syndicate then contem-
plated for refunding the debt: third, the EE-
glish mission, or Fourth, the French miJsi II,
Il he preferred that. Another offer made
was that the State patronage. in case OF his
election. should go to the State Senators to
aid The State Committee. Garfield was not
only willing to make pledges, but he was
willing to barter away anything in his gift,
provided he could only win. While the
Mentor statesman was thus bargaining with
every politician whom he thought could in
faence vote or give dollar with which to
buy one, he was in the pauses of his political
intrigues delivering that wonderful series
of moral and political platitudes which
were the delight of Sunday.schools in all
sections Of the country. When through
friends he was urging "ster route Brady " to
come down and help along the good Tight he
was incorporating as a reformer and Chris
tian statesman on the porch of his Mentor
homestead. Daily in the campaign Garfield
was driven to despair, until at last, through
the good offices of Chester A. Arthur, Conk-
liug and Grant caused his election, and then
Gar6elds promises melted into thin air. He
took the bit between his teeth, and held con-
ferences in all directions with all sorts OF
persons. II the conversations and promises,
Interviews, bargains and broken pledges of
Garfield, since his nomination at Chicago to
she present time, could be arranged and
l7rinted they would present a record which
would make it difficult to decide whether he
is not the weakest and most vacillating OF
1neu, or the most cunning and adroit of polit-
isal wire-pullers of the baser sort. Finally,
4 came TO the turn of Conkling to be invited,
and like royal Republican leader he went
so Mentor to assist but from first to last he
was treated with want OF frankness.
The correspondent describes conversations
between Garfield and Conkling on the APP
pointments of Folger and others to Cabinet
positions. II Garfield meant anything when
he summoned Conkling to Mentor it was that
be should consult him and take his advice in
the construction of his Cabinet, so far at least
az the State of New York went. II meant
nothing if it did not mean that. CoDkling
plainly signi6ed his wishes that the Treasury
would be acceptable to the Empire State. Ii
that was impossible let it be passed over,
and the understanding of CoDkling's part was
that it should be passed ever. What was the
result? few days before Gar6eld's de-
parture from Mentor to the Capitol, he tele-
Sraphed Morton 1.-THE cast of my Cabinet
must be made before 10 o'clock. Please
telegraph me instantly that you will accept
the post of Secretary of the Navy" That
was the very one Office Conklpg had asked
the President to give to New York,
not wishing to have the great State made
ridiculous. Even after the Cabinet was
made and confirmed, Conkling expressed a
sincere desire to Garfield and his friends to
make the administration q success. Finally
an interview was brought about and Conk-
ling and Garfield met. The latter wanted to
appoint Robertson to home fl e. and asked
Conklings advice, declaring that the Gus
tom-house should not be disturbed while
Merritt's term lasted-nearly two years.
This conference occurred Sunday, and on
the Wednesday next following Robertsons
nomination to supersede Merritt in the Gus
tom-house was sprung upon the country and
that was really BlAine's work.
spicy Addition 10 the Conkltng.GaraeI
Controversy.
WASHINGTON, May 18th" Hard Money -
Nichols. General Garfield's Private Secretary
during the Presidential campaign, today
makes a spicy addition 70 the literature Of
the Conkling Garfield controversy. 1t ia ad-
dressed to the editor of the EgeRing Star.
and reads as follows:
am the subject Of an editorial in this mornings
Republican, suggested by and referring to a com.
municAtlon over my name in Yesterdays New York
Tribune In that commune ,tion distinctly affirm
four things First, that the "wrigger" article in
the Herald bore plain evidence Of Senator Conk.
lings assistance in the preparation; second, that
the policy Of sneerlng At the President in the pend
ing controversy and calling him the tool OF Mr.
Blaine, is undignifed ATTEMPT to .belitte the
President and a cowArdly thrust at Blaine, who is
not in a position to respond; third, that General
Garfield did not suggest nor plan the New York
conference last summer as charged in the Herald
article, but Mr. Conkling's friends did that Gen.
.eral Garfield only consented to attend when con-
WINGED that Conkling was contemplating treaehery,
and did attend 10 thwart and stamp out that
treachery; fourth, that assuming the charge
about promises and pledges to be true,
it proves the selfshress and contem-
plated treachery OF ConklIng and company.
It is a confession on their part Of baser nature,
and meaner and more selfish conduct than they
charge on the President. Now, what has the Re
publican to answer That am diminutive per-
son that sat In arm chair the platform OF
the Chicago Convention; that thrust myself on to
General Garfield, to his annoyance and disgust at
New York (which is he); that Garfield could not
stop me from writing letters in his name (Another
he-I wrote letter in General Garfied's name
in my life. wrote letter that he signed himself
That only allowed to write Acknowledgements
and receipts of letters of congrAtulstion-(snother
lie-I opened read and answered all classes of let
ters)-and finally, " Mr.. Nichols is a professional
honest money man" What has my size TO do with
this controversy amt as la,ge as David
Davis. nor as :" diminutve" as Malone.
/ don't know much other
people, but what do know know as well as IL |
weighed 400 pounds, and part Of my limited stock
of information is likely TO prove an inconvenience
to certain enterprise of the lrm OF Conkiing,