The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-05-20
CONkLING'S RESIGNATION.
The action as viewed by
prominent Republicans.
Gen. Sickles and Marshall Jewett are
Gntervieweoi
GEN. SICKLES.


From the New York Express. Saturday.
A reporter for the ErpTes called upon
Gen. Daniel E. Sickles at his residence, and
was created by that gentleman with cor
diality. In reply to several questions, the
general said in substance as follows: Eyes.
l know Conkling, and my opinion of him
l viii give you with pleasure. Mr.. Conk-
ling is a man who is great among a lot of
small men. He is considered great because
he stuffs his self-esteem down peoples
throats and throttles them if they say nay
to him. He has had his own way too long
and now, as he has met politicians in
Blaine and Garfield, who are his superiors
in everything but prettiness, he is non
plussed, and, like an overblown bladder
has burst. On account of his domineering
self sufficiency, he ruined Grants chances
at the convention. Garfield took advan-
tang of the occasion which offered itself
and behold! During Hayes administration
Conkling had the president and the
little secretary of state by the noses,
and, nothing 10th, they began to
flatter themselves that they had
such a keeper But now he has run against
a wall which he can not kick his way
through, and which will effectually bar his
way toward governing this country la
Conklihg. He is the most shallow politi-
clan, when estimated by the true standard
that has brayed in the senate chamber for
years. He evidently thinks himself the
greatest man in the country and most GER
tainly in the government. Well, judging
him by Dorsey and few kindred spirits
he is. But are such men to be the cri
terions of greatness in this country? l
hope not Conkling is greedy; he wants
everything, instead of being contented
with reasonable share. He acts like a
child that has his hands and mouth filed
and then wants sugar on both sides of his
bread. He had all the places in this state
during the Hayes government, and he
wanted them under Garfield. The presi-
dent gave him what a sensible man would
be satisfied with, but no! he wants sugar
on both Sides and like good father, Gar
field spanks him and takes everything
away.
But wait! Once let Robertson get in
and you will see some fun. Conkling will
howl, as a matter of course, and Robert
son, who is thorough politician of the
school of Webster and Clay, backed by
Jim Blaine and Garfield, will smile very
serenely, and bid him blow his best. Then
there is no knowledge of what the glorious
and Hyperion-curled will do; the chances
are that he will divide the Republican par
ty in the state and scatter its influence to
the wiuds. Should he do this, the Demo
cratic party will reap the benefit; it will
lead to its reascendancy, and will be its
salvation. Conkling is mad enough to kill
his party if Garfield does not do as he
wishes: and if Robertson is confirmed
of which there cannot be any doubt--the
senate will have a lively time OF IL. Cohh
ling can hardly be blamed, for he IS utterly
puffed up He has been surrounded by
little men during his career, and through
sheer force of brass he has convinced them
that he is a bigger man than they are. lie
is not, yet they think so, and hence what
difference does it make? Jim Blaine is
the cause of this downfall of the magnlfi-
cent, for revenge is sweet, and Blaine
wanted to be President, and would have
been had it not been for Conkling. 1t is
bv far the best thing that could happen
for the Democrats and they ought to con-
gratulate themselves upon this teapot
tempest from which Conkling's fame and
temper are spouting like steam from the
nozzle"