The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-05-17
PRERS COMMENTS.

wow VI II IotClLuS IOSG'
The Evening Post says of the designations
of tho New York Senators:
To-day for the first time since the organiza-
ton OF the government the State OF New York
is without any representative in the Senate of
the United States. Messrs. Conklng and
Platt have forwarded their resignation to Gov.
Cornell and have formally announced the
TACT to the Vice President The first comment
on the proceeding is that it is genuine sur
prise. LII the report was less circumstantial it
might be regarded as not very ingenious in
vention of some practical aumorist in Wash
ington. The rumor that Senator Platt after
voting for Robertson in obedience to some I'M
defined obligation would resign was regarded
some time ago an idle rumor. Until the
Senators hall vouchsafe an explanation of their
course there is vide room for conjecture as to its
meaning If they are seeking an endorsement
of their conduct by means sof reelection the
experiment is dangerous one to make with
legislature that little while ago unanimously
approved the nomination of Robertson. Per-
haps after all the simplest explanation is the
true one. Perhaps Conkling and Platt have
concluded il the Senate is anything more than
an instrument for distribution of patronage
their occupation is gone and they can do the
STATE no further service.
New York Commercial Advertiser.
The Commercial Advertiser says:
Roscoe Cvnkling has returned into the
hands of the Republicans of New York the
liSu truSb Uuoy COuuueu 10 MIN IOr fourteen
years. The great leader of the Republican
party of the Union, the statesman who stands
head and shoulders above all his associates in
ability, integrity and services he has rendered
the Republican cause, has resigned his posi-
ton as Senator. To this act he has been
driven by the duplicity treachery and malig-
nifty of the administration. The rebuke to
the Blaine-Garfeld cabal is pointed by
the action of the junior Senator from this
State who joins his distinguished colleague in
his retirement and places his resignation also
in the governor IS hands.
New York Express.
The Express (Dem.) says:
"The determination of Senators Conklng
and Platt to take no insults and to bear no in
dignities but to stand or fall together, has
electrified their friends and sent thunderbolt
through the Garfield ranks. This double res
speculation is rife. The Senators refuse to
talk. They evidently feel deeply. It has pre-
cipitated q crisis Conkling aud Plat, of
course, appeal to the Legislature of New York.
they be reelected? Some of their friends say
yes emphatically, others hang their heads.
The Administration men say No. but are
evidently doubtful and shake in their shoes.
1t is said that when Blaine heard the news he
was shocked into speechlessness, and his face
turned ashy pale. The bold man has been
met by holder. 1t is life and death wrestle
between two political gladiators. The grow
ing conviction is that Garfield is a weak,
treacherous, vacillating politician, and he
has already lost all moral support Men will
be loyal to the party while they despise its
leader. Leaves and fishes do not bride the
men who make an Administration respected
and successful Conkling's splendid audacity
in refusing to be crushed in the coils of the
Administration anaconda, leaping into the
arena and seizing-f fate BY the foretop, awakenS
admiration. The odds are against him.
|, What if the Legislature should elect Depew
and Curtis to the two vacant places?"
New York Herald.
The Herald calls for the retirement of Blaine
and the reorganization of the cabinet as the
solution OF the. present difficulties.
New York Tribune.
The Tribune says no one takes the resgna-
lions seriously Neither Conkling nor Platt
has any idea of leaving the Senate. We are
inclined to think that no objection will be
raised anywhere in the State to the playing
out of this opera bouffe representation Our
Senators have made themselves rather ridcu-
lous, but the people who elected them once
will of course elect them again and send them
back to serve out their term. The Senate
should not permit so shallow q trick to inter-
fere with the dispatch of public business in
their absence. They can 90 on, get through
with their work and 60 home not mourning
over their sulky colleagues as those without
| hope. They will meet them again in Decem-
| Der with nice new credentials, and we trust
with much more sense and better manners
| than they have shown in the last month.
| Boston journal.
| BOSTON, May 16-The Journal says if there
| had been the slightest doubts in ConklIng's
| his resignation. There is no boldness in the
step fol he risks nothing. 1t is a gigantic bit
| of boys play. Why Platt should mount the
guillotine at the same time is a mystery.