Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1881-05-25
From our regular correspondent
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WahhIngion, May 2lst, g

Washington, Mhy Slp'i o''
We have had u week ofllyely sensations
IN politics. Mr., Conkllng, who has been
the subject of great deal OF discussion
and dIssensIon for some years, wound up
his career with "thc greatest effort OF his
llfc," and of course II created u commo.
ton. Conkling Is IN the habit Of creating
A commotlon, but II begins 10 look MS
though he had oycrdonc the thing this
time. What was intended for scnsa'
tlonal dramatic secure admiration, SYM
pathy, and dclay-icll upon the country
in the first net as u farce, aud ended Ia
tragedy-thc political death Of the princi-
pal star. United States Senators seldom
die, and never resign; and Mr. Conkling
Is one the last men who would be sns'
pected Of voluntarily retiring from pc.
lItical life. Nobody now believes that
his late step was taken with that end III
view. But 1t seems likely he has mis-.
calculated the effect and over.cstlmatcd
learned up to this time he has very little
chance of obtaining the vindlcation he
sought, or even of saving his political
neck Some sympathy Is felt for Mr..
Plat, whom Mr.. Conkling led of by the
car and whose senatorial career Is thus
cut short before it had fairly bcgun.-
Platt probably excaims,
"Sncc so soon an done for,
wonder what was begun for p
But Conking Is credited with having
made him, so of course 1t was his prlvil.
cge to unmakc him. Mr.. Platt must have
said to himself, 'Conkling Is mighty; he
giveth and he taketh away. 1t Is rather
hard however, for the new Senator en-
joyed his position, and had just purchased
fine house In Washington.
The feeling here is very diverse. Mr..
Conklng has many admirers and friends,
especially among the late supporters Of
Grant, and the administration Is bitterly
assailed by them as well as by the
"star route" crowd. Yet very decided
majority of the Republicans are with the
President. 1t could not be otherwise
Without inquirng into the real sent'-
ments of politicians, we all know that
Senators and Congressman who want
favors, and ofilce-holders or offlce-seekers
who have or want positions are not very
likely to turn against the hand that dis
penSes. This is one great advantage
possessed by the ADMINISTRATION all thro'
such contest, especially in spells and
blunder party, such as the Republican
organization now is. Meanwhile all this
is nuts for the Democrats. You can't
find one in Washington anywhere who
hasn't broad grin on his honest coun-
tenance. Said Democratic Senator to
me last night "Any Democrat who is
not satisfied with the way things are
working now, ought to drown himself
But it is to be hoped that, until an OPP
portunity occurs to directly and I'M
mistakably profit by doing otherwise, q
policy of non-interference will be main-
tanned. Nothing has been gained in the
past by going into combinations to kill
off one Republican to elect and advance
another The party gained nothing by
helping to defeat Chandler with Christi
ancy aud Matt. Carpenter with Cameron
in 1874. Both the men elected by Demo.
cratic votes, were meaner and more il
liberal in every way than the ones de-
feated. If Conkling is defeated by Re-
publican votes well and good, but Demo-
Gratis should think twice before they con-
tribute their strength to the work. 1t is
question, whether Conking retired,
would advantage the Democrats Of New
York or Of the nation, as much as Conk-
ling in the Senate acting independently
of the Republican caucus and fighting the
Administration. PHONO.