The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-06-01

SENATOR CoYKLING opposed Rob
ertson's appointment to the best
office in the countfs, because he
believed him to be an unreliable
Republican.
The President held that he was an
unobjectionable Republican and APP
pointed him, whereupon Messrs.
Conkling and Platt resigned. The
friends Of these Senators, who are
in the majority in the New York
Legislature, do not wish TO lose
their services and propose to're-clect
them. To this the minority object,
and finding no other means efiectual,
resort to the methods of the kickers
in our own Legislature, and refuse
to 60 into caucus. Consequently, a
bitter warfare is being waged in the
Republican ranks which in all prob
ability viii eventually result in the
election of one if not of two
Democratic.Senators from that State,
and the loss of Republican control of
the Senate for the remainder of the
term of this administration. Here
is a most unfortunate state of affairs
to the correction OF which all true
Republicans, who value principles
above patronage, should address
themselves. But unhappily, if their
own declarations be accepted, the
opponents of the reelection of these
Senators claim that the power, and
patronage, and influence Of the adj
ministration are at their back, and
at their service, and that in order to
vindicate the President, the former
Senators must not be sent back
Did not the Senate vindicate the
President by the confirmation of
Robertson? If the senators from
New York foolishly resigned, must
the Republican party of the Union
be punished therefore, and the DEM
ocrats given control of the Senate
for the purpose of rebuking their
folly? Grant it, that those two
Senators by resigning are response
bic for the destruction of the Re
publican majority in the Senate.
Is that any reason why those claim
ing to act in the name OF the admin
istration should prevent its restora-
ton, by defeating their return? 1t
has been proven that they are
powerless in their ahtagonism to
Presidential nominations, and this
was andis, the sum of the difficulty,
for their fidelity TO Republican
principles none will doubt.
The situation at present is this :
the Senators from the State OF New
York resigned, and thereby Destroy
ed Republican supremacy in the
Senate. Their friends, a majority of
the Republicans in the Legislature,
propose to re-elect them, and their
opponents, minority of the party,
claiming to act for and in the name
of the National Administration, re-
fuse to consent. The questions in
volved are simple. Shall the major
ity rule and, who will be response
bic for the Senate remaining Demo-
cratic if these Senators, the choice
ofthe majority are not elected?
Their enemies can possibly pre-
vent their election, but they cannot
elect others without forming an alli-
ance with the Democrats, dividing
the spoils, and turning the Senate
over to Bourbon rule. VIII that
vindicate the President? We are
not advocating the reelection of
Messrs. CJnkling and Platt, that is
none of our business. We are not
defending their past course or action,
but we are looking at affairs as we
find them. The Senate, with the
aid of tbs casting vote of the Vice
President can be made Republican
by the return of these two Senators,
and it can be made Democratic by
Mr.. Robertson and his friends re-
fusing to abide by the viii of the
majority. Mr.. Robertson, represent
ing the administration as he does,
has now the opportunity of proving
whether the Presidents orMr. Conk-
ling's estimate of him is the true
one. He can splendidly vindicatc the
the President, by magnanimously
placing party before SELF.
Killed by Ligs.fr;ng.