The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-09-23
"LIPE Is TOO SHORT FOR POLITICAL RE-
VBNGBS "

NhhNho
Solom has said tina. all is vanity and
veIstion of spirit, and il was scarcely 1898
solemn, less striking, a less profound tru-
ism that 1t is said that ex-senator Oonkling
uttered, but tew days ago, when he remarks
Cd tina. "life n too short for political re-
venge,." Mr. Conkling for years past mas
been central figure in the politics oil lhis
country, but within tho past four or hVe
months he has been more prominent before
the people than At any other period sno IN a
role, or rather Da party in u contest ths'
has made him conspicuous in way 10
win him friends and 10 make him bi''er, un@
rolcnting foes and moro particularly tae la'-
ter Time and again during these lew
past months We hAvn taken occasion TO give
expression 70 our admiration of the great abllN
tiles of Mr. Conkling, of his craftsmanship
and of bis purity OF character IN his
public csreer. We have not done this as
taking sides IN the contest in which he has
been engaged, as espousing his cause against
the administration, for his politics are a. war
with ours, and in that fight we had no inter-
est further than its effects and its results
might have action upon the general political
good and welfare of the country. 1t was
our privilege TO criticise both parties con-
tesiant--both wings of the republican party
who we're waaing an intcrnecino warfare az
it we're, and we have done so un.paringly ~
dole it for tho counsrys veal, for both, In
our judgment, were right in some things, and
both we're wrong in some things, and 1t was
Is contamination devoutly TO be wished
that GU! of the strife much of benefit would
rebound 10 the public good, to the
country st large. l! has been said,
In the paper, and among individuals,
that if President Garfield died, the
succession falling upon General Arthur, the
-president, that the stalwsrts would
como TO the front, that Mr.. Conkling would
be the power behind the throne, - that
General Grant would have potential in
nuence, and that the entire country, and the
south especially, would enter upon season
Of dies il@ The small politicians, the stem
winding gentry, the self-cockers, are the ones
who do the speculsting. They are tho
genuine quid nuncs, and they are the gentle
men, in our opinion, who have instigated all
this sort of talk, who arc blatant about diff
fculties to DO encountered under President
Arthur's administration. Suppose Mr.. Conk-
ling ia the power behind the throne: suppose
forsooth, he should be made secretary Of
state, as some people say will DO the case:
why, what Oft He 10 a statesman. lis is
patriot, and no has said that life is too
short for political reyenges. 1t ia only small
minds that study and rlan and execute when
they can, vengeances, political or other.
Mr.. Conkling and President Arthur may
have had, and unquestionsbly still have their
bitter opponents in their own party, but
what are party differences weighed in the
scales with the administration of the affairs
of this grand republic9 Is President Ar
thnr weakling to bs sweyed by such
trihes? We doubt If we have
the right, or even the semblanco of justiGca~
ton, in coupling MIR. Conkling with Presi'
dent Arthur's administration; but we are not
doing 1t in reality, for. ia simply an express
sion of public sentiment that ne is in some
sort of way to have prominence therein. In
our opinion of MIR. Conklipg's capacities and
his fidelity to tho best interests of the coun,
try from his stand point, we think it would
perhaps be we'll. if he shall have an advisory
influence. President Arthur can do nothing
but execute the laws and stand firmly on TIE
constitution. President Arthur recognizes
the fact that the democratic and the
republican parties arc striving for the same
ends, have the same aims, aad DO must have
the honor. the honesty and the manhood TO
acknowledge that difference in opinions is
not necessarily difference of principles, and
while he believes tho policies and tho plans
ofthe republican party are tho best and the
surest for achieving a satisfactory, a tri-
umphrns destiny for the American republic,
he still must have respect for his
political opponels, striving as they
are forlho same accomplishment,
As president OF these United
States 1t is only his duty TO perform
Just what Is incumbent upon him I'm Tor tho
constitution and the laws Hereunder 70
perform, and to remember that "life .is too
short for political revopges." He cannot do
more than this, and we have faith that no
has too much ability, too much oonscien,
tiousness 10 do less. We are impressed with
that--epigram, shall wo call ilf-of
Mr.. Conkling's "lite is too short
for political revonges," There Ia q
world of the profoundest thought in II, and
Il makes us inquire, Is not life too shor, for
any sort of revengesl Sufficient for the Cisy
IL the OWL thereof and why extend those
evils into another into many daysi Was Il
not poet who said TO orr is human, TO for,
givo divineg II is the abominable spirit of
revenge, a longing for vengeance, thar takes
tho cream from tho zes, Of life. One of tho
wiscst statesmen and most successful polti-
cisns of this state, once advising q young
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