New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-05-03

have anticipated exactly the reply which 1t re-
ceived from the President when it consulted
him as to the possibility of a withdrawal of
Mr. RObertsons name. If any Senator has
really entertained the idea, which appears to
have reached the Committee through Senator
Conklng, that long delay might result In this
withdrawal, the Presidents prompt and decided
answer will remove the misapprehension. The
nomination has been made deliberately, and
the Senate will have TO vote upon 1t, sooner
or later. This is as good an opportunity as
any To find out whether tho President still has
the appointing power which the Constitution
intrusts to him. or whether il has been practi-
cally usurped by Senators. The country wants
to know, the sooner the better, who the Sena-
tors are who mean 10 prostitute their public
trus.--the power of conhrmaion-to secure a
private ACKNOWLEDGMENT or satisfy private
rancor.
But the Republicans throughout the country
have n deep interest in this matter though
comparatively few of them seem is yet to fully
appreciate it. The main question, III ali this
business, is whether the Republican party shall
be treacherously robbed of large part of It's
legitimate power, under color e "the cour-
teSV OF the StUdNs II Tic lpiAIhl4bb VI az
Robertson can be defeated at all, it can Le de-
feated only by the species Of conspiracy which
uses that phrase as it's cloak. j is pretended
that "the courtesy Of the Senate requires the
defeat Of any nomination 10 which both the
Senators from the State ol jcct. theoretically,
this is an absolute violation Of the Ccnsttu-
ton, which makes it TIE sworn duty Of each
Senator to vote according 10 his own best inlg-
ment as to the fitness of every nomination.
Practically, it is a conspiracy Of Senators 20
rob the President Of the appointing power, and
TO make him mere clerk TO register the edicts
of the Senators from each State. But what
does it mean poltcally7' Have Republican
voters cOnsidcreif Ii il high time for Them
! to give the matter most serious thought.
"The courtesy Of tho Senate" means that
the Democrats shall have absolute control Of
all appointments in Alabama, Arkansas, Dela-
ware, Florida Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland,
Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oregon,
South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas ard West
Virginia in Louisiana, az soon as Mr. Kellogg
can be Ousted in Virginia, if Mr.. Malone ever
sees fit 10 act with tho party whose latest
Presidential candidate he supported and in
either of six Northern States if the Democrats
succeed in electng another Senator there II
every Southern State except Louisiana and
Virginia, the present foully- gained advantage
of the Bourbon Democracy shall he per-
petuated, fortified and made irresistible by
complete control of ali Federal appointments.
In Louisiana, the murders by the White
Leaguers shall be in like manner rewarded, as
soon as Senator Kelloggs term expires, OF he
dies or resigns. In Oregon. the originator and
| perpetrator of the Cronin fraud, now a Senator
with Democratic colleague, shall have entire
control Of all Federal appointments In Vir-
ginia, if ever General Malone and the Demo
cratic Senator should agree in opposing any
appointment, it must be defeated. This is the
wholesale surrender TO which Republicans are
invited by those who pirate Of the courtesy
of the Senate"
The responsibility Of administering the Gov
ernment has been intrusted 10 the Republican
party. That party not only has a right, but is in
duty bound, to use its power to promote Repub-
Hcan principles, to build up in all the States
a healthy, honest and honorable Republican
organization, and to select, as representatives of
tina Government In various official stations,
men who will not only fill their offices well,
but reflect credit upon the party, and recon-
mend Il to the people by their teachings and
| conduct. The Republican voters of the coun-
try have right to insist that their principles
shall be thGs supported and recommended to
public favor in every State. Il would be an
| infamous betrayal OF Republican principles,
| and of the Republican party, to surrender to
the Bourbon Democracy absolute power to de-
feat the nomination of any Trustworthy Repub-
lean in nearly half tho States. The Senators
who seek to hide sinister conspiracy under a
| fine phrase must be- prepared, il they vote as
| they have been talking, to defend before their
constituents most base and shameless be-
trsyal of the Republican party. The cloak
will conceal nothing. Every Republican voter
] win see Just what it means to barter away