The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1881-05-26
THE REruaL1oAN SITUATION.

The break in the Republican party il
not only unhealed, but threatens to con.
tinue and widen until after the next
Presidential election The cause Of the
difficulty can clearly be traced to the
action of the Chicago Convention.
Conkling as the leader OF the third.
terrners went into the Convention with
the determination ofnomiaating Grant, or
falling 10 this, to stand aloof in tho con.
test. Grant was defeated, and Gar.
field nominated. The nomination of
Garfield produced very little enthusiasm
in the country. Grant and Conklipg
were Indifferent and tar.turn, and after
the nomination of Hancock by the Dem.
ocrats, 1t seemed that Garfeld's defeat
was inevitable. The nomination Of Grant
for third terCi was not abandoned By
his friends, out only deferred until 1884.
Ii Garfield should be elected, and the
Federal patronage used In opposition to
Grant, he could not be nominated 10
1884; but if Hancock should % elected
1t would tend to unity the Republican
party, and render Grar;'J nomination in
1884 almost certainty. Under these
circumstances tho election Of Garfield
could not be hoped unleas sic co.opera.
ton Of Conkling aud his allies could be
aecured, and this could be accom-
plished only by some assurance that the
influence of the government would not
be used against Grant. Conkling doubt
less had Home assurance of this kind, and
entering actively into the contest secured
tho election Of Garfield Garfield having
entered upon the duties Of his office,
Conkling expected and required that the
appointments by the President 10 con-
trolling political Offices should not be
givnn to those who ara opposed to him
and to Grant So the nominee in 1884.
The nomination by tie President Of Mr..
Robertson to the Collectorship of the
Port Of New York, who is politically
inimical to both Grant and Conkling, If
confirmed by the Senate, would not only
render the nomination of Grant in 1884
highly improbable but at tho same time
endanger Conlling's reelection to the
Senate. The President by thia nomina-
tion clearly meant opposition 20 Grant
for q third term, and as Conkling had
nothing to hope for from tho success CT
any of the other leaders of the party, and
his political fortune is associated with
and dependent upon thesuccess of Grant,
he fought the confirmation OF Robertson
with oil the power, influence and strategy
which he cenld command. when he saw
that defeat was inevitable, he GO longer
concealed his opposition to the admins.
tration, but made open war upon it. Th:
Republican party ia to-day divided in.o
s~o gres. and powerful io%sss:siil ihss;.t.;;oHe, eaoh of
which is more inimicable &c the other
than either Is to the Democrats. The
factions are the same as existed in this
Chicago Convention. The one for
Grant all the time, aud to tie exclusion
Of all others, an2 :he other l..oompro.
aiisiagiy opposed To him. Tho Chicago
Convention did not heal the dissensiou,
and the discord is now more inycterate
than ever before, with little prospect of
reconciliation. One or both of the fac.
tions must meet with defeat, and with
this defeat the leaders pass into political
obscnrity.