Morning journal and courier., 1881-05-05
Thursday sIorning, May 5. 1881.
COMPILING vs. THE PRESIDENT.

The situation at Washington with respect to the nomination of Judge Robertson and the contest which Conkling is making against his confirmation is set forth in a very inter- l esting way by the able and we'll informed 1 Aduertiser. His statements are those of 8
 careful observer who has unusual facilities for arriving at the truth of the matter. We give the substance of them.
 Nothing that has ever been written about
 the resolution of Conkling to fight the con-
 frmation of Robertson with all his power and
 all his resources exaggerates his purpose. What has been reported about his purpose to
 make an attack on the President in open Sen-
 ate in certain contingencies, by which is
 meant, probably, if all other means of pre-
 venting Robertson's confirmation fail, there
 is no reason to believe him incapable of.
 However Senators may feel regarding the
 merit of the issue which Conkling makes
 with the administration, or the administra-
 tion makes with Conkling they are in no
 hurry to take sides. There have been SO
 many similar disagreeable breaks between
 powerful Senators and the administration
 
 practicable. But outsiders do not see how it
 is possible for the President to withdraw the nomination of Robertson, after what has been said and done, without forfeiting dignity, re- spect and prestige, and they do not expect Conkling to sacrifice any personal feeling for the sake of harmony in the party. This sin gle issue controls the action of number of Senator's with reoard to averv othar Tnafter To prevent the confirmation of Robertson they support whatever policy promises de- lay, professing to hope the President will see the wisdom of withdrawing it, so as not to force them to an open rupture with the ad- ministration. They give oot, however, that they shall not hesitate to employ every means to defeat the nomination if pressed, and all their conduct since the nomination was sent in has been dictated by this one motive. AL though Secretary Blaine solemnly declares to everybody who questions him that he had nothing whatever to do with making the ap- pointment, and did not know beforehand that 1t was to be made, Senator Conkling's friends refuse to believe that it is not his work. But they would not like it any better if they did believe so for they would consid- CT it none the less objectionable. The nomi- nee is man whom Conkling hates with a perfect hatred, and whether the nomination was made with or without Blaine's knowledge and concurrence matters little to him. He would oppose Robertson just as strongly if Blaine hated him as he himself does, because he knows that Robertson and he cannot work together. They are foes instinctively. There fore it is sufficient ground for prognosticat- ing what course Conkling will take with re- gard to any other matter before the Senate to know how it's decision, one way or another, would affect the chances of Robertson. Be- cause he relies on Democratic votes to defeat Robertson, he will take no active part in any contest by which he might personally offend his allies on that side of the chamber.
 Conkling's friends declare that. they are sure of success whenever the issue comes. No doubt some Democrats will support him, hoping by supporting him to divide the Re- publican ranks. Ex-Senator Eaton has ad- vised Democrats to side with Conkling for that purpose. The Democrats know well enough that if there is any truth in their pre- tensions that New York was lost to them last year by an understanding between New York Republicans and John Kelly, Conkling and his friends are the Republicans concerned in the dicker. They know also that if there has been any bargain with Malone Conkling and his friends, one of whom is Gorham, are the chief sinners. Either they are thorough ly insincere in their pretensions of believing there have been such trades, or thoroughly insincere in their professions of virtuous re- pugnance at such political dealings, else they would repeI Conklings advances with indig- nation Most of the Democrats, however, feel personally complimented when he recog- nizes and converses with them in open Sen ate, with the galleries looking on. When he wants their aid to secure his personal ends he commonly gets it.
 This is probably, on the whole, a fair view of the situation. If it is, Conklings position is untenable. But if he chooses to carry on the contest there is but one course open to the President He must defend his rights without regard to the party. If the party can only be saved by allowing Conkling to boss it and the President it is not worth sav- ino