New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-05-31
HOME QUESTIONS.

HOME QtfSIIoNS.
To-day the Legislature will begin to ballot
for two United States Senators. Why For
what good reason has this State been left I'M
represented in the Senate after its seats III That
| body had been lawfully filled for years to
| comet prolonged struggle, which was
watched with the deepest interest throughout
| the land. had resulted in securing for the Re
publicans bare majority in the Senate. Int
| the two Senators from New York deserted their
| posts. abandoned their associates, threw aside
| the high trusts conuded to them 10y the State
and came home to demand a reelection What
good reason can he given for the double rcNlg-
nation by which a Republican majority Is sup
planted by a Democratic majority IN the Senate :;
by which needed legislation at Albany Is ar
rested and tedious labor is thrown upon the
Legislature by which the State is plunged INTO
a political contest of great bitterness, out OF
which the Democrats hope to obtain control OF
the State Government Is there any decent
reason for this abandonment of such trust,
under circumstances peculiar
Mr.. Conkling had no occasion nor right to re-
! sign,'if he felt that he truly represented tho
people of the State, and would bc reelected In
that case it was wantOn trliimg with great
trust TO seek paltry personal triumph at the
cost of serious evil to his State, his Party and
his Country Yet all know that lac did expect
immediate and triumphant reelection. Whet her
| the people approved or not. he expected and in
tended that the power of his political machinery
would overthrow all opposition. He mistook
the character of ;hc Legislature and the temper
| of the people. Ills friends now sadly confess
| and Mr.. COnkling himself fees. that his course
was mistake. But when a man is wantonly
| trinng with great public interests. and seeking
private satisfaction. Il mistake then Is no less
| than crime. Nor can Mr.. Conl,ling escape
| this ccnsurc. II he did not expect a reelection.
it was sheer trcachery to his party to attempt
its disruption by becoming n candidate. If hc
did not feel that the people would sustain him,
it is sheer betrayal of his State 10 keep 1t I'M
represented when he refuses to do It's will. by
| his struggle for personal triumph over popu-
lar opposition. Upon any view of his course he
| deserves defeat.
1t is ssd by his friends that he could not
brook personal atlront without yndicaton.
| This excuse will not serve. There was no per
sonal allront to Mr.. ConklnS in the decision of
nearly every Republican Senator 10 confirm the
appointment of a worthy citizen Of this State
|
| dent had nominated, but because the Senate
was about to confirm that nomination. If he
| has the idea that he has any night to dictate TO
| the President ~ to nominations, or that one
| Senator has a right 10 dictate 10 the Senate ~
To confrmatiOns il is time for the State to send
| somebody with better conception Of Scna-
| tOral rights and duties. Nor is it possible to
treat otherwise than with contempt the prctence
that man can "vindicatc himself 10y extOrt-
| ing n reelection to a great trust which he wan
| tonly abandOns. II Mr.. CUnklng had remained
calmly at Washington, awaiting tie free YER
| dict of free State reelection with substan-
tial unaninlity might have had some meaning.
But after the dead lift Of u personal canvass,
more urgent. besecching and humiliating than
| he las ever yet been obliged TO make before
| a Legislature believed by him 10 be ready to
| crawl at his feet, success could bring no salye
| for wounded vanity, and victory would not
eflace dishonor.
The truth is that Mr.. Conkling's cOurse admits
of no explanation that does not involve dis
grace, unless it was his deliberate purpose to
| disrupt the Republican party, and to build up a
| new organization with himself its leader. If
| that was his intent, all his acts thus far have
been in harmony Herewith. Having that in
| tent he had reason to resign trust conferred
by the Republican party, and to seek new
commission in avowed hostility to the Admins
| tration. If that was his plan, hc had right to
| remain in the field as Il candidate after it be-
| came plain that his doing so would tend to
break up the Republican party His willing
ness to prevent any election this year. and to
GRITTY the contest into the elections next fall,
would be Ineligible on the theory that he
means to appeal directly to the people on new
platform and as the head of a new party. Only,
in that case, two questions come home to Re-
publican members who have hitherto favored
| Dir. Conkling:
| l. Do those members want to destroy tho
Republican party and to build up new one 7
Are they ready to break up party which has
| done and is doing so much for the country II
so. do their constituents approve, and have
those members any right to use for such a
purpose, even in single vote, power intrusted
to them as Republicans The honest course
for them Is to resign, and let their constituents
decide whether they want new party.
| Ii. Has Mr.. Conkling deserved respect as
man of honor and couragei II he has the pur-
pose mentioned, he has falsely represented his
| position to the Legislature. Hs has SOUGHT