New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-06-03


The vote for senator on Tues AZ mu-t have
had a painful interest to Mr. Conklus. lie
has refused TO believe what some truc TRENDS
have told him respecting the public feeling TO
ward him aud h. course. Around him have
gathered the FALSE -ycophtnts VIA" al"ny-
sui round an -imprriou- and arrogant man, aud
he has preferred their pleasing deception. O."
the naked and uhVclconr truth. 80 thrir
came a rude awakening. when hr wh" had de
seconded upon Albany H. If he owned the town.
the Legislature and the State found that lac
had begged in vain for the VOTES of tWo-thlId-
of the Republican member. lid li~ mind
20 back 10 his treatment of llorIc" Greeley.
Charlie, SUMNER Rcuhcn T.. Fcuton, and others
who WeIc once more potent than himself ~
Republican conncil,1 Adler and woIthicr men
not a few have been treated with indismil
and injustice within the past twelve years, 10y
this fallen leader Never has hr paused Ia con
slider what services they had rendered to the
party. the State OF the country. what abilities
and merits they possessed. or what wisdom IN
council or hold upon the confidence OF the
people If his "machinc" could crush them.
he moved IT, aud crushed the more gladly be-
causc they were men well worthy of public re-
ling's policy never to leave politically alive
man who might divide with him the honors and
the powers of leadership in this State For
years he succeeded remarkably. General
Grant made him a SORT of Pro- Consul for New
York, and hc had just the talent to make every
little Office count in the organization of per
sonal power But in the cnd every body Is
stronger than anybody. The man who tries to
rule in free country ~ if it were section of
Turkey or Russia, though he may prevail for a
season. will 20 down at the last.
Bossism was beaten on Tuesday. II was not
merely defeat of Roscoe COnkling a, IN indi-
vidual Men voted against him who admire
the man, and would gladly follow him further
if the people would permit. Among the people
themselves, Mr. COnkling holds higher place
than he has ever deserved. Within two weeks
he has forced men 10 remember that, in all his
many years Of political life, he has never
framed an important measure, has never made
himself the principal defender or champion of IA
single public policy, has done not II single
thing that anybody can remember TO make
his State or his country more PROSPEROUS,
except "a he has helped party to which
others have given direction, ideas. measures
ana pOllclcS. anu yet intelligent men are
found who still speak of him as n great
Senator" and regret that such a man should
be taken from the councils of the country.
Mr.. Conkling personally would have had more
support and more votes than are given To Mr.
Conking as Boss. There was his fatal
weakness. He represented a system of poti-
cal management of which the people are tired ;
which they have seen work great injustice and
great mischief; which they feel is insulting To
them and bad for the country, and which they
mean to crush. Probably Mr.. Conkling cannot
yet understand this. 70 could not understand
that he was beating his head against a stone
wall whee he began to oppose the Admins
tratiOn without reason. He could not under
stand when he resigned that the people wcru
against him. and were more powerful than his
machine. lie could not understand, on Tues
day morning, that all his power could muster
only thirty-hye votes in the Legislature. But
the truth is that the people hate Bosssm, and
are going to make an end Of it.
Indeed, the beginning of the end has come
The Boss system has met its Water
loo. No other man in this country
has welded power with so little regard
for the wishes Of the people, or has been so
insoent and intolerant toward other represen-
tatives of the people. as Mr.. Conkling. No
other man has built up for himself a stronger
machine, or worked it more ably. Mr.. Conk-