Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-05-17
The ConkIing TheafricaIs.

The COnkling Theatricals.
The letter OF Senators Conkling and Plat,
addressed to the governor OF New York, and
assuming to give the reasons which led to the
double resignation, does not shed any light
upon the real purpose OF the ex Senator's.
They imply In this letter that the designations
are rendered In perfect good faith; that they
retire " to make room for those who may cor
rect all errors We have made" Nobody be-
lieyes that either Mr.. Conkling or Mr.. Platt ex-
poets to make room In the Senate for anybody
else. Ia fact. personal friends OF Mr. Conk-
Ing, who conversed with him yesterday, are
authority for the statement that he expressed
entire confidence in his promp. re election to
the senate by the legislature OF his state now
In session. Mr.. Coakling Will make his resIg-
nation piece OF mock horoi5m by accepting
a reelection now. The American people
admire genuine pluck. even when displayed In
foolish cause, but they are az quick to ridlcule
the sham article as they are to applaud the
real A,majority OF the pres ,nF Nav York leg
tslature was elected to represent Mr.. Conkllng
and his views OF policF, and he has maintained
his control over the b0ty from the date Of Its
organization down to the present day. It is
said, and currently believed, that prior to for
warding the re5is aatIon=, Mr. Conkling took the
pains to ascerti in prec's aly how the stalwars
majority OF the legislature felt. and how it would
acf. One passage in the letter to the governor
throws flood or light upon the status Of The
legislature and Mr.. ConklIng's foraknowledge
OF Low many votes he ana his late colleague
are likely to get. Sixty OF the eighty-one
republican members of the asse nbly, by let
ter OF memorial made objec ion" to R1oertso1
or course every member who thus protested
supports ConklinS and Plat. ana may be
counted upon TO vote for their re election. The
state senate Is comparatively small body and
the Conkling members are known. without the
necessity OF poll being taken Judge K 1oert-
son Is a member OF that body, and on several
occasions, OF late. the line between Coakllng
and anti Conking republican,sn has been 50
distinctly drawn In the senate that the mem
bers OF the respective factions are generally
known. There Is no doubt but that NJ. Conk-
Ing can count upon his reelection With as
much certainty as any future event en- bs
contemplated; yet he might fall. That sug-
gestion was made TO him after the re5lgna5,ons
had been announced, but he had no fears OF
such result. Toe question OF the re election
of Conkling and Platt viii Involve the approval
or disapproyal of the Robertson nomination by
the legislature. Senator Robertson may
choose to make stubborn fight over
the issue, though really it caa hard
~ be said to be worth the fight InasmIch
as the legislature, by resolution, approved the
nomination when 1t was made. This Has
before Senator Conkling had been heard from
on the SUBJ oct. After his views were ven
tilated strenuous efforts were made to bring
about repeal Of the commendatory resoiu.
ton, but these efforts failed. Even stalHart5
Old not see how they could explain vote to
repeal resolution they had Sd recently, anu
with apparent willingness, voted to adopt 1t
was then that the memorial protesting against
Robertson's confirmation was circulated. Mem
berS OF the legislature. who were ot willing to
go on record as voting 70 repeal what they had
helped to do, were wiling TO siga memorial.
which was not TO be made public except a., a
document containing a certain number OF Sig
natures. The names of the signer5 In short,
were not TO be published. It Is suggested that
Ii Senator Robertson, and the repaoiicaDs wac
stand OF aid sustain him. shouli refuse
10 enter CAUCUS for the selection
OF senatorial candidates, that would
very seriously c0mpllcate matters for Messrs.
ConkIing and Platt. S1;h couIse might leaI
10 domination OF anti-Conkling republican,
with the democrats for the elecUion ottgo new
republican Senator's and combination OF this
klnd could give the bosses trouble. However.
it Is not PROBABLE that tne Robertson republi-
cans Will elect I'd make tli5 kind of fight
They VIII, no dJuot, conform TO the uses AMI
practices o. the party organization and partici-
pate Ii the caucus. Senator Conkliug'5 friends
Will control the caucus BY about a tHo-thrjS
vote, and this Will insure the re election OF the
TWO senators, who yesterday resigaei Mean
time Robertson Will be confirmed AMI tina
question arises what has Conkltay gained,
after all, III the direction Oh the Object he Was
striving fol?'
The opening feature OF the Conkling pyro.