The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-05-07
PRESS COMMENTS.
New York Tribune.

NEW York, May 6.-The Tribune. com.
menting on the withdrawal of the nominations
from the Senate says: "We do not understand
that the withdrawal of the names of Woodford,
Tenney, Payne, McDougal and Tyler means
any intention on the part of the admnistra-
ton TO prescribe any Republican element or to
encourage any form of factional strife. 1t
would seem to signify only this, that while Mr..
Conkllng has declared open hostilities against
the administration and boasts that he will effect
the rejection of Judge Robertson's nomina-
ton, the President thinks it desirable that
the result of this attack should be made known
before the other New York places are filled
Ii may be necessary in case sufficient num-
Der of Senators should follow Mr.. Conkling in
his reckless course to reject this absolutely
unoblectionable candidate, to make some fur
Their arrangement as to other offices to satisfy
the Just expectations of that portion of the
party in the State who have not surrendered
their free will wholly to Mr. Conkling. The
next move must come from the Senator and
his friends and it must be made in the Sem
ale. The prope1tobjective point is Mr.. Conkling
Let his friends in the Senate turn to him with
the advice heretofore suggested. If he wants
TO put himself in a graceful and advantageous
position, and at the same time harmonic all
sections of the party in this State let him rise
IN the Senate and move the confirmation of
Judge Robertson. That will settle the whole
difficulty, difficulty, lot it always be remem-
cered, which is wholly of his own CREATION
new 7 Ofk world.
The World says: From the point of view
OF the Republican civil service reformers.
there is not much perhaps to be said for Cen
eral Garteld's withdrawal yesterday of the
nominations for Marshals and ATTORNEYS in
this State. Since the appointments have con-
spcuously failed to secure the placating of
Mr.. Conkling, and since Mr.. Conkling has not
been astute enough to get them confirmed be-
fore expressing his disgust with the admins
tratlon, General Garfield in introducing them
is simply performing lawful act of war He
has succeeded in putting Mr.. Conklipg in a
much worse position than he was in before if
IL should turn out that the President has more
influence in the Senate of the United States
than the senior Senator from New York.
New York Times.
The Times says: 1.-THE withdrawal by the
President of the New York nominations. ex-
cept that of Judge Robertson, would be an ex-
cellent act, If he had found since making them
their places. When we remember that it has
been announced. apparently with the best au-
tnorlty, that these nominations were origin
ally made to secure party harmony by pleas
ing the senior Senator from New York, we are
forced to conclude that they have been with
drawn principally because they have failed of
that purpose. In such case the withdrawal is
In effect an act of political and personal war
fare, which is not only entirely unworthy of
the Presidential office but is for its own ends
oihSoidAlJ lll-llIlcu anu lll-DlaQQeQ, The
nominees are as fit now to do the work for
which they were selected as they were a few
weeks ago. If they are not fit now they were
not then, nor can Mr.. Garfield hope to gain
any advantage over Senator Conkling by such
tactics He only descends to that eminent
politicians level, and renders himself far
more vulnerable to those modes of attack i'm
which the Senator is an expert. At the time of
Robertson's nomination we took occasion to
point out that as between Conklng machine
ana Garhleld or Garfield-Blaine machine the
honest people OF the country would find very lit
tie to choose. In contest in which the Pres-
Gent should represent the principles of sound
administration, making his nominations with
a clear regard for the character and efficiency
OF the service and firmly adhering to them,
his opponents would in the long run be sure to
lose The common sense of the people, their
knowledge OF their own interests, and their
respect for the President as their loyal defend
er, would bring them to his side. He could
count on their support in every consistent and
well directed effort to maintain the purity and
integrity of the service and the dignity and indie
pendence OF his own office. But in contest be-
tween Garfield and Conkling, in which both
shall use the same or like weapons and seek
similar ends, in which both shall in short act
country will take very little interest indeed.
1t /, Will only feel that the highest functions of
the Government in the White House and in
the Senate are being perverted to very base
ana dlScredltable USE"
New York Herald.
The Herald, after condemning the nomina-
tons OF both Chandler ana Robertson as i'm
polite and unworthy says; at is the highest
constitutional duty Of the Senate to reject
these nominations. and thus stamp with it's
solemn disapproval those acts of the President
whlch IN their very nature are founded upon
the mlschievous assumption that he is at liber-
w to do with the offices what he peases, to
use them to reward his adherents or to punish
Ihose ne gislikes, and that he is not bound to
consult the pablo interest in any way in
making his appointments There could be no
more mischief breeding example, no more
dangerous precedent set by President, than
zen. Garfield is attempting to set here in the
beginning OF his administration. If the Senate |
Snould confirm these nominations it would
make Itself party to what is nothing less |
than crime against tbs country, an offence
Tor which IN the earlier days of the republic
President would have been disgraced in the |
eyes OF the people and threatened with i'm |
parchment. We say deliberately that the |
Senator who votes to confirm either Chandler |
bath. Ii these nominations could be discussed |
N open session, so that PUBLIC opinion could be |
brought to bear upon the questions involved, |
hey would be rejected by a large majority, |
md the Senators who voted to confirm them |
would Zee suspected and odious men as long as |
heir act was rea4enn beged. Politicians may |
all out; with that the pe0sis &c not much |
concern themselves; bat when Senators rs5;Et !
What amounts to a bold and inexcusable act Of ,
lsurpation in the President, public opinion,
nightly Informed, will side with those who |
stand up for honest and efficient government |
IND against President who shows by such |