The daily gazette., 1881-05-09

Mr.. CoNKLING has got his party
into serious trouble by his over-bear-
ing vanity and self-esteem. There il
no doubt at all that he did his party
great service in the campaign, which
resulted in the election of Mr.. Garfield.
His visit with Grant to Indiana, and
his speeches during the State cam
paign, served to carry that State and
defeat tho Democratic candidate fol-
Governor, and this insured the State
for Garfield. The latter felt this, nc
doubt, and in order to show his graft
tude to Conkling, nominated large
number OF gentlemen for the offices in
the State of New York, who were
Conkling men. But as Judge Robert
son had bolted from the New York
Delegation, in the Chicago Convention,
and cast his influence in opposition to
Grant and in favor of Garfield, the
latter, to show his estimation of this,
nominated Robertson for the Collector
ship of the port Of New York. This
offended Conkling, and determined his
course against Garfield and the ad-
mlnistration. Last week he went so
far as to demand of the President the
withdrawal of Robertson's nomination
from the Senate. This, it seems, to-
gether with what had been said pre-
viously, Incensed the President and
his friends, and the result is that Gar
field took up the glove which Conk-
ling had so vauntly thrown down, and
a terrible fight is imminent. Neither
can back out without showing the
white feather, and as the public sym.
pathy is largely with the President, he
will no doubt stand fast. This atti-
tude was brought about by the Prsi-
deht withdrawing the names of all the
gentlemen that he had sent in to the
Senate for New York appointments,
except that of Judge Robertson. This
was done because Mr.. Conkling pro-
posed to have them all, as they were
his friends, confirmed, and then to
make a battle over the confirmation
of Judge Robertson, the friend of the
President, and to have his nomination
rejected, and all other names rejected,
until some one was nominated that
he could use as tool. But to the
surprise of all, the President showed
the Senator that he held the cards, and
knew how to use them. This brings
up the tight over the confirmation of
Judge Robertson at once. But Mr..
Conkling is chairman of the commit
tee to whom this nomination is refer
red, and will not report it to the Ser
ate. Hence caucus of the Repubi-
can Senators is to be held TO- day, to
relieve such Senators as intend to sup
port the President from caucus rule
that binds them to support the acts of
committees. After this caucus is held
it is said Senators may call up the
nomination and force discussion and
a vote upon it. A correspondent says
that Conkling is "scheming to have
the President invited TO an executive
session to explain to the Senate VIII,
he wishes to remove Mr.. Merritt from
the Collectorship. The President hai
a right to attend executive sessions
but no President has appeared at one
for years, and there is no precedent to
justify the Senate in calling a Presi
dent to account in that way. When
Mr.. Merritt was nominated Mr.. HAYES
was requested by the Senate, at the
instance of Mr.. Conkling, to inform
the Senate why he proposed to remove
Mr.. Arthur. He informed them il
writing, but did not appear before
them. II the President should be re
quested to explain his action in this
sase there is no doubt he would re-
spond, and it is limited that he might
take Mr.. Blaine with him and max,
his responses in person. Both being
ready and effective debaters, a cross.
examination at the hands of the Sen
ate, especially should Mr.. CoDklinp
take hand in il, would be we'll worth
nearing"
| This is the way the fight now stands
In all probability it will make com
plete Eruption between the Stalwart
senators, and such as will not endur,
the dictatorship of Conkling.