The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1881-10-05
C0EKLIEG's KICKERs

80
Itisamusing rather than otherwise
to note the swapping of the horde of
political curs on the heels of Roscoe
Conkling. Since that statesman fell
a peg or two last spring, every ward
hummer in the republican party and
every plug editor claiming mem
beEship in that political organization
have felt at liberty to assail the giant.
Mr.. Conkling has been more viciously
abused in his own state since his
break with the late administration
than any other man IL New York;
and usually this abuse has come from
the scullions and scrubs of the party
men who are too small for Conk-
ling to see them, and too mean to
excite even bis contempt. Some
brawler thinks he does grand thing
by getting up in a primary meeting
and denouncing Lord Roscoe" as
traitor to his party, and charging him
with trying to bring all sorts of disas-
ter and ruin upon the republican
organization. It IL fortunate for the
democracy that there are so few
ConkIings among the republicans,
and the latter may thank their stars
that the ex senator did not cast bis
lot with the democrats. Mr.. Conk
ling. as the sequel has proven, was
guilty of a very gtieyous mistake.
He oVerestimated, not his ability, but
his power. His error was not in
quarreling with the administration,
That ne had q perfect right to do. and
under the circumstances little else
might have been expected. No one
can truthfully deny that to Conkling's
efforts more than to any other mans
was due the SUCCESS of the republican
ticket at the late Presidential election,
for without his we'll. directed labors as
manager NewlYork would have been
carried by the democrats who would
thereby have chosen their candidates,
It was not that Conkling loved the
presidential nominee, but be loved
the party, and worked for its success,
smothering bis personal dislikes in
the matter. Having done so much in
ma4ing the president, it was natural,
as political patronage has gone for
the past twenty years, that be should
expect something of reward in the
shape of epoils of Office; at least, ne
did not look to be snubbed and sat
down upon for what be. had done.
Hence, We say his error was not in
finding fault with the administration
that was lacking in the ordinary po-
litical gratitude; but his mistake was
in getting mad and resigning his seat
In the senate in pet. This latter
would nave been no blrnder had be
been certain that the legislature
would send him back in triumph.
He perhaps thought it would do so,
but there ehoRld have been no risk il
the matter IN order to save himself
from humiliation. It was clearly
an instance of too hssty &C.
ton, for which there must be
long repentance. The error Wss noI
criminal. What man is there in this
world who has not blundeIed? What
makes the mistake appear SO gross in
this case ia that Conkling is himself
SO great, and has enjoyed such leng,
prominent and successful career, 90
free from political blunders. The
mobs of dWarfs who are now sssailing
him are little indeed to attack him
for what be has done. II they i'm
agine they are big enough to hold
down Roscoe Conkling. they will be
guilty of a worse over estimate OF
strength than was he when he few
into a passion, resigned his seat in the
Senate, and expected to ooeroe or
coax the legislature into sending him