The Republican journal., 1881-06-02
COnkllng and his Allies.

ConkiIng and his Allies.
The attitude in which Mr.. Conkling
has placed himself before the country is
certainly the reverse of dignitied, and he
is rightly regarded as an object of both
ridicule and contempt. In his (and Platt's)
letter of resignation he said: "With q
profound sense of the obligations we owe,
with a devotion to the Republican party
and its creed of liberty and right, with
reverent attachment to the great State
whose interests and honor are dear to us,
We hold it respectful and becoming to
make room for whatsoever may correct all
errors we have made and interpret Alright
all duties we have misconceiyed.' But
for Mr.. Conkling to say one thing and do
another is neither new nor strange. 4
few years ago he said in a private letter
to }. H. GrisWold: "Shall Republicans
in the face of the enemy refuse to stand
10y their cause, or in effect desert to the
other side, because loaves have not come
to their baskets or fishes 10 their nets 2"
Yet Mr.. Conkling has in effect deserted
to the other side because he could not put
the New York collectorship n his basket
deserted, too, at a time when his de
lection gave the Democrats a majority in
the Senate. But it is needless to partic-
ulariZe how he has nulified the declara-
ton just quoted, in letter and in spirit
With regard to his letter of resignation,
the case is even worse. His making room
for others who may correct his errors and
those of his man Friday, Plat, is illus
trated 10y his Fastening to Albany and
stralning every nerve and using every in
tuenue to secure a reelection. He has
pressed into service-or did they volun-
teer Vice President Arthur and Gov
ernor Cornell. The former appears to
have lost all sense Of the dignity of the
high office he Notes.-The highest save
one in the gift Of the people-whilc the
latter, according to the statements in
friendly newspapers, is using the legsla-
ton within his control to influence votes
for Conklng. As for the latter, the proud
son of New York, whose colossal conceit
had led him to believe himself to be Il
bigger man than the President, he has
been shaking hands and fraternizng with
rural legislators, Albany lobbyists and
political strikers from the slums of New
lOrk-men whom few weeks ago he
would not have touched with a ten foot
pole-to gain over votes enough to save
himself from what promises to be the
greatest defeat of his life. Mr. Conklng
is probably incapable of blushing; but
his friends must blush for him. MI
Conkling is, however, a private citizen
and will probably remain 50 for some
time to come, and is not to be held to the
same accountability as Vice President
Arthur, whose conduct is certainly de-
serving Of the severest censure. The Bos-
ton Journal well says
The country has right to expect of the Vice
President that dignitied bearing which becomes
the office of the President Any conduct on the
part of the Vice President which would be con
sidered improper in the President must be regard
ed as equally improper in the Vice President He
is simply President in reserve.
In what light would the conduct of Vice presi
dent Arthur be regarded if he were now President
What would the country say if President Garfield
should leave Washington in company with two
aspirants for the Senate and &C to Ohio to take
part in their personal canvass What would be
the comment of the country and the civilized
world if President Garfield should summon to his
residence IN Ohio, on Sunday, conference Of pol
ltlcans to lay plans TO capture the Scholarships OF
that State W ould there be limit to the indigna
ton OF American citizens and their feeling of hui
initiation in the eyes of the world if President
Garfield should so far forget his exalted position
as to go to the capital Of Ohio, and in the Hobbies
of the State House or the corridors of hotels, coax
promise, threaten and intrigue to promote the
election by the Legislature of two men for Senat-
ors who have shown themselves unworthy of those
positions Rightly considered such gross impro
priety such forgetfulness of an exalted position
such defiance of great obligations to people, and
of every consideration Of official dignity are no
greater and no more deserve censure in the Presi
dent than in the Vice President
During the past week Vice President Arthur has
been guilty of all these improprieties. To day the
man who may be President Of the United States
next year or next month is in Albany in company
| with political hacks who are held in general repro
baton by the mass of the Republican voters in
New York, soliciting the votes of members of the
Legislature for Mr.. Conkling.