Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-05-20
Aanraster fntelllae1irer.
FRIDAY EVENING. NAY 40, 1881.
Nsthlne. Without Gfnts.

4 Il
FRIDAY EVENING. NAY 40. 1881.
Nothing, Without Gifts.
The country is abundantly instructed
Just now that the degree of considera- |
ton attaching to Republican states
man is exactly measured by his influence
in securing appointments to Office. While
a man remains in a position of power he |
will be great and good in the esteem of
Republican organs of opinion, whatever,
and however notorious, bis real wick
edness or weakness. But when he
steps down and out, he sinks into an in
significance from which no degree of
virtue can save him. Poor old Hayes,
one of the smallest of men, was spoken
of in terms of reverential admiration in
Republican quarters, until he came near
the close of his term and it became
manifest that he had no chance of an
other. Then he was derided, and when
he left he fell like a plummet away
down out of the consideration of his
party. His predecessor, Grant, has been
kept in the air not by his virtue, but by
the third term bee there seemed to be
fair chance of his once again becoming
potential, and he was not, therefore, safe
to kick. The man Brady who served both
these presidents and the party, was safe
from general Republican criticism dur
ing all the years of his nOtoriously cor
rupt administration of his duties. And
it came to pass, even, that Garfield beg
ged from the combination of thieves
whom Brady headed a liberal cOntribu-
tiOn towards his election and he got it,
and his canvass was managed and his
election secured by Dorsey, one of the
gang. Then Mr.. Brady was a great
man now he is a thief. Then le was
in Office now he is out. Then he had
power !; now he has none. The man he
elected has betrayed him. 1t is safe to
expose his transgressiOns and is even
profitable. A great pretense OF virtue
can be made by denOuncing this wOrn-Out
tool. The Republican party, which he
warmed into life, can get along without
him and can do itself credit by spueing
him out. Its organs freely denOunce
the iniquities it profited by, hoping that
the people will forget its participation, in
the smoke raised in blowing up the
agents of the crime.
COnkling, until he resigned his seat in
the Senate, was Il very great man in Re-
publican estimation, and when he under
took to measure swords with the Repub-
licaln president every politician shook
with fear and trembling, not knowing
which side to espOuse, to be on the win
ming side. At first the Republican sena-
tors stood with COnkling, thinking he
Was the master. They really resolved
that COnkling's objection should have
the power of rejecting Robertson. But
i'm a moment, in the twinkling of an
eye, the situation changed when Garfield
gave the senators to understand that
those who did not vote to confirm Rob
ertson should not have their friends
appointed to Office. When that notice
was issued Conkling was done for; and
the senator's who deserted him plainly
told him it was because they had to 90
to Garfield to save themselves. Without
Offices at their disposposal they amount
ed to nothing. They could not face
their partisans with empty hands. Even
our redoubtable senator, Don, who has
too much Unborn Scotch Obstinacy ever
to change sides, and who was one of the
few who finally voted against Robertson,
was impelled togo to Garfield and to say
to him that he loved him much and did
not want to offend him and hoped he
wouldn't, though he would have to vote
for Conkling because they were chums
together and he had promised him.
COnkling, though defeated, was not
destroyed. He still had his senatorial
place and his opportunity to exercise his
talents and influence to threaten Gar
field and force him to deferential treat
ment of his friends. As senator he was
still formidable but his remuneration of
his Office has thoroughly emasculated
him, and most cOnspicuously shown
to the world the overwhelming
influence of official power in con-
trolling Republican thought and action.
Mr.. COnkling is the same man to-day
that Senator COEkling was few days
ago. But then he was believed to carry
the state of New York in his pocket.
The Legislature was admitted to be at
his beck even against the administration
frOwn. But in dOffing his senatorial |
Office he lost his power to cry check to
the administration, and therefore his |
power to protect his partissRs in their |
federal places. The result Immediately |
is that Conkling Legislature becomes |
anti -COnkling, and the great master of |
the party cannot even secure his
own election to the Senate. When
he resigned, as it was supposed,
to secure the vindicatiOn of his state,
his enemies cried, How can his reelection
by a Legislature notoriously under his
control vindlcate him 7 and declared that
it was a vain thing to do. They did not
suspect that when he had stripped him
self Of his Office he had stripped him.
self as effectually of his power.
Yet it seems that he has. The
politician has no life out
Df the sunshine of official favor, nor
lOes he recognize any duty of allegiance