National Republican., 1881-08-18
Now York.

the State of New York is called to meet
on the 3lst instant to take into consider
alton the subject of calling State con-
vention of the party. The time and place
for holding the convention will then be
named, and as on such occasions there is
a general gathering of prominent mem
bers of the party, it may be supposed
there will be an interchange of views as
to the future and some indication of the
temper in which Republicans who have
recently been engaged in sharp conflicts
with each other are TO meet during
the fall campaign. The lines between
Regulars and Scratchers have been
shifted to the aggrandizement of the lat
ter by the nomination and confirmation
of Robertson and the resignation and de-
feat for reelection of Mr.. Conkling The
eagerness with which such patriots as
Whitelaw Reid and Marat IIalstead
clamored for the aid of Mr. Conkling last
fall, and applauded when II came, is only
equaled by the ruilianly brutality with
which, to use phrase of Halstead's they
bawled to the oflicc-seekers to "knock
him down and drag him out in the melee
at Albany in May. But since his defeat
some enervousnessism is manifested by the Lib
eral C) element alluded TO lest he should
not stay knocked down and dragged out.
They are reported as maniGesting alarm
lest he should appear, like Bdnqpo at the
feast, to push them from their stools. IL
is a subject Of anxious inquiry whether
he will appear at the State convention us
a delegate from Utica. Now, if he should
decide to attend to his private business,
and should not mingle, as has been his
wont, in the counsels of the party, some
of his fearful adversaries would doubtless
loaf and enjoy their souls, as Walt Whit
man would say. But, after the convention
had adjourned and the State Central Com
mittee had undertaken to manage
nominated, would it be Mr.. Conkling or
the opposite ticket they would most de-
sire to see knocked down and dragged
out?" If Mr.. Conkling should be in
yited to speak in the campaign, it would
be fatal admission that his standing in
viz poAhl wac SOp' NbNN VI NhS
Scratchers themselves. Even Lo Ses-
sions could not then claim to be any bet
ter Republican than the ex-senator and
the assistant clown of the Tribune would
not be allowed to renew his funnygraphs
concerning Primacy and the Primate. If
the invitation should not be extended,
would it be a suggestion to the friends of
Mr.. Conkling not to vote the ticket?
If he should be requested to take
the stump and should decline, it would
not strengthen the Republican party.
Mr.. Conkling's enemies in New York are
like those sailors who are "in everybody's
mess, but in nobody's watch" Their
problem is how to have him and his
friends in their watch without being in
any mess 1t is a difficult situation.
They hate him in convention, but dote
on him as strong power i'll the cam
paign. Their troubles are increased by
the fact that they have refused to support
the action of party conventions where
his friends controlled, and they wonder
how 1t would work if they were to con-
troll and fail to secure the support of the
men who oppose them.
Perhaps, upon full consideration, it may
be seen that the Republican party of
New York is not so much too large as
was at one time supposed, and that those
who have usually acted with the party
are as essential to its future success us
those who have usually acted against it,
Republicans throughout the country
would no doubt feel encouraged if the
question were to be how to induce Mr..
Conkling to accept seat in the next Re-
publican State Convention, rather than
how to keep him out of that body. We
distinctly disclaim any knowledge of that
gentleman's wishes or intentions. We
only know that unity in the Republican
party in New York is essential to sue
cess, and that such union cannot be had
on the basis of hatred of great leader.
Northern Africa.