Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1881-05-18
Che fireman.
MONTPELIER VT.
WEDNESDAY. MAY Is, 1881.
The Latest Sensation.

The Latest Sensation.
Saturday Senators Conkling and Platt
resigned their seats in the United States
Senate. In communicating their resig-
nation to Gov. Cornell they set forth what
may be supposed to be their reasons for
the step taken. They amount to lit le
beyond the assertion they had only two
DAYS before the nomination of Robertson
been informed from the president that no
change was contemplated in the customs
offices in New York.
So far as the immediate object of these
designations goes, which is to obtain an
Endorsement by reelection by the New
York Legislature now in session. no doubt
Mr. Conkling and Mr.. Plat will get what
they are after Nobody has ever supposed
that they were not full senators from that
state. and so representing a majority of
the legislative body which elected them.
There seems to be distinction without
difference between the ex-senators from
New York and a couple of school boys
who will! not play with the others because
they don't like the teacher. 1t is supposed
they will receive sympathy and approval
in the family circle.
The quarrel which has broken out in
the republican party is one that has been
long time getting ready and the only
wonder is that it has not been in full blast
before. MIR. Cunkling and Mr.. Blaine
have headed two sections of the republ
can party and believe and practice very
much the same sort of political work.
They hate each other. and both of them
and many OF their followers despise or
affect to despise large body Of men in
their own party who have not seen fit TO
attach themselves to the leadership of
either one.
1t was attem )ted by the administration
to treat alike these two great sections of
the party; but the selection of Mr.. Blaine
as secretary Of state indicated that the
personal sympathy Of the president was
with him instead Of with Mr.. Conkling.
Whether the selection of Mr.. Blaine as
an adviser was good one time alone will
tell 1t does not now look that way.
But having selected his advisers, the
president is right and the senators
wrong in the quarrel now rampant, ex-
cept in so far as they can show that they
had his word that he would not do some
thing that he afterwards did. 1t is pretty
late to have a presidential election after
Inauguration, and one state does not elect
a president If M. Conking and his
friends feel that they cannot support the
republican party they can leave it; they
cannot control the party throughout the
nation because they can control it in New
York. We understand perfectly that
without New York it is very doubtful
whether the republican party could win
in a national election, but that is no reason
whv a tenth Of the Union should set up
an imperious will of its own and dictate
to everybody else.
Besides as party policy. merely to get
votes. it is not certain that the Conkling
machine system in New York is of great
advantage What rendered the election
of Mr.. Tilden possible in 1876 was the
disgust of New York business men who
were republicans at heart, with this same
machine as run in that city. And sooner
or later the time will come when that one
Of the two great parties that keeps itsel
longest under bossism will go co tn
wall and be crushed. That will be tim
when Messrs. Barnum and Dorsey will
look back to former days with regret.
The return of Mr.. Conkling and Mr.
Platt to the Senate is to be expected
There is ooe thing that really ought to b.
done though and we do not see how the
could object. Let the thing go to the mex
legislature. Unless the dem crats of tn
New York legislature are going to trad
with somebody, this is possible outcom
of the affair; that each wing Of the re
publicans supporting a candidate and tt
democrats and then no election be ha
until the designations can be in fact turne
into an appeal to the people next fall.
is entirely probable however that Nj
Platt counted noses when he was hon
last week and that the two gentleme
posing as martyrs know the pile is I
green wood.
1t is said that Mr.. Robertson will prob
bly, be confirmed to-day, and that Il
Senate will 90 home this week. 1t it h,
gone before that " constitutional majority
of ours might not have disappeared
suddenly.