The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1881-06-04
rME REPuRIIOAN auAnREL.

THE REPUBLICAN QUARREL.
The Republican party totters to its fall.
Capable management Of its forces, more than
the honest administration of Offices entrust-
ed to its care, has held it together for the
last twelve years. The venality and cor
rupton which characterised Grants admin
istration would haye crushed a party not
we'll officered, but by able management the
party stemmed the adverse currents Of pub
lie opinion, and, by the most adroit mani
pllation, succeeded in retaining the power
it had held so long. When Senator Conk-
ling, OF New York, Oh whose record there is
not one faint of dishonesty, and to whose
talents and ability, more than any other
living Republican, is due the success which
has attended the party for the last eight
years, failed 10 secure the nomination of
Grant at Chicago, we felt that the beginning
of the end had come. Succeeding events
have confirmed that opinion. Garfield Sc
cured the presidential nomination instead Of
Grant, Sherman or Blame. Secured it, not
n
patoiot or an ncorruptible cihzenwho would
honor the position, but because he was sharp
and shrewd, had persuasive eloquence, and
did not scruple to resort to tricks at wire
pulling which would have been more be-
coming to pot-house politician at a Ward
caucus, than to a Congressman in National
convention. The better men of the party
revolted at his selection, and they did not
hesitate to express their disapprobation.
They knew Garfield, they were familiar with
his record and they distrusted him. His
campaign opened tamely. There were no
great demonstrations in his behalf, but in
stead he and his friends were confronted
with the most damaging charges of official
Irregularities, which could not be easily
blown aside as idle campaign lies, because
the accusations were sustained by the most
abundant and convincing proof. Defeat
stared him in tho face. There was but one
way in which he could save himself, and
that was to concliate the men he had be-
trayed and sold out to secure his own ele-
walton. This he did not hesitate to do, and
with the promise of big official patronage as
their reward, these opponents threw them
selves into the breach and saved Garfield
and the party. But with that elasticity Of
conscience, for which the man is notorious,
Garfield ignored these promises when firm
ly seated In the presidential chair, and the
result is open revolt by the very men it
wonld best have subserved his interests and
those of his party to maintain amicabe re-
lations with. There can be no doubt that
the public will be the gamers by this state
Of things. Internal strife in the Republi.
can camp will do more to purify the differ
ent departments of the Government, than
any reform movement could. Public off.
cials will feel that they are watched, ever
in the house of their friends, by men who
will accept the smallest pretext to compass
their destruction, and they will walk pretty
siright until the struggle for power is over
VIII it ever end2 We think not durinj
Gar6eld's reign. The defeat of Conkling il
bis senatorial aspirations would be the bes
thing that could happen to the country
and the worst misfortune that could befal
the party in which he has been such con
spicuous figure for so many years. A ma
of magnificent abilities, an implacable fo
and fearless fighter, he would turn upo
the Administration that had caused his de
struction, and expose lis rottenness and col
ruption: Norman is more familiar with il
inside workings than he is, and we sha
look for astounding revelations if he meet
with defeat.
Roscoe Conkling has the advantage owe
his adversaries of being an honest mar
There is no faint Of jnbbery on his namt
While men like Garfield and Blaine hay
grown rich by prostituting the dignity {
their positions in the interests of Credit Nc
bilier's, railroad subsidies, and other glarin
jobs by which the people have been robbie
to enrich few men, he stood aloof, conter
with his salary as Senator, and the earning
from the legitimate practice Of his profei
siou.
do not admire Roscoe Conkling, bu
we belleyo him to be immeasurably the 81
perior of any statesman in the Republica
party. He had the opportunity to be
great man, much greater than he can eve
be now, but he let the golden opportunit
pass, and though the truths he may ute
hereafter will produce an excellent effect o
the public mind, they will lack the pow
er TO endear him to the people because, h
course will be dictated by private expt
dency rather than by desire to subs0ry
the ends ofjustiee.
As long as this rebellion in the Republ
can ranks exists the public will reap IL
benefit. Therefore in the interest of bett,
government and more economic admins
tration of affairs we hope it will continue.
WHO Is RESPONsIBLEl
Who is responsible for the quarrel amor