Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1881-10-08
ARTHUR I'M HIS FRIEND.

There is a good deal OF conjecture as
to whether or not Mr.. Arthur will stand
by Roscoe Conkllng. We cannot think
so poorly Of the president as to suppose
that he will not.
From our standpoint Mr.. Conkling
is a bad and a dangerous a We do
not believe him to have the common
republican official failing of an itching
palm; we have no idea that in Hayes
place he would Illegally have drawn his
pay in advance In order to enjoy the
interest on money not yet earn
ed, but still we consider him q danger
Gus person in such q government as is
ours. He Is an enemy to the liberty
OF the press. and to the rule of the ma
jority. He has continually proven the
first in his public and private %utterances,
and he coolly and deliberately prostitu-
ted his great talents to foist upon the
country a president not elected by the
people, whom he afterward denounced
as an usurper. We believe Mr.. Conk-
ling to be a brilliant d%emagogue, IN
s%crupulous in the use of political power,
therefore we consider him unfit for ele-
waited political place in a republic, what
ever he might be In another form of
government.
With Mr.. Arthur it is different. No
doubt that gentleman in his heart be-
lleves Mr.. Conkling did an infamous
act on the 8 to z commission no doubt
as a business man Of enlarged views he
thinks Mr. Conkling stopped to conquer
when he belittledthe resources, energy
and patriotism OF the southern states ;but
IN threse things he was partaceps orSmi-
mas, and one looks leniently on his own
sins and Mr.. Conkling was Mr.. Arthur's
friend IN need, which Is truly said to be
a friend indeed.
When the administration spurned Mr..
Cornell Mr.. Conkling who was in the
zenith of his power by a dexterous trade
with John Kelly, effected through Mr..
Arthur, made him governor of the EN-.
pire state. When Messrs Hayes and
Sherman dismissed Mr.. Arthur from the
custom house for the alleged reason
that 1t was dishonesty managed, Mr.
Conklng proudly and contemptuously
nominated him for the vice-presidency.
For a while he coldly and haughtily left
the canvass to care for itself until it was
made evident that MIR. Garfield was
doomed to defeat, when he graclously
condescended to enter the contest. Once
in the fray his pride became enlisted for
success, and the sturdiest and most ef-
fective blows stricken were his. He
used Infamous weapons, but he knew
his allies and that their stomachs could
not easily be turned. AS with Kelly he
had defeated Robinson, SO with Kelly
he defeated Hancock, as is alleged by
his own journalistic organ by gross de-
ception of voters at the polls, and the
most glazing frauds.
The defeat of Hancock was the eleva-
ton of Mr.. Arthur. We do not care to
assert as do the Chicago Tribune and
New York Times that Mr.. Arthur's fac-
ton is responsible tor Mr.. Garield's as
sassination. 1t is not in point and just
now not IN good taste; but whatever its
sins of commission or omission, what
ever its virtues, If 1t have any. MI. Ar
thurs faction is Mr.. C%onkling's faction
indeed the latter was the leader in its
formation. As Mr.. Conkling took Mr..
Arthur for better or worse in their friend
ship which preceded the elevation of the
latter to power, so would MIR. Arthur,
agreeing as he does with Mr.. Conkling
in political questions, be an migrate and
a coward he to abandon the man
who stood by him in the day OF his trial.
In his place we should say to all the
world. "Mr. Conkling has but to
name the position which he desires. and
it it is within my gift it shall be his"
Whatever else MI. Arthur Is, for the sake
of American manhood we hope that he
is neither ungrateful In or a poltroon. We
have no love for either of The gentlemen,
but we should like to have some sort OF
respect for the president Of the country;
and SO far as his own party is concerned
with regard to his treatment OF Mr..
Conkling he twill be damned if he
does and damned if he DON'T"