Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1881-05-28
LIE RoI EsT MORT.

The Stalwarts in New York are
no longer to be kept in suspense as
to the candidacy of Roscoe onkling
for reelection to the United States
senate. After customary sphinx
like silence and posing before the |
people, as one who would willingly |
give up all his power and influence
in the senate for the sake OF princi-
pie, he has had conference with !
his henchmen In New York city,
and, a. result of that conference,
he will make the race. He "did
not wish to be reelected, but rather
wished to retire into the shades of
private life, and make fortune at
the practice of the law still, If they
insisted, he would sacrifice himself
upon the altar of his country's in
terests." The only condition att
tached to this noble concession on
his part is that Platt-his man Fri
day-should be reelected with him.
OF course this request was complied
with, and Conkling and Platt are
in Albany, making II vigorous cam
vass of the assembly. Ben Butler
remarked, in speaking of COnk-
ling's resignation (for Platt had no
voice in the lnatterl, that it was the
most sagacious and mastery stroke
of policy that he ever made. How.
ever much we may admire Mr..
Buffers brains we beg leave to
differ with him on this subject.
We are rather of the opinion that it
was the death knell of his political
influence in New York. He was
sent hy a unanimous republican
vote to the United States senate at
his last election. He was the lead
ing exponent of the party in New
York, and carried the patronage OF
the whole state in his pocket. But
see how the tines have changed.
Robertson-the man who is Conk-
ling's arch enemy in the state, and
whose nomination was the cause of
COnkling's withdrawal, is now IN a
position where he can at least divide
the patronage with him. He may
be reelected, but he will not have
"A 1'walk over" in the canvass. In
addition to tile weight OF Platt on
his shoulders, he has to carry with
him the displeasure of large ma
jority of his party in New York,
caused by his late course in the SEN
ate. The republican party, not
alone of New York, but of the
whole country, are in favor of the
administration, and will back it in
this contest. Already we hear from
many of the legislators of New
York that their constituents will
not let them vote for Conkling
uAder any circumstances. The
"Half Breeds" have a thoroughly
organized opposition, and are
pledged to vote against him under
all circumstances, and who claim to
have fifty out of log republicans in
the legislature. In addition to all
this, it seems that Conkling's
friends are deserving him, for we
have the Buffalo Express, Cornell's
organ, blaming Conkling for becOm-
ing candidate. This looks like
Cornell will become a candidate
himself. This much is certain: in
this ''family feud" the democrats
hold the balance of power. We cam
not believe they will sacrifice honor
by voting for Conkling, or any re-
publican. While it will be impos-
sible to elect a democrat, and they
regard Conkling as the ablest man
in the other party, still, for that
very reason, they ought not to vote
Tor him. Their position is to stand
alOOf. No matter how this fight
ends the democratic party will
profit by it. The resignation of
COnkling Was an extraordinary
stroke of good luck for the demo-
cratic party, especially in New
York. Probably it will be best for
our party if he is reelected. His
reelection will widen the breach
between the "Half Breeds" who
support the administration and the
Stalwarts, who are led by Conkling,
and by this means the democratic
party will be led to easy victory in
the next election. Next Tuesday
will be the day for the election in
the legislature, and the country
will wait with suspense for the re-
suit. Elected or defeated, we think
COnkling has overreached himself,
and will find himself "hoisted with
his own petard." He is politically
dead, and nobody mourns.