The Portland daily press., 1881-05-18
The Washington Sensation,
Further Comments by the Press.
lAlbany journal. I

'O'N~s'NSo
the Legislature for the course they have pur-
sued in their opposition to the nomination Of
Judge Robertson. Such a vindlcation they
consider practicable, as a majority OF the Re.
publican members of the two houses are classed
as their personal adherents. They place them
selves in the hands of jury they believe to be
already packed, to render verdict in their IA
vor. If they desire vindication that will tell
in history, they should appeal directly to the
peop!e. That is the only tribunal that could
render an intelligent and impartial verdict
The gauntlet thus thrown down will, of course
be taken up by the friends of the Administra-
ton. Whatever may be the result, the re-
signed Senators will certainly not have walk
over Ill their pursuit OF vndication. When
the contest over the nomination of Judge Rob
eItson commenced Senator Conkling is said to
have remarked that it was to be either "mur-
or suicide as far as he was concerned.
Springfield Republican,
Mr.. Conkling's letter to Cornell is his first
effort to capture public sympathy, aud is, of
course, very moving tale. What high ground
he takes, too, as to the way the offices should
be filled and the public service conducted!
Why, he talks like reformer, an indepen-
dent, 'half-breed." His denuncation Of
Garfield for letting the newspapers talk SO
about him (Conkling) is decidedly cool in view
of the New York Herald diatribes. If tins let
ter doesn't wake up the Robertson party and
all who have ever "proved recreant" to Conk-
ling dictaton in York State politics. they may
as well be counted as beyond the hope of res
direction.
Worcester Spyl
The joint letter of the two New York Sena-
tors announcing their resignation to the gov
ernor, though not very happily phrased, is as
IN re MI a,,I,
with great force the weak points of the Presi-
dents policy in making appointments and put
ting the two Senators in the position-an en-.
tirely false one for them-of champions of civ
IL service reform and the stern and unrelent-
ing enemies of the spoils system. II they had
stopped, however, before discussing Mr.. Rob
ertson's conduct as a delegate to the Chicago
convention, they would have left their case
much stronger than it is. 1t is amusing to
hnd Senator Conkling gravely pointing out the
evils OF distributing offices as rewards for polt-
lcal or personal service, and demonstrating
that superior fitness is the only claim that
should be recognized. Nobody doubts that he
would have responded with delighted alacrity
10 an invitation to name candidate for the
collectorship, and that the injustice to the
present collector, or the injury TO the public
service in Superceding him, would not have
given him moments uneasiness.
[Chicsgo Tmes.l
The resignation of Conkling and his aide-de-
camp, whatever its mo i've, is confession of
Conkling's weakness and of Gartield's strength,
of Conkling's complete failure and Of Garfeld's
complete success 1t is a triumph for Presi-
dent Garfield which the country will regard as
more important than tina which placed him at
the head of its political organization, for it is
settlement of the question which has been un-
settled through three successive reigns, name
ly, whether the President or the Senator from
New York shall exert the Office of chief magis-
trate.
N. Y. Timesl
When one of the leaders of great political
party deliberately surrenders the trust which
he has received from the people while as yet
tvo-thirds of his term of service remain to be
filled, it is natural to expect that the emergen-
cy should be worthy of the act When his
course is initiated by an associate who has a
distinct political pers ,nality of his own, and
when by such a course of action the voice of
the State of New York is made to resound
throughout the country in angry protest against
the policy of an Administration which, but for
the vote of this State. would have had no exis-
tence, it would seem as If we had closed the
first act of a political drama, whose second act
could be nothing less than the impeachment of
the President or the disruption of the party.
And yet there is audible only the pertinent
query, What does it all mean? The American
people have keen and ready sympathy for
The heroic element in politics. They have an
equally quick perception of the mock heroic
The statesman who prepares for them thor
oughly dramatic surprise will captivate them.
The politician playing at craftsmanship, who
is merely STACEY, will hardly succeed in fur
nishlng them with more than mild amuse-
ment. When Mr.. Conkling and Mr.. Platt at
tempt to raise to the dignity of national issue
the claims of Senators from any State to be
consulted in advance about every nomination
made for federal offices in their State, they on
Iy escape contempt through their unconscious
helpfulness in exploding the very fiction which
they seek to harden into an extra constitution
al limitation ON the exercise of the powers of
the executive. The verdict of the Legislature
can settle little save the respective strength of
the two factions of the Republican party of
this State. 1t would be an abuse of language
to call the submission of the question to a Re-
publican caucus of both Houses an appeal to
the people. If the people were called upon TO
choose between the vindication of the "cour-
tesy of the Senate" aud the right OF the execu-
tive to use one of the most important offices
under the government for the reward Of po-
litical time server. We ina agine that they would
with considerable emphasis refuse to give their
approval to either.
Boston Advertser.l
The present Administration has been one of
surprises and yesterday the country was ia
vored with the liveliest of them all. The res
ignation of the New York Senators on the
failure to prevent the confirmation of Judge
Robertson, was at first puzzle as we'll as
surprise. 1t was presumed that statesman of
Senator Conkling's experience and politician
of the practical sense and sagacity of Senator
Platt had not taken this step without confidence
in their ability to justify it. But until their
elaborate and most plausible letter came late
last evening, there was absolutely nothing to
explain satisfactorily the grounds of their ac-
ton. Intelligent readers, especially those in
terested in personal politics, will judge for
themselves whether their statement Of the
case justifies their retirement from the Senate
and their surrender OF the high trusts commit
ted to their keeping. Judging from
the facts known to all the world, the President
should have waited until the end Of Mr.. Mer-
rilPs term before appointing his uccessor He
could we'll afford to do so on political grounds,
and every principle of sound administration
would seem to have required him to do so.
But he did not see it i'll that light; and the
same constitution which makes him RESPONSE
BILE for the service gives him the power to or.
ganize and direct it. But the aggrieved Sena-
tors had a remedy. They could appeal to the
full Senate. Senator Conkling did his utmost
to this end We do not see that their
statement introduces any new element into
the case that should weigh with
Senators, or with any one outside of the fac
tions fighting for control. 1t is statement
however, which their friends in New York
constituting powerful IL not a controlling
portion of the New York Republicans-will re-
ceive as a sufficient justification of their course
and will be the occasion OF a serious if not
permanent break in the Republican ranks in
that State. Outside of New York it will have
something of the same effect in political circles
and for the time drag all political discussions
into the arena where the spoils are fought over
by angry bosses arena from tho sight
and sound of which the disinterested millions
are devoutly praying to be delivered
Boston Transcript
The rupture of political and party relations
in various directions which this extraordinary
action must cause will require some careful
treatment by the expert skill in political man
agement which the President has at hand in
the head of the cabinet. Doubtless the party
as we'll as the body polite can knit itself to-
gether again. But the scar will be a promi-
nent one. and Inflammation will not let it out
OF mind until tho people have learned well the
Lesson how demoralizing an influence it is in
politics, to have the distribution OF patronage