Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1881-05-12
The Presidents Elunder.


tim of blunder objectionable in an Ad-
ministration that possesses two such
veteran and adroit politicians as james
A. Garfield and James G. Blaine. The
first step in this wretched business was
in abdicating the Leadership Of the par
ty and allowing senate caucus to as
sumo it; anu the second was in submit
ting meekly to the absurd and inadmis-
sible tactics devised by that caucus and
giving his approval to the foolish OBJ
structive proceedings whereby action
on his nomination was prevented for
two months. Such sagacious tacticians
as Mr.. Garfield and Mr. Blaine caust
| have foreseen that this error would enc
| in humiliation; they could not fail to
perceive not only that q temporary
surrender Of control into the hands OF a
Senate caucus would be difficult to re-
trieve, but that the whole brunt Of the
Inconvenience nf delay in confirming
nominations would fall on the Admins
tration. Mr.. Conkling could stand it,
and the Senate caucus could stand IL,
but MIR. Garfield could not; and so il
has come about that he has had to CRY
out for relief against the very policy he
unwisely indorsed and to entreat the
Republicans to break the deadlock by u
surrender.
And this is not the end of the matter
The Senate caucus are making the most
of their authority. They are subject
/ ing their voluntary victim to unneces-
sary rigor. They have consented to
break the deadlock and take up the
nominations, indeed, but they qualify
this by deciding to refer all nonina
tions to committees and to take up only
/ such as are not objected To by aSenator
from the State they pertain to. The
| meaning Of this is plain enough The
caucus places MIR. Conkling before the
President. 1t postpones in Mr. Conk-
tne's interest the nominations be Is OPP
posed to and agrees 10 take up only
those he has no objection to. This sub
iects the Administration TO the annoy
ance of prolonged suspense and TO the
possible humiliation Of defeat IN the
end: for as long as the Robertson nom
ination stands unacted on, the Presi-
dent is baff1ed and sdr- Conkling is tri-
unlphant.
1t is miserable piece of work-and
the president now sees IL His letter
TO Mr.. Dawes complaining of the way
lin which his Administration is assailed
by the editor OF the National Re9'abti.
can. nominee of the Republican caucus
for Secretary of the Senate, is pathet.
ie confession of weakness and error
lone of the main purposes of the dead
lock which the CAUCUS determined on
two months ago, and 10 which the Pres
!. ident foolishly gave his approval, was
TO make this very man, ,GorhaIn, Secre-
Iary of the Senate
) We are not surprised TO learn thai
: Mr.. Garfield has lost his accustomed
: cheerfulness and become embarrassed
} and reserved He Is in most unfort
innate situation, and that, too. by Ia.
; o.xn fault. He made n blunder at fhs
VERY beginning of his Administrators
|, which viii probably harass him TO ths
: end of it. Instead of leading he con
sentad TO follow Instead OF demand
: irar that the Senate support his poilcy
the agreed to support its He submit
himself and bis A administration 10 Ih'
: control of a Senate caucus. and Dou
: finds himself impofenf TO regain IN
, freedom and assert his authority "a TX
i es.utive-unless he shall he sxtrirAte'
| hS the action of the Democratic nlInor
i iity.-RepaeJEacGn-