The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1881-05-13
The aarne,d-oonkling Quarrel.

The Garfield Conkling Quarrel.
It is impossible for any man whose
politics are bounded by considerations
of good government to sympathize very
deeply with either party to this quarrel
which threatens to rend the Republican
party. There is not shadow nor a
vestige of a moral principle back of
either. 1t is a question simply of spoils.
Neither party pretends to put 1t on
higher plane. Garfield did not make
the nomination of Robertson for the
good of the public service. If that con-
sideration had prevailed, plainly enough
Gen. Merritt would have been retained
in the New York custom house. for no
one ever pretended but that he was
administering it well, and having
the advantage of two years experience
he would do better for the government
for the remaining two years of his term
than any new man. no matter how nom
est or able, as Robertson unquestionably
is. Conkling does not oppose it on any
public ground, but simply because he
and Robertson are implacable enemies,
personally and politically, and because
he believes that Robertson by manipulate
ing the custom house in politics could
defeat his reelection to the Senate
Robertson was Blaine man at Chica-
go. He accepted his election as delegate
under the "unit" rule, pledging the solid
vote of the state to Grant, and then with
few others violated the instructions,
and by holding out with few others for
Blaine, created1 the deadlock which
made Garfeld's nomination possible.
For this Garfield and Blaine want to re-
ward, and Conkliug wants to punish
him. That is all there is of it. 1t is
simply question Of parceling out pub.
lie offices, sacred public trusts. for petty
personal interests. The fact that Gen.
Merritt is reported to be satisfied with
another Office. is no palliation for bis
displacement with "green" hand who
could not possibly in the next 2 or 4
years do SO good service for the govern
ment. The offices OF this country do not
exist for the personal pleasure of any
Merritt or Robertson or Blaine, Conkling
or Garfield. 1t is because none of them
comprehend this fact, that their struggle
and scramble is so contemplate in the
eyes of every intelligent man.
The constitution confers the appoint
ing power on the president, it is true,
but it presupposes that the president will
exercise it in the spirit of statesman.
not mere politician, for the good of
the public service, not to pay political
debts, or to reward or punish any local
boss.
If any thing was lacking to show that
President Garfield was lowering himself
to the level of Conkling in the matter, it
was furnished by his action last week,
in Withdrawing the nominations OF
Woodford, Payne, and others, which
pleased Conkling. If these nominations
were unfit, he had no business to make
them in the first place. If they were fit,
and were made as the constitution and
his oath of office direct, with an eye
solely to the public good. he is guilty of
wrong to the govern ment,-to the
people,-in Withdrawing them. There
were many things. especially during the
last year, to criticise in Hayes methods
of appointments. but never did he pros
titute the high functions of his office to a
personal fight like this. Conkling fought
him as rancorously, as vindictively as
he possibly could fight Garfield, but
Hayes maintained his dignity. his equit-
able temper, throughout. He would
have scorned at least to have the public
know that be was making or unmaking
nominations to pet or to club any man.
Garfield started wrong when for an
assumed party expediency he abandoned
the principles Of Civil Service Reform
which he had always protested in Con-
gress. He undertook in his own words,
to be president of the whole Republican
party" instead of the whole country.
When he thought he could harmonize and
cement the factions of his party by d.
viding and distributing the patronage, he
sought to make plumber take the place
of principle in politics; and his mistake
which man of his large brain ought not
to have been guilty of, was to suppose that
the punderers under him would be unset
fish and self sacrificing to each other. His
dream of harmony was sure to be shattered
as soon as he found two strong men or fac
tions that wanted the same plumber.
complete change of base is the only thing
that can save Garfeld's administration from
complete failure, and that in the midst of
battle, as military men know, is very
| difficult and almost sure to be fatal.