New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-05-23
Mr.. COMBINES or GEIL UITH TIE
SENITI


SENATE
Senator ConklinGis willing to I've thrust back
into the Senate, as &c the State of Nrw-l ok
could not live without him, provided his fol-
lowers will do all the work and Lake all the
risk. But he is not willing to expose hI~
vanity to a possible humiliation; he must pre-
tend not to seek reelection, and must have
door left open 50 that he can AT any time as-
scrt that his resignation was meant To bc final,
if he finds that he cannot succeed. He is will
ing that other men should spend and he spent
in his cause while ne stands ready 10 run away
and leave them in the lurch if they seem likely
to fail. This is not the Interpretation OF an
opponent, hut of some of his warIncst friends.
Apparently they think it proper that, in
political death, rs in life Roscoe Conkllng
should bc considered and favored first, last
and all the time, no matter what happens Ia
his friends, his party or his state. Now the
State of New-Y York, and The Republican party
of New York, have been sacrificed too long
already in this worship of one man. This
State would have been far more ably repre-
scented for years. and far better governed. and
the Republican party of this state would have
had much greater influence in the affairs OF
the country, if there had not been this dispo-
stion to sacrifice everybody and everything to
the likes and diskcs, the ambition and the
vanity OF one man.
That was a suggestive and important adj
mission which an organ of Mr.. C0nhling
made a day or two ago when il sad that the
Stalwarts ut Albany felt the Lack of capable
leaders, because nearly all the strong men III
the Legislature were on the other side Very
true: but how does that come to pass Every
one knows. 1t is because the strong and rising
men of the party, one after another, have been
crushed out or denounced as mutinccrs by the
adhercnts of Mr. Conkling. In order to have
him the only man in the State whose favor
, was important or whose wish was worth CON
sdering. it was necessary to suppress OtLer
and really deserving men by the score.
In order TO have Mr.. COnkling the one
object before whom all should bow, 1t was
necessary 10 chop of the head of any man who
, threatened to get large enough to be compared
with him. Small men only can be kept long
at beck and call BY such leader. Hence 1t
comes that swarm of pygnics await in
breathless anxiety orders from Mr.. Conkling,
while nearly all the strong and independent
| Republicans at Albany are found taking counsel
together as supporters of the Administration.
The secret of Mr.. Conkling's trouble Is that no
one man is G ute large enough to have all the
world stand out of the way for his con-
venience.
What was the difficulty at Washington Mr..
Conkling quarrelled at last, be it noticed, not
with the President, but with the Senate. That
body had been submitting to his. wishes most
unreasonably for six weeks. The instant 1t de-
cIined TO sacrifice the public interest any
longer to the vanity or ambition OF one man,
MIR. Conkling threw up his commission and left
his Republican and Independent associates at
tho mercy of their foes. He did not resign be-
cause the President appointed one man who did
not suit him. For weeks after that event he
remained. courted other Senators, threatened
and boasted of the victories he was going to
win. He retired in disorder, deserving
his party associates and leaving them in
/ a minority, as a punishment only when
| he found that he could not be Boss OF the
Senate. Because Republican Senators would
not submit without limit to his will, and sac
rihce everything else to his interest forever. he
cast them oil in disgust Mr.. Conkling can
not get along with independent and conscien-
tons men, even If they are friends; he needs
| serfs.
1t is B.orious that Mr. COnkling has quar-
relied with every strong man who has been in
the Senate for years. He couAd not abide
| Charles Sumner; he detests John Sherman his
hatred Of James g. Blaine Is of long stand