Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-05-18
The New York Senators.

The senatorial feature of the weeks pc
litical news is the resignation on Monday Of
Senators Conkling and Plat of New York
1t was a wholly unlocked for move in the
political and personal warfare initiated by
the removal of Collector Merritt and the ap
pointment of Judge Robertson to succeed
him. In a quarrel Of this character in
which eager partisans may applaud the
moves and counter-moves of astute politi
clans, the sincere advocates of the true prin.
ciples Of republicanism can have no Other
feeling than that Of unmixed regret for the
existence of the quarrel and unmeasured
condemnation Of the unwisdom that precip
itated an unnecessary and unseemly fight
within the party at this time. Except for
this unhappy antagonism between an able
and patriotic senator and the equally able
and patriotic president, there would prevail
within the party that peace and harmony
which is necessary for the accomplishment
of its great ends. AS the matter now stands
the fruits Of the great victory in November
are jeopardized by the blind fury of per-
sonal strife. There seems to be an inside
history to this affair. Much hot vitupera-
ton has been poured out by the partisans of
either side for weeks past, but very little has
been authoritatively given out by either of
the chief antagonists Precisely the de-
gree of responsibility each should bear for
thus embroiling the party does not clearly
appear. When it all comes out, as it may
before the close of this conflict, Judgment
as to the degree Of right or wrong on
either side may be more satisfactorily rem
dered. The initiatory act of the president
was certainly very unwise. Whatever may
have been its purport, it had the outward
appearance of blow significantly aimed at
Senator Conkling. The smart this blow in
spired was followed up by a singing chorus
of exasperating and offensive attacks upon
Mr.. Conkling in which his position has
been misrepresented and his motives out
rageously maligned. He has been notified
by every irritating combination of words
which ingenuity could invent that he was
not wanted in the republican party, that the
party owed him nothing and would be bet
ter off without him, and in the same breath
he has been denounced as designing the de-
feat of his party in New York if his auto
cratic dictation was not needed. Of course
he should under all these circumstances have
bowed his head and kissed the rod that
smote him, as his virtuous assailants would
have had the grace to do under similar cir
cumstances, but being human he turned and
gave his enemies battle.
Each party to this quarrel is blameful
The course of either is dangerous one,
morally or politically, and the success of
either would be an almost equally danger
GUS precedent, -subversive of good govern
ment and disappointing to the reforma-
tory and progressive instincts of the better
element of the citizens of this country, of
whatever political party. The possibilities
of compromise long since disappeared and
the fight must go on till one or the other is
conquered, for Mr.. Conkling will doubtless
be sustained in his appeal to his state and
returned to the United States senate.