Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-06-22
COnkling and Platt Attend
the Stalwart Confer
ence.
The Former Makes a Speech
Arralgns the Half Breeds
And AssaIIs the Wealthy Corporations


length. His remarks were mainly
directed to counselling his hearers to
be steadfast to the party, and to be-
ware of the corrupt group Of poll
ticians who are striving to destroy
the party and its prestige
He warned them against men
who are approaching them with
corrupt enticements, and referred in
this connection to the bribery investi-
CATION now in. progress before the
assembly committee and the grand
jury. He said that true republicans
shouldIdisdain to employ such means
to accomplish any ends as have been
employed by supporters of Depew.
After dwelling upon the growing
power Of monoplies in this country,
he spoke Of various corporate inAu-
ences that have been arrayed against
the stalwarts. He said it was almost
inevitably severe task to fight
wealth, but more especially, was it
difficult to do so when the millions
were unscrupulously used by corrupt
agents. He thought the time had
come for true republicans to put
themselves on record upon this sub
ject, and affirmed that he has no doubt
of the final result of the contest be-
'ween corruption on one hand and
honesty on the other. The power of
railroad corporations, has grown i'm
mensely in the United States, and it
is mostly to be feared when
it undertakes to debauch
sworn legislators. Whenever such
a state of affairs is at hand, there can
be no doubt of the duty of every true
lover Of bis party and his country
The system Of corruption, no matter
by whom countenanced, should be
exposed, denounced and checked, and
on no account should any one be
shielded from such great crime.
Mr.. COnkling then alluded to some
of the persons who have been acting
as leaders of the half-breeds, and
asked if any honorable man can for a
moment think Of compromising with
such notorious characters. He drew
attention to the testimony already
given before the assembly bribery com.
mittee, aud commented upon certain
parts of it in detail. If there is any.
thing that should distinguish a re-
publican it should be his personal
honesty. This should be peculiarly
the case if, as in the present instance,
official positions are occupied by those
who represent the party, and yet men
presuming to be republicans have be-
come notorious aslobbyists forpurposes
of furthering their own selfish pur.
poses, and for no other end.
If this condition of affairs is to con-
tinue, where will the country go2
Where will the party be2 What
guarantee will the people have that
the republican party, which saved the
union and emancipated the slaves, is
honestly endeavoring to benefit the
entire people. Where can the citizens
of the state of New York find party
to fight their battles against
corporate moropolies, and against
bribery and corruption in every
form, whether in Albany or elsewhere2
He left the question to be answered
by all who heard him, as they might
consider right. So far as he is con-
cerned, he confessed that he can see
no hope for any party or clique of
men which starts out with bribery as
its cornerstone and acts of the lobby
as its decorations. He hoped, sincerely
hoped, that the charges Of profuse use
of money in the legislature are untrue.
He could not help, however, admitting
that from the testimony already taken
he is thoroughly convinced that there
is cause to be vigilant and careful.
He would particularly warn all repub-
licans against prostituting public Of
fees for money or patronage. Conkling
dwelt further upon topics Of corporate
monopolies, and official cOrruptious
which they induce, in his most earnest
manner. He desired that his words
should produce the most profound
impression of which they were capa-
BILE. 1t was only at the repeated
request of some of his friends
that he had consented to attend the
conference, and he was induced to
speak only after much entreaty, but
he considered it his daty to warn his
friends against the unscrupulous at
tempts which have been and still are
being made to prevent a free express
sion of opinion on the part of the
senators and assemblymen Of the state
Of New York as to who shall be
elected to the United States senate.
He opposed any combination with the