Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1881-05-25
C0NKLING AT MENTOR.
BLAINE, MALONE, ROBERTSON.
WILL GARFIELD DESTROY THE
PARITY


WAsnINGToN, May 10, 1881.
While the great political duel now
being fought out in the United States
Senate between Senator Conkling on
the one side and Secretary Blaine on
the other is still undecided it is only
fair and proper that as n matter of his.
tory the story of the consultations,
conferences, conspiraoies and intrigues
that have led up to this singular stu
alton should be fully set forth. The
battle, as | have said, is between Conk.
ling and Blaine, Ostensibly the Presi.
dent is the antagonist of the great
New York Senator, but how small and
pitlablc part he plays in the contest
will be readily seen from the facts
which | shall endeavor as briefly as
possible to narrato. We have had
some men in the Executive chair who
were not very strong Intellectually
men who were managed and moulded
by the crafty party leaders among
their cotemporaries, and whose names
remain to us as synonyms Of political
stupidity and imbecility; but it is
doubtful if there ever was an occupant
of the White House who has been so
completely fooled and blinded as tho
twentieth President of the United
States. There is something supreme.
ly ridiculous between the promise and
the performance of his administration.
His advent to Office was hailed as the
beginning Of the golden age Of Ameri.
can politics and craftsmanship. We
were told by troops OF fawning friends
that at last we were to have a states.
man in the White House compared
with whom oil bis predecessors were
Of the puniest stature, In him were
united the purity of Washington, the
genius Of Jefferson, the firmuess of
Jackson, the honesty Of Lincoln. We
were to have an end of the race of
small men like Hayes and of rough,
uncultured soldiers like Grant. We
were to enter upon new era OF politi.
cal reformation and civilization. Our
new Augustus was scholar. He had
studied men and books and carried un.
der bis black sombrero the gathered
wisdom Of a thousand years. Under
him the machinery of government was
to become as the music Of the spheres
while an admiring world looked on
and wondered at the now Presidential
prodigy. If idle promises and vain.
glorious boasting could make q great
administration that of Mr.. Garfield
would be q stupendous success from
the very outset But what have we
got2 More than two months of his
term have passed away-a period suf-
hcient for every one OF his predeces.
sors 10 start their administration and
put the political machinery in motion
but Mr.. Garfield Is stuck in the DO. |
litical quagmire, and unless his oppo.
nents should take compassion on him
the chances are ten TO one he will re.
main in this unenviable and pitiabe
almost indefinitely.
ON A BED OF THoRNs.
Every movement he has made since
the 4th Of March has been blunder.
Who has shown 80 little real strength
and influence as he? Who, Of all our
Presidents has become so completely
the slave of petty spites and the tool
Of reckless, designing politicians? This
may be considered harsh criticism, but
Il is true. And ho has nobody to
blame for it but himself A President
who through imbecility or design, stu.
pidity adopts policy based upon
Lreaohery and deceit must expect TO
sleep upon bed OF thorns, and that
"a what Mr., Garfield has done. In the
md he may succeed in confirming Mr..
Robertson and crushing Mr.. Conkling
he may enjoy sort of temporary tri-
imph through the aid of Democratic
votes, but the ruin Of his own party
md the prostitution of his great office
will be the price to be paid for it.
"DIcTATIos."
For several weeks past the Exeou.
i've organs all over the country,
whose editors arc looking out for
postmasterships and tho other drip.
pings OF patronage, have been blazing
with articles about Senatorial die.
.ation and especially about the
Senatorial diotation of tho senior
Senator from New York. In these
,xpectant sheets we have Mr. Gar.
ield painted as sort of deified
Executive, calmly resisting usurpa.
lion on the part Of the Senate, led
by "my Lord Roscoe" as they love
10 call him. We have been told of the
Ierrible outrage that it is sought
10 perpetrate upon tho executive
branch Of the Government that our
liberties are in peril and the Republic