West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1882-03-17
rs CoNKLIxG "rNsULrED-s

|
! Arthur" says the Baltimore Anleri-
can, and that the nomination OF Mr.
Coukling to seat upon the Supreme
Bench has not stirred those feeling,
of gratitude which the fallen states
man should feel for the President
who has risked so much for his sake
Mr.. Conkling will accept nothing
less than the unconditional submis-
sion OF Arthur to his will; and be
disdaiuiullY rejects the moet precious
gift that Arthur has to offer. the
method Of disdaining it, while char
scteristio OF Mr.. Conking, was die
courteous to the appointing power.
It was natural that the naughty ex-
Senator ehould keep the country in
suspense while he paused, and that
he should seek "a vindication" IN
the vote OF the Senate on his confir-
nation; but a true friendship for
Arthur woul I have suggested that
Mr.. Conkling ehou,d have tele-
graphed an instant declina,ion OF
the Office, TO relieve the President as
early ss possible from the odum Of
making so unpopular an appoint
ment. As it has turned out, how
ever, Mr.. Conkllng has made an error
in thus nursing his vsuity. He has
strengthened Arthur, failed to get
his "vindication" in the Senate, and
male hlmsslf less respected by the
people than before. Nay, he seems
to have ootamitte.l the very errors
that an artfuI adversary would de-
sire him TO mako.
MIR. Conking, it is understood
wrote to Arthur asking the appoint.
ment of Clarance Seward TO the va
cant seat on tie beech OF the Su-
preme Court. Mr.. Clearance Seward
is the heir Of great name, but his
chief claim to the high position that
was sought for him is that he is Mr..
Conkling's friend. The President
nay possibly think that bis own oath
of cffice requires of him some higher
functions than to reward Mr.. Couk-
lings friends and punish his enemies.
He may desire to put jurist OF ac-
knowledged eminence in the vacant
chair of the Supreme Court. 1t is
believed that be had already in his
own mind selected for this emineuce
Judge BlatchiOrd. ope Of the recog-
nized ornaments Of the Federal
Bench. Judge Blatchford is regard
ed as a friend OF Arthur; and, if so, n
possession OF the friendship OF such
man as Blatchford is not the least OF
Arthur's claims to respect. But,
there is no reason to think that this
eminent Judge Is an enemy 10 Mr..
Conk,inS, except the general reason
that all men who are not his slaves
are his "enem.es." The appointment
of Judge B atchford could not, there
fore, proper y be considered either
an "insult' or "humiliatlon" to Mr..
Conkling, And so, when Arthur
received a letter from Mr. Conkling.
with request, which was equiva-
lent tc demand, that Clarance
Seward should be appointed, Arthsr
vas for moment perpIexed. Per-
haps he thousht that Mr.. Conking
had at last reached the limit Of his
claims, and that to load the Supreme
Court with MI ConkIng's patronage
was more than be could venture to
DO. II so, be naturally pondered
upon some method TO djsobey Mr..
Conkling without giving him just
ground Tor offence. His reply to the
dem md for the appointment Of
Clarence Seward was TO send in the
name Of Roscoe Conkling,
Mr.. Conkling's dlsdain was un-
speakable. He had "aothing 10 say
whea The representatives Of .he
press called upon him. All that be
saw was that Arthur mad disobey ed
him. He took counsel OF his own
vanity, and the consequence has been
that he has made a series Of small
mistakes, tending to weaken him
still further ia the respect Oi the
| people by making him ridiculous
A.thur has oheckmated him; be hal
| denied his claims, and yet has dout
it in a way that puts Mr.. Oonklin)
wholly in the wrong. II only re-
mains to be seen now whether Arthur
will follow up pie advantage by send
ing IN tho name Of Judge BlatchiorC
TO the Senate, It would be a nomi.
nation that would command tn
universal respect Of the American
people. lie would be iude