The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-03-09
CoNKLIEG's DECLINATTON.

The Chicago Fleming Journal is a fai
exponent of republican half-breed opinion
and it thus delivers itself in regard to tht
supreme bench nomination:
1t is now definitely ascertained that Mr.
Conkling declines the position on the su
preme bench that was rendered him ter
days ago by the President. His declina
ton is a good thing for the court, for the
llitigants who have business to transact be
fore it, for the republican party, and for
the President himself It is good for the
court, because Mr.. Conkling is so egotist-
ical and self-asserting that the Judges
| would have found him a most disagreeable
and pestilent associate; it is good for law
yerS and litigants, because he is not a fit
person to sit in judgment upon the dis
putes of either. friend or enemy, and, so
far as Mr.. Conkling is concerned, mankind
are now divided into those two classes; it
| is good for the republican party, because
| it should not be make responsible for such
an obnoxious appointment. and it is a
good thing for President Arthur, for the
reason that it gives him an opportunity to
correct blunder that was the first cousin
TO crime, Hence the country will re-
joice, if the latest report is true, that Mr..
Conkling has resolved TO continue in that
privacy which he is so well qualified to
adern.
Mr. Conkling was nominated nearly two
weeks ago, and if the Presidents purpose
was to put the nomination out as feeler
of the public pulse in and out of New
York, he has found out how the people
feel in respect to his bosom friend, if he
has diligently read the newspapers, and
listened to public comment. He has not
only found out what they think of Conk
ling, but what they think of Chief Mag
istrate who will toy thus with great pub
lie trust, and show willingness to subject
high official position to the caprice of
personal favoritism The President has
also ascertained if he is an observing man.
that neither the republican party nor the
mass of the people have forgotten the
shocking events of last summer, and that
they are not inclined either to condone the
bloody act of Guiteau or to forgive those
who are mortally responsible, to some
extent, for the ASSASSINATION of their late
beloved President. II Mr.. Arthur has been
in search of information on several i'm
portant points, his nomination of Mr..
Conkling has revealed it to him. and he
knows more than when he commenced.
1t is not to be presumed that the Presi-
dent nominated this alleged great man, of
whom he has always stood in mortal terror, I
nation would be agreeable to him or not |
and the intimate personal relations always
existing between the two justify this sus-
picion. There is tradition that General
Grant offered to make Mr.. Conkling Chief |
Justice on the death of Mr.. Chase, and that |
he (Conkling) threw it over his shoulder, |
because he was then United States Sena-
tor from New York, with lease of politi-
cal life running indefinitely, as all then
supposed Now he is simply private
citizen at the foot of the ladder, and to be
named in connection with an appointment
TO the Supreme Bench confsrs an honor
and is a good professional advertisement
FOR him. Mr.. Conkling did not decline
very promptly, but waited to hear from
he country. Having tested public senti-
nent to his satisfaction, the President is
aow able to judge whether Mr. Conkhng
will do for a Cabinet officer
It is reported now that Senator Edmunds
If Vermont, has been rendered the nomin-
ltion, and will decline it on account of his
health and the insufficieney of the salary.
rhe country will hear with pleasure that
dr. Edmunds refuses the offer also, but for
,ntirely different reasons than those which
pleased them to hear of Mr.. Conkling's de-
lining to accept it. Mr.. Edmunds is emil
lently qualified for seat on the highest
judicial tribunal of the country, but he
Ills still higher and more responsible
position in the Senate of the United States
There are a hundred COED men who might
properly and proftably be placed on the
'ench, but Vermont has only one Edmunds
or United States Senator Vermont can
lot spare him, the country needs his SCR
ices in the highest sphere of statesman
hip. and the Republican party would suf-
er irreparable loss if be should be taken
rom hescouncils of the nation