Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1882-08-25
NEW YORK POLITICS.

The candidates lately prominent for the
Republican nomination for Governor of
New York have been Governor Cornell,
Mr.. Wadsworl, "half-brecd," now member
of Congress, Secretary Folgcr or some other
Representative of the 'sialwart, or admins
tration faction Governor Cornells chances
seemed much the best, for he has made an
excellent chief magistrate and has gained
very large and influential bodyof supporters.
Mr. Conkling was opposed to him, however,
Senatorial struggle but he finally waived his
objections and consented not to oppose his
denomination. But a few days ago the AL
buny Journal, which has been friendly TO
Mr. Wadsworth and not hostile to Governor
Cornell, made statement to the effect that
attempts had been made by Jay Gould or his
agents, Mr.. Conkling his counsel being in
volved by implication in the business, to
bride Governor Cornell to sign the
elevated railroad tax bill, which the
Governor, however, refused to sign,
and that in consequence of this
Mr. Conkling had rc-considered his
purpose not to oppose Cornels re-
nomination, and was now animated
by an implacable hostility to him, The
gravamcn OF the charge is that Mr.. Conklng
attempted to influence the Governor by offer
ing him bribs in shares of Elevated railroad
stock, as consideration for signing bill re-
lievng that company of II tax amounting to
over quarter of million of dollars. To
vent his spite against Governor Cornell, so
the story goes, Mr.. Conkling went over, bag
and baggage, to Mr.. Wadsworth, although
the latter is one of the leading ''half-breeds"
and has long been one of tho ex-Senator's
principal opponents. This move Of Mr..
Conkling's seemed almost or quite enough to
turn the scale against Governor Cornell who
has no strength to spare, but jus, at this
point the New York Times took hand in. Ii
had heretofore favored Mr.. Wadsworth but !,
said that though Governor Cornell's conduct
has not been in all respects satisfactory, he
has, on the whole, discharged the duties Of
his office uprightly and wisely, and that if he
10 to be prosecuted and prescribed for one on
the most righteous and salutary acts of all
ministra,ion, all good citizens should rally tc
his defence. The Times sustains the charge
of attempted bribery brought by the Albany
Journal against Mr.. Conkling, and says tina,
he committed the act at the bidding of Jay
Gould, to whom the ex-senator stands in tn,
nG To Thn Tina
says:
, Jay Gould may care less for humilatinl
Governor Cornell than for demonstrating t
future Governors of either party that he ha
the power to punish US well as to purchase
But, IN either case, no more dangerous NOV,
, has ever been made toward the establishment
in this State ofa despot!sm sustainedby unlim
tied wealth and endless possibilities of cor
poratc robbery than is involved in the worl
which Is now being done by Roscoe Conklinl
/, for his master, Jay Gould. The immediate
question for Republicans to determine is not
/, therefore, whether the denomination of Gov
ernor Cornell be expedient. but whether tn
party Can afford to have its State nomination
settled in advance of the convention by tn
joint influence Of Jay Gould and Rosco
Conkling. AS the autocratic dispenser of tn
Q Federal patronage of New York, Senate
Q Conkling was sufficiently dangerous 70
to freedom Of speech or action in the part
ranks as the salaried agent OF a stock gam
: bier who cares as little for political prncipl
n as he does for moral restraint, Mr.. Conkin
n plays part which is indeed, more ignobl
but in which he can infict more serious dan
age on the party, over whose machinery h
|, has not ceased to have decided influence
g Such talk as this is certainly not lackin
/ in panness and the course Of the Tim
. can not fail of materially contributing I
Governor Cornelrs strength. Indeed, i
9 seems to more than maintain his lead u
a along, and to an outsider his renomualio
Z appears almost certain.