The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-02-27

he has been too much in politics to have
much time Tor practicing his profession;
that he has had very few cases before the
supreme court Of the United States,
or the court of appeals of his own
state, and that in some of these
| his appearance has been far from brilliant;
| that his name is never associated
with those of Edmunds, and David
| Dudley Field, and Evarts, and score OF
others, who enjoy the reputation of being
| the greatest lawyers in the country He
has acquired distinction not as legislator,
for the statute book contains few traces OF
| the many years he has been in Washing
/ ton; nor as the champion of great causes
| and principles. for he has frequently kept
silent while these were under discussion;
partisan leader the country has produced;
as the man who has done the most to put
principles, except such principles as "sen-
atorial courtesy" in the background, and
TO put expedients and political shifts of all
kinds in the foreground; as the most
| adreit manipulation and the shrewdest
| champion of the spoils system who has
| figured in American politics. The key to
his public character and the climax
of his career are to be found
in the fact that he resigned his
seat in the Senate because he was offended
with the appointment of collector of
customs, and, having appeal
e d to the Legislature of his state for a
''vindication," he went to Albany and
| there spent weeks in fruitless effort to ca
jole and threaten members to reflect him.
How far Mr.. Conkling's private character
will go toward making him an ornament to
| the court is not precisely known to the
| public, and certain amicable settlements in
Rhode Island, the effecting of which just
at this time will strike some persons as a
| coincidence, make it clear that the public
will never be informed. Mr. Conkling
may disappoint all those who look on his
| nomination with distrust, but the public is
| rightly in. the habit of forming an opinion
of what a man will be by its knowledge of
of what he has been and no man has been
| nominated to the Supreme Court for many
given less reason for anticipating that he
will prove wise and impartial Judge.
But it is only fair to recall the fact that
when Secretary Chase was appointed to
succeed Chief Justice fancy, the appoint
ment was severely criticised because Mr..
Chase was SO much more of politician
than lawyer. But his career on the bench
justified the wisdom of President Lincoln
in his selection.
In q similar vein the Cleveland Herald,
under the heading, "A Disastrous STEP"
says that President Arthur yesterday did
an act that was a surprise and mortifica-
ton to those republicans who had placed
confidence in his good sense, and who re-
fused to believe that in his Off
ciai course, he would defer to
the dictates of an arrogant and discred-
tied clique rather than conform to the
wishes of the great mass of republicans,
and regard the true interests of the party
and the nation. He nominated Roscoe
Conkling to the supreme bench of the
United States. There are obvious reasons
why the nomination should not be- made
to republicans who have the interests of
the party at heart. The circumstances of
his disappearance from public life need
not be recalled. They are are still pain
fully fresh in the public memory. A few
short months is not sufficient time liz which |
to forget the childish and petulant
course of MIR. Conkling in the Sen
ate; the long continued disgrace
full wrangle at Albany; the dark tragedy
which accumulated and closed the struggle, |
and the long silence of Mr.. Conkling when
the whole world was sending It's messages
of sympathy, hope, and coincidence to the |
stricken President and his family. Nor are
the circumstances Of his re-appearance
Of the great body of republicans or of the
people as a whole. The fulsome eulogies
Of Parson Newman; the atrocious insult to
he rep ublican party in the billingsgate
attack of Emery Storrs on the last republi-
can administration; the significant silence
Garfield, contrasted with the
Iproarious enthusiasms which every refer
'nce to Conkling evoked; the carefully pre-
pared and widely published Islander by one
If Con kings brass medaled cliques upon
he memory of James T. Garfield, declaringj
him to have been weak and 'insincere,
md charging him with deliberate falsehoed
md treachery to Roscoe Conkling
we're all deliberately arranged preludes to
he acts of yesterday, and illustrated
he meaning of that act. Conkling-
SIN is triumphant, Garfield repub-
lcanism. is Inundated. That is
he only construction it will bear. There ,
> no possible excuse for this proceeding
The friends of Mr. Conkling have dsprscat
d any unfriendly allusion to him, because !
hey said, he was not meddling with poll
les, and was peacefully pursuing his law
BUSINESS. The republican party and the
alton would gladly have him remain at
network in which he was said tobe engaged. ]
Vhv was he dragged from his law office and :