New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-06-01
"A11 GOMEZ IND NOT ONE FRIENDp"


The Presidents visit has absorbed a great
deal of Mr.. Conkling's time and attention, and
il NAV be that he is unaware of the fact that
his end of the controversy with General Sharpe
is a long way behind. For the purpose of re-
frcshing his memory and indicating the spot at
which he needs to aim his next denial, we
venture to sum up the controversy from its
outset down TO the present moment. The
original charges were these: First, That he
resigned and became a candidate for reelection
entirely on his own motion, and not with the
advice Of his friends. Second That his friends
urged him to withdraw from time to time, and
that he refused. Third, That he was party
to a corrupt bargain for his own reelection.
These charges be it remembered, were made
by Stalwart and not by a llallbreed news
paper and that the IIalfbreeds have had
very little to do with tho controversy except to
watch and enjoy it. No sooner were these
three charges published than Mr.. COnklinS, in
his most majestic manner proceeded to refute
them. 1t had never been his habit to "reply
"to SANDERS however foul" He had for years
endured newspaper assaults most cruel in
" character and having not the slightest foun-
"dation in fact" AS for this particular libel"
" each of these charges is without truth and
positively against truth" Descending to par
ticuars he declared that his going 10 Albany
was one of the most reluctant acts Of his life,
and that he went because of the urgent advice
or request" of all those whom he had Oppor-
tunity to consult Not one of those whose
Judgment had been given in favor Of his stand
ing advised him to withdraw and though he
repeatedly made the suggestion himself, no
one of his friends assented to his doing so. AS
for the bargain, he knew of "no fact giving
color to such an allegation"
1t was at once apparent that this was denial
which denied very little. The charge that his
resignation was entirely his own act he did not
meet at all he permitted that to stand un-
challenged. 1t will pass into history, there
fore, that the greatest effort of his life " was
all his own and was bunder. On the second
charge he lodged with considerable agility,
but did not succeed in eludiDg it, He says he
was advised to 90 to Albany by all those whom
he had opportunity to consult" and that I" not
= one of those whose judgment had been given
in favor of my standing for reelection ever adj
avised or suggested my withdrawal" That is q
very different thing from saying that mono of
his friends advised withdrawal 1t may be
that he had opportunity to consult" no one
before he went to Albany. On the charge of IA
bargain he is more definite, and should be
given credit for denial of that.
At this point, ex-Speaker Sharpe, at the
time of Mr.. Conkhng's resignation one of his
most intimate and trusted assistants, entered
the controversy in person. He had been sus-
pected of being the inspirer of the original
charges, as the newspaper making them had
long been his personal organ. He at once
brought the discussion to point by saying TO
the Albany correspondent OF THE TRIBUNE on
May %: Let Mr.. Conkling give the names
/" of the men who advised him to 20 to Albany
q should like to know their names. don't
"know who they were, and yet l think would
shave known, if anyone knew them. Let Mr..