New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-06-24
Is 1T PERF[DY. OR Witt

What does il meant Here is The Herdh,
which has earned for itself tho distinction OF
being the firm friend, if not the organ, OF the
President, speaking cOntcmptuously OF the
eminent Mr.. Conklng. 1t went out of its
way Yesterday to notice some absurd rumors
about the Pres dent, Governor Cornell and Mr..
ConklDg, and seemed to do 50 for the purpose
of rapping the latter over the head. 1t spoke OF
him as a man whose alliance would bring de-
feat to any political cause, and said that ut
." is an undOubted fact that, for the present,
abe is not favorite of the voters OF New
"York,r adding that che would commit a
grave blunder if he should at this time, or
"probably for some years to come, plan re-
"entry into political life" While this is all
true enough, the queer part OF 1t IS that me
Herald should be so brutal as to haul Dir.
Conkling from Obscurity before the pubic
simply to fling it in his face.
But what follows is even more brutal. lt
speaks of the Presidents offer Of Supreme
Court judgeship as the act of n "sincerc and
earnest friend says the President perfectly
understood Mr.. Conking's situation, and said
to him as plainly as possible: 81 see that Tor
"some years You cannot hope for favor at the
Glands of the people, | offer you on the SUI
"preme Bench an honorable and safe place of
Temporary retirement"
That makes things pleasant all round! 1t
puts the President in the attitude OF telling
COnking that he is politically dead, and OF
confessing that he has no higher idea Of the
Supreme Bench than as a place of refuge for
politicians who have been rejected by the
people. Is that the Presidents real idea OF
Mr.. COnlslingl If it is not, why should the
friendly HerdH go out of its way to say 1t Is
at this particular moment when the air is full
of rumors that the President is not so loyal
TO the cx-Prmate as he once was
We are very much afraid that Mr.. Conklng
will smell "peridy" in this curious perform
ance. First and last he has had great trouble
with perfdy. 1t was perfidy. he assured us,
which provoked his quarrel with President Gar
field. 1t was perfdy which defeated his fight
for vindication by means Of reelection. 1t
was periidy which started his question OF
veracity with General Sharpe which grew into
that other question of veracity with the Prcsi
dent concerning the fact OF Sunday confer
ence. 1t may he pcrfdy now which inspires
the newspaper conspicuOusly friendly to the
President to attack him in the name of the
President We do not pretend to decide. The
possibilities of investigation are too awful for
us to pursue the inquiry further.
Mr.. Conkling must decide the question for
himself and put the perfidy where it belongs.
In a letter to an Irish mass-m meeting in Boston
last week he wrote in his customary eloquent
and luminous style " could utter an earnest
hope that wherever firm, plain vigOr will or
"may do good there Will be meaningless,
"colorless motions" He possibly knew what he
meant by " firm, plain vigOr," and if he did he
will see that there is an opportunity to use
something of the same sort in this inquiry.
1t certainly is not time for meaningless,
colorless motions" when ones best friends
begin an animated and muscular rub-a-dub-
dub upon ones own nose.