Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1882-09-10
POLITICS IN NEW YORK,
Prcuress of the Movement to Over
throw Cornell.
The Administration Stabbing the Governor
Under the Fifth Rib-Cornell Slow
in Seeing the 0rift-But When
He Did" Catch On"
HE DECLARED WAR TO THE KNIFE.

Special Correspondence Of The Sunday Reotster
New York, September S.-Two months
ago Alonzo B. Cornell was the friskiest colt
in the broad field of politics. In common
with nearly everybody else in this State, he
regarded his denomination as an assured
fact and, in view of the troubles OF the
Democratic party, he expected and had
right to expect q majority at the polls.
Even those who ware not personally on
good terms with the Governor freely ad-
mitted that his administration had been,
ON the whole far-sighted satisfactory and
popular. About the beginning of July it
was set forth in organs friendly to Presl-
dent Arthur that Mr.. Cornell had made
fine record, and that his renoml.
nation might be regarded as matter OF
course. In no quarter was there open as
sent to this suggestion. No harsh words
were leveled at the Governor, except by
Democratic newspapers, which naturally
felt worried at CorneHs growing ascend
ency. The prospect was so bright that the
Governor was even spoken of by some ultra
admirers as having the inside track for the
Presidential succession in 1884. Mr.. Cor
nell exhibited the complacency OF man
who holds full hand against two pair,
HIS attitude was strangely out OF time with
the present discord aud uncertainty OF the
canvass. To-day friends OF the Governor
yield the meagre majority which they nave
been holding against the field, and admit
that they now count up but half dozen
surplus over FOlger, with
Wadsworth Holding the Balance OF
Power.
This showing would be agreeable enough II
IL were certain that the same ratio would
obtain after all the delegates have been
elected. Should the convention meet with
Wadsworth plus Cornell, stronger combi'
nation than all the Conkling-Art delega-
tons, it is obvious that the national admin
istration would be unable to control the
organization, pass its projected vote OF cen
sure upon Senator Warner Miller, and fas-
ten It's iron grip upon the Republican State
Committee for next year. 1t is good deal
of an anti-climax to be figured on-Cornell
as under the necessity of combining with
Wadsworth to prevent Conkling and Arthur
from buryng him alive. But curious as such
| a development appears, it is not such
genuine paradox as the confidence felt by
the Governor that his denomination would
be uncontested. There were surface rea-
sons, as / have shown, for his complacency,
nut With Mr.. CornelPs political in
sight might and should have Known that
he was never going to take undisputed
control of the Saratoga conclave, with Ros-
coe Conkling inspiring the state policy OF
Chester A. Arthur. There was something
remarkable, l might almost say pathetic,
about the Governors dissatisfaction few
weeks ago 1t is difficult to see how man
with so much faith in human nature could
play the part of siren OH Wall street so
successfully as to allure a man like Jay
Could into the fatal embraces OF blind
pool
The opposition to him
Came Upon the Governor Unawares,
although as early as last May shrewd
observers said that the policy of the Presi-
dents federal appointments in New York
could have no other significance than that
it was preparing the way to overthrow Cor;
nell. This explanation was sustained and
emphasized by each successive Presidential
vancouver. When the federal changes were
made at Albany it was stated that the
animus of the move lay in Arthurs hostility
to Cornell, and that anti-Stalwarts must
unite upon some such man as Wadsworth
or they would be left without watchwOrd
in the impending conflict. Since then the
federal influence at Albany has snatched
fifteen delegates from under Mr.. CornelPs
very eyes, when all of them might have
been had for the Governor. had he acted
more rapidly and put no credhnce in Mr..
Conkling. Governor Cornell was little
behind in grasping the purpose of Arthur's
movements but, when he fully compre.
hended what was going on, he let
out the blast at the ex-senator
which appeared in the Albany
Journal some days ago, and the reverbra-
lions of which shook every district in the
State. From that moment it has been war
to the knife, and, when the date for the
convention arrives, two weeks from Wed
thara yu;l ha q cnnnnScion m
paralleled in violence and importance at
any State assemblage ever held in New
York II is reported that the Arthur stall
warts pcct to put Conkling in the chair
and that from that vantage point he will
utter such a scathing diatribe as will make
Cornell turn pale. So far as diatribe is con-
ccrned, the rumor is undoubtedly well
founded, for there will be no difficulty in
getting Mr.. Conkling into the convention
as delegate from New York City, should
he fail to receive the distinction from his
allies in Oneida. The opposition will hard
ly have man TO match against the
Splendid Forensic Diction
of Mr.. Conkling, whose orstory is just the
sort to make an impression on such meet
ing. There is no man in the State with half
his command of satire and invective. But
the imperial Roscoe will hardly go upon the
platform, when his quick parliamentary
knowledge and tact will be so constantly
needed on the floor The an ti-Stalwarts have
not begun to think OF their details yet, but
ex-senator Woodin of Auburn, a swift, cool,
strong speaker. will probably be their
spokesman. Collector Robinson, although
he has more weight than Woodin in some
ways, never figures as a parliamentary dis
putant, and Mr.. George William Curtis is
too delicate and scholarly to fill the bill
at q convention in which at least half the
delegates are ground out by grog shop eau
cuses. It might be supposed that the lead
ing Republican newspapers Of the State
would seek to subdue the excitement al
ready engendered, but no such disposition
is discernible.