National Republican., 1882-01-09

A Conspirator Unmaskcd.
On Thursday March ~, 1881, President
Garfield nominated Robertson for col
lector of customs Mt New York. On
Sunday, the 27th of the same month, at
midnight, Whtelaw Reid sent dispatch
to the President by third person, in
which he used the following language:
New York, March 27-Midnight
wish to say to the President, In my judgment
this Is the turning point Of his whole Administra
tion--thC crisis OF his iOtc, If he surrcndcrs now
Conkling is President for the rest Of the term and
Garfield becomes u laughing stock. on the other
hand. lie has only to stand firm To succeed. With
the unanimous action Of the New York Lcgsln.
ture Cunkling cannot make an CneCtual fight.
That action came solely from the belief that Gar
field, unlike Hayes, meant TO defend his own Ad-
mnisiraton. The AsseB,Jiy Is overwhelmingly COnk.
ling. but they did not dare 20 on the record
again.t Robertson so long rs they thought the Ad-
minisuauon meant hsmJss. HC can
surely get enough Democratic Senators to Offset
anything Conkling can do. In one word, there is
no safe honorable way out now but to go straight
on. Robertson should be held 1rm and if
change IS made in the survcyorship the new man
should siW Eob,rtsOH. Merritt would do perfectly
for that place, since he is good subordinate, or
some other good man could be found But II IS
indispensable that the suryeyorship should be
kept in oHr OirH hands.
Bodncss and teuacity now insure victory not
merely for this year but for the whole term. The
least wHyoring would be fatal. Whenever pres
sure on Platt or James is wanted let us know
Beware FLAMES soft, insnuating way. lie is again
wholly under Conklings influence, but stern,
sharp Odmonition will bring him instantly to his
bearings. lie ought TO have had that the morn
ing after his sercnadc speech.
WHITELAw REID.
This remarkable document was pub
lishcd in the New York HcuH of Friday
last and the IriJuae of Saturday admits
its genuineness. 1t is an important con-
tribution TO the history of the Garfield
administration. 1t shows that there was
fear that the President might withdraw
Robertson, and thus avoid the continu-
ance Of an unnecessary party disturbance
With malicious craft it labored against
such n result, by threatening to make the
President "a laughing stock " unless he
should prove his independence Of Mr.
Conkling by allowing the sword Of eX-
Gcutive pOwerto remain where ithad been
placed by the nomination Of Robertson.
The dispatch exhibits Mr.. Whitelaw
Reid as n very much inflated intermed-
dler, or else as the spokesman of a set of
destruCtives who We're willing to crafty
their hatred of Mr.. Conkling at no mat
ter what expense to President Garfeld's
own inclinatons, and with total disre-
gard of the effect of their Vaccinations
upon the Administration, the party, the
country, or the public service. 1t gives
the lie to all the Tribune said during the
controversy, rs to Mr., Conkling's natural
strength and shows the means employed TO
break it down. 1t vindicates the truth of
TIE REPUBIICAN's assertions throughout
that Mr.. Conkling's attitude was approved
by the New York Legislature, but that
he was deprived of the support of that
body by the fact so forcibly and elegantly
expressed by Mr. Reid that "the
Administration meant business" The
AsscmJiy' says this marplot, Is OVER
wHELMINGLY CoNKLING, but they DARE NOT
go on the record against Robertson so
long as they thought the Administration
meant business" And what was this
business? At what tender point could
the intentions of the Administration 50
touch the assemblymen that they would
not dare to give their honest opinions
What had they TO fear? Who carried
the threat to them which so paralyzeG
them? Robertson was State senator
and would, if confirmed, have thirteen
hundred places within his gift, He may
have talked the intended business" Oh
perhaps this Mr.. Reid whose dispatch
reads almost like military order tc
President Garfield, was well enough
known as the trusted friend of the theI
Secretary of State to make his assurance;
sufficient. What court grammar made hin
plural is not known He says ",rc car
surely gCt enough Democratic Senators tC
offset anything Conkling can do" Why
certainly. There is always a way to gc
enough of them if there is Il will to do i
which will override party obligations
lie insists that "the surveyorship shoul,
be kept in ourown hands" Whose hands
His and the Presidents? or his and Nh
Blaiue's, for whom, perhaps, he NOR,
especially could speak? Or was there
crew of conspirators, of which Reid wa
q member, which was to have the dis
penslng Of patronage? Why must tn
surveyor, in case of q change, suit Rob
ertson?o What victory" was to be in
sured by Goodness and tenacity ?
What reason had Reid to fear that tn
President would wayer and surrender?
Why was not the President trusted TO d
right without such goading and spur
ring? Is il not plain that h
desired to Withdraw Robertson am
that the panc-stricken Reid Iushe
at him with the insulting talk {
his being ga laughing stock" if il
should follow his own inclinations an
retrace the unfortunate step he ha
taken? "If he surrenders now Conl
ling is President" But who was to b
President if he surrendered TO the sole
tations of Reid & Co.? Was it "we ~
MIR. Whitelaw Reid2 fla Cabinet Office
from New York dared to hail as MI