Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1882-02-27
APPOINTMENT OF CoxKLIxa.


APPOINTMENT OF CoNKLIN0.
Without questioning the ability Of Mr..
Conkling to ~creditably all the Office Of
Associate Justice. OF the Supreme Court
Of the United States. 90 far Is intellect
ual qualifications 20. 1t may be said thai
his appointment to that position. under
existing circumstances. will DO pro-
nounced an unfit one by q large majority
Of the Republican party. Tbs relations
Of Mr.. Conkling to the majority Oh o
Republican party since Gsrfsld's inau-
eurstion have been such that the sp-
poiptmsnt cannot but increase the Bit
ternsss Of feeling that sxists between
the two wings Of the party. And. for
q man Who but . few months since
pledged himself to do all in his power to
harmonic the conflicting elements In
the party. Mr.. Arthur. BY making the
appointment. has completely stuliinsd
himself; and his act conveys the i'm
preston that II was made without caring
what its effect would be upon his party.
Even from the most charitable view that
can be taken. Il cannot be considered
otherwise than in exceeding bad taste on
the part OF Mr.. Arthur. But how Mr..
Coniling. who. within less than . years
time, has twice suffered defeat and hu-
initiation at the hands Of . majority OF
his p~aIty-how he can accept an sp-
pointment to Office, 10 . cause for won
der and surprise Ono would suppose
that hs would not accept any ofico I'M
less elected to IL by q majority Of bis
party. To be appointed to an Office BY
an Executive who possesses the power
Of appointment only because . stalwaTt
assassin b%rutally murdered Mr.. Garfield,
IL not o visdication Of his political
course. It 10 like the acts Of common.
hungry politicians, who are without
pride Of character and without honor.
II would DO presumed that the boosted
pride Of the noble patriclan and would.
DO dictator. the lordly Conkling. would
prevent him from accepting an Office as
gift. Nothing Jess than an election to
Office should satisfy Mr.. Conkling. A
iow months ago be stsksd his political
fortunes upon the issue made with Pres
idsnt Garfield and lost. was defeated in
the United States Senate and before the
Legislature at Albany-a Legislature
that he supposed would not dare to re-
fuse 10 send him back to Washington.
After that defeat and humiliation one
would suppose that q proper regard for
the propristies OF the situation would
have impelled him to remain in private
life until called to public life by the pso-
pie. To take advantage Of circumstances
brought about by an assassin's bullet to
vault into Office through Executive ap-
pointmsnt 10 not in keeping with the
opinion formed OF him by his friends.
But Notwithstanding the intellectual
. ability Of Mr.. Copklipg. 1t is declared
by persons who know him well that he
Is unit for the Supreme Bench because
no 10 not . man OF judicial temper. be-
cause Of his intensely partisan views.
and because Of his lack Of proper train
ing for the Office. HE has written
nothing OF note." say they. ION legal
problems" "He has never made q
great argument. in court, or conducted
an important case in q manner that indi-
Gated deep or wide knowledge OF the
law In any OF its various departments.
He 10 certainly not q great jurist. he
Is not even . learned lawyer. lie Is mol
by nature. by study. or by experience q
man at for the exercise Of Judicial func-
,tions in the court Of highest jurisdiction
In this nation"
II tho appointment Of Mr.. Conklins
was made by Mr.. Arthur to cancel per-
sonal obligations to tho former 1t shows
commspdabls spirit in him so far as
the manifestation Of individual feelings
Of gratitude goes. But to reward friends
at the expense Of the nation is not be-
coming to the President. Personal
preferences. unless accompanied by
every qualification that would be re-
quired Of strangers, should not be per-
mitted to have any weight in making
appointments to office. The appoint
ment. in short. 10 an unfit one. and Is a
direct insult to the memory Of Garfield
and to . large majority Of the Republi-
can party.