The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1882-02-10
TIE roLIr1cAL RIYALs.
Fhe Nation Tor their Play
Ground.


the quarrel between Blaine and The
SialWarts is not to be thoroughly aPpre-
ciated and enjoyed without IN understand
ing OF All which has led up 10 The present
state OF this personal and factional war
tsre. This, we believe, is the 6rst per
sonal quarrel. for many years which has
taken the nation for us held. An analysis
OF the matter as ia stands will show at
lhe bottom eonfici between two bitter
factions Of The Republican parry Nari-
ousiy eolored and uuder different names,
ana modified ia various ways ny tempo
t"ry issues and the peculiarlles oil the
cah'Asses Ills factioual oonnict mas ap-
peareo ia every coudict since and 'nclud
ing 49, Another Important element IS
me past aspirations and riVairies OF
Blaine snd COnkling for the presidential
nomination.
Another element is the rivalry Of 1850
between Grant, supported by Conkhng on
the one hand, and Blaine, pushing his
own fortunes, upon the other whether
OF the Two was the wiser, Conkuug or
Blame, II may be hard 10 tell; bat Conk.
ling did foresee the eui Of his hopes and
tie himself on 10 Grant Blsise we believe,
equally toresaw his defeat, but determined
~ ANAA " ASAN ne ClAAA het @NAIf $40
entered the conflict 10 destroy Grant
This he edectually aid, and it could not
have been done without his aid as an
actual candidate. The personal matters
between Grant aud Blaine are an element
Of Importance but thi have grown out
Of the convention of ] 30. Grant affects
TO treat Blaine as shan and dishouor-
able man, bat dissYs1s-,ttneat and a thirst
for revenge prompt all his hostile utter
ances. The personal matters between
Blaine and COnkhng are also important.
They were bora in aumgonism. As we
may predict the mutual repulsion Of
positive and negative poles so one who
knew thoroughly the Oh sracters Of Blaine
aud Conkling would be able to assert
that If ever theyWere brought in con
tact, they would develop instant hostility
and mutual repulsiOl So il was in Con-
gress, and when Blanc had called Conk-
/ ling a turkey cock All Conkling had re-
torted with wingedsord, they were no
more enemies than whn they met in the
| same sphere. They az natural enemies.
We think il is ereditale 10 Blaine that il
/ is so, and We have u doubNt hat when
onkling enters, whemis back is turned,
he is able TO say; n the pricking Of
my thumbs, somethig evil this way
comes
Here we have one sAhe most interest
ing personal quarrsls yer developed in
/ the politics Of this coutry-a sure sign
[ of the end of the publican party's
mission. When party conflict becomes
I fractional and factions antagonism be-
/ comes personal, great Aotives 10 action
/ are wanting. We hav ehere the bitterly
/ fact'onal spirit, the ri ylry Of leaders in
! the struggle for ofice.nd honors, aud
with these the purely personal, as be
! tween Grant ami Blain and Blaine aud
/ Conkling.
All this is well enouh in its way. Tt
/ is The necessary process Of recrystaliZa-
/ ton. When great idea have ceased, or
/ great issues have been stled, every little
/ motive, factional and Tsonal and the
various minor issues Wish become noun
/ tains when all great sues have been
levelled down with the ain, have, each,
their place, one toweug as high and
becoming as i'm PortGnt another, until,
IN the process, new greaideas are devel
oped, real policies Of ipsrtsncs assert
/ themselves and party rsserts It's sway
where the fsctionsl andhe personal had
I assumed 10 rule in the absence Of any
thing better or greater. IN this way our
earlier politics were NAKED by personal
] antagonisms and faetiomt a time when
policies had not yet dsveped themselves
Ia the same way theyRre marked a.
present By recurreucof this state Of
affairs because the two gmt parties have,
In the main, settled tn differences be-
tween them e.s.l -i-.---. ks.iss--4 ssarF.es
ne" ideas are growing a0d new policies
are developing; but nom has yet assumed
the lead and absorbed AL minor factional
and personal Issues.