National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-05-24
Mr.. Conk,inr on n Recent Libel.

Mr.. Conkling on n Recent Libel.
The Kingston IN. W freeman thought
IL worth while few days since to attempt
a defense of General Sharpe, speaker of
the last New York Assembly, for the
change of his vote, which did much to
terminate the last senatorial struggle in
that State against Mr.. Conkling. The
writer in the Freeman stated in substance,
that when Speaker Sharpes inclination
TO break from Conkling became known"
(auspicious moment) he was furnished
with an excuse in the form of an allega-
ton that an understanding was being
reached by which Mr. Conkling should
be reelected, and that, in place of Mr..
Platt, "the candidate of Vanderbilt and
Gould" was to be also elected, and
that eat least one of those magnates had
interested himself in the adjustment, and
would use his influence for its consum-
nation"
AS Mr.. Chauncey M. Depew enjoyed
the distinction of being the candidate OF
those two distinguished anti-third-term
Reformers, and of being at the same
time the candidate of their political
guide, philosopher, and friend, James q.
Blaine, and of the Garfield administra-
ton, of whose political interests Mr..
Blaine was the sole guardian, the use OF
the phrase corrupt bargain" by the
Kingston freeman must have been
an inadvertence. That journal is
careful to refrain from making any
pretended statement of any specific
fact which, if true, would be injurious
10 Mr. Conkling or any of his friends.
It's story is that each faction was to
choose Senator to settle the prolonged
struggle. 1t does not even pretend that
Mr.. Conkling knew of the compromise
which it says was on foot. To call such
a settlement as that would have been q
"corrupt bargain" and then to throw it
out to the public year later in words
which studiously avoid any specific charge
of wrong-doing against anybody, yet
which artfully carry injurious inferences
is in strict keeping with the mean, false
and crafty warfare which some base peo'
pie have waged upon Mr.. Conkling eveI
since he returned from his canvass in
behalf of General Garfield in 1880
Neither he nor his friends did any indi.
rect or unmanly thing in his behalf in
the Senatorial struggle referred to. He
entered the contest reluctantly, and die
not fee from it. None were more earnest
in urging him to stand for reelection
than General Sharpe. The Freeman is
especially cruel in mentioning this gen
tleman's name in connection with the
thrifty friends who, according to its
story, SO greatly desired "relief from {
cruelty false position"
Mr.. Conkling being himself interro
gated as to the alleged "bargain," thu
replied in an interview which appeared
in the New York Herald of Monday:
"My habit has been never TO reply to ISLANDERS
however foul. have for years silently endured
newspaper assaults most cruel in character aud
having not the slightest foundation IN fact. /
may be that this habit Of silence has encouraged
calumny Friends tell me It has, and, as you aSl
it,Iwill say something ofthis particular libel.
"It seems TO consist of three parts or Of three
charges
" First-That became a candidate for re.clec
tion Of my own head, aud not by the advice ant
wish OF party associates.
Second-That friends and supporters from tim,
10 time urged me to desist and withdraw, and tha
refused to do so.
"Thiid-That II corrupt bargain was about +
be cons uInmated for my election and that of an
other person, and that was party to this bar
gain.
"The term corrupt bargain is used by tn
Kingston paper, but for some reason is change
in reprints in other papers 10 'questionabl
means
Each Of these charges is without truth, an
positively against truth,
"My name was used for reelection, and weT
10 Albany because of the urgent advice or requeI
ofall those with whom had opportunity to con
suit. My gcing to Albany WIS one Of the most rG
Iuctant acts Of my life ] did not go there to 50
Icit votes. never asked any man to vote for m'
My presence there was insisted on by others o
the ground that II was due to all that informQtio
and explanation should bo given respecting III
resignation and the causes which led 10 It, an
that such information should come directly froI
me. So much us to the first charge
" secoud-Not one Of those whose judgmer
had been given in favor Of my Standing for +,
election ever advised or suggested withdraw
On the contrary, though ] repeatedly made N
suggestion myself, not one Of the friends who's
advice had determined my action ever approve
or assen ted to any course other than the one pul
sued.
"Third-No bargain, corrupt or Otherwise,
which was party, WAS ever made or propose
in the whole course of the senatorial cOuuoyer
know Of no fact giving color 10 such an allerl
tiUn. If there be such fact II j. unknown % m
"Now, you see, you have made me break II
habit 10 let pass IN silence the numberless ias
hoods which have made me their target
"only day or two since was told that a sto
Is going the rounds that some time ago in Cley
land grossly insul,el a number Of leading eli
aens who were polite enough to oleT to e'corI
10 Cincinnati. The story Is very false and yicio,
and many others still worse might be mentione
il IL impossible, however, 10 follow up and de-
these lying accusations"