The Evening critic., 1882-02-25
.ssocinte Justice Conitsing.

The nomination Of Roscoe Conklng to
be Associate Justice of the Supreme Court
is the most remarkable performance Of this
Administration. 1t was unexpected, illogi-
cal, and, in the light of events, impolitlc
Mr.. Conklng having declined to say any
thing on his own behalf in the premises,
leaves the door of conjecture wide open as
to whether he will accept or not while the
reception of the nomination in executive
session yesterday develops other possible
issues of more or less public interest We
do not imagine that the ex-Senator's confir-
nation is in doubt There may be twelve
Senators who will vote against him some
on personal grounds and others from public
motives, but we do not believe the opposi-
tion can amount to much more. This,
however, is not the phase of the affair that
mainly interests the casual observer.
That phase is purely personal to Mr..
Conkling himself and hinges upon his
action with respect to the honor conferred
upon him. If he accepts, the act must
infallibly be viewed as his own confession
that his political career is at an end so
utterly closed and terminated that he is
now, by way of asylum, forced to accept %
place at the foot of the same Bench whose
Chief seat he declined ten years ago; and
so hopeless that he must needs receive
these last kind offices of political sepulture
at the hands of creature of his own former
power.
Mr.. Conklng has filed great space in
the public life of this country for.eightecn
years. So far as personal consequence and
II &
could hardly have conferred additional rank
upon him. But within the past year,
'unmerciful disaster" has followed fast
and followed faster," until now, perhaps,
he may be ready to utter the fatal "never-
more" of his ambition in sullen and re-
luctant acceptance Of the solitary Office
within the gift Of his former servant that
he could, under any circumstances, think
of.taking.
We say this advisedly. 1t is doubtful
whether, in the average public estimation
Mr. ConkliDg could command even a frag-
ment Of the respect he once enjoyed after
accepting any gift whatsoever at Arthur's
bands. But if there is any gift that he
could accept and retain the least shadow Of
consistency with the main current Of hi!
naughty career, it is that place on tht
bench and the best that can be said o
that is, that to him it is simply an honor
able grave!
We have always admired Mr.. Conkling:
intellect and respected his public character
No fair man could do otherwise. To GER
tain extent we regretted the misfortune:
that befel him last spring because, with
all his faults of manner, the Senate suffered
loss in his departure that has not been re
paired and doubtless cannot be. But a.
VIC view his situation, Mr.. Conkling hai
but one alternative after that defeat-ant
that was either to succumb utterly an6
abandon the public stage or to begin anew
and retrieve his fortunes upon the self
same field where they had been wrecked
Under certain circumstances he might hav
resurrected himself in New York. But tn
battle would have been long and doubtful
and therefore, perhaps, too severe for a maj
at his time in life and, to an extent, broker
physically. If he accepts the gift of Arthu
everybody will regard it as the turning G
his back forever upon this prospect of bal
tie to regain the political fortunes sacrifice
by haste and folly. 1t is certainly pair
full situation for man of his stature an
character