New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-02-27
THE EX-sENATOR'S GREATNESS.

DEMONSTRATION THAT IT DOES NOT EXIsT
f. W HhrGs IN The International Eerteo OCTOBER 1881
Having previously been Mayor of Utica, Mr.:
ConEling was in elected 10 Congress, and reelected
in ls6O In lie failed but again elected and
elected in 1854 and 1866 The hrst two terms were
uncvcntful. II only be said that Nj Conkng then
began to attract atten man of force. During his
third his aggressveness aud unwliiHgness to fol-
low Or him place In the front rank ol ms party
and invested him with some of the attributes of
lsadershP lie Go b 70 G9 S sfGed %6
the Reconstruction Committee. at that time
the most important in the House; but he was not
the author OF any Of the important measures which that
committee proposed, although he gave TO them vleor
assent, and is Therefore entitled - paFtsans share
of whatever praife or blame now DtloiGs 10 thcn.
In $50 he secured the caucus nomination for senator
then he has been reelected and had served ;he
time his resignation fourteen years Great things
tutional questions have been settled; Part Of
the measures of reconstruction, and great mum
Der OF economic and administrative questions
have been passed upon; and once We were confronted
with ntest between two nearly equal pnrtls for the
pos.rssion ef the chief EXccutyea contest which hal
never before been settled by any people III any time e1
Tlat part has he played durng this tmei He has
served upon the most Important committees OF the sea
Of he dominant political parry; lie Ia. enjoyed the
prestige Of great reputation he has had the largest op
with the possession of the greatest abilities
Tho great opportunities which he has had
he lis ne m a. Is not Of % tih.oT 1 Mi- Il .1 81 @ ;i
n,JGAJ himself with any OF those easiite4 either ia
debate IN any o;!er and oi them Dccane
nS SS d hi M n5 adiTsfs M % n @ @ % n4u 4 re-. f re- re-
ccnC ade hsCo, 50 lar a. appcars catcd Tor hla tc
present laws governing the election Of United States
senator the law confirming the titles Of preemptors aud
Slce et e4tcoxoc- 6aootoe
{NndS lrum we Government aAd the VsdemayG l9W. W
these the latter declared unconstitutional soon
II got before thc courts, and the others we're aneud
meHts Of Old Laws AVID be had BOlhnR 20 do win pro
posing or carrying other tEe laws the amendments.
Mr. COnkg s, however TO be judged legislator not
much by what be has advocated cppo osed as by
what he has treated with Indifference and his category
includes the most important questions Of ms time.
ak no nod lin TariH Hrnf,t
our commercial relations Win Other countries;
20 the state and National Governmenis the
complete regulation Of elections; Cnn,se i'm
sabdT 6 the Gecne Of Acsan as rTaHSed
and the of the United IN Central America
all these have no more vexcd him than tnc u,.sins
shadow of cloud. The tariff has bc sure, been only
OF service hut for q man in Nj Conkng's pnsiIion we
had right 10 expect an expression of his views this
indeed on the right side when they came to be
yntcd on but lie las taken substantially 10 share
in shaping the questions to be decided. In all the
opprations. and tho moneiization Of silver, he
took practically part, and NewYork which has the
If hem have been represented almost as Wen b.
deaf mute as by Mr.. COnkling.
Sir C0nklings claims 10 100 considered great lawyer
are founded than other prcteusons which have
boeA made for him lie entered political lie too carly and
he las been too deeply engro,ed IA its details TO nave
haG ume to drink deep tAc fountain Of the law, or
ereat legal firms of his state DO NOT know him as an adj
vcraiiTy, and far De judged by observer,
tho most Of Lis retainers have been before com
mittccs In the Offices IN Washington,
or In other where hs political
position opposed 10 give him special Influence
with tho tribunal In the Supreme Court OF the United
States from the repuTts that Nj Co king has
had since s62, bat cases. while during the pc
rIoi Mr EdmuLds, Who like him. l. lawyef In politics
hns had nineteen, and MI Garfield, whom
often think 0f lawyer al all has had thirteen OF
Mr. Copkllug's six two were probably given TO
him because he influential politician aud without
reference t0 his legal standing.
In tae court Of Appeals OF NewYorE 1t appears that
Mr. Coung hAs likewise had but Ave cases, and two at