The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-05-08
ROSCOE CONKLING.
His Speech at the Dinner Given at the Sat
urday Night Club.

New York, May Mr.. Roscoe Conkling
followed General Grant at the dinner given
on last Saturday night in his honor, and
spoke as follows:
This dinner, 1 understand, is given to
the gentleman who has just resumed his seat
a man who not long ago circled the world
with his travels, as he had before filled it
with his deeds. Something said by him to-
night will be ever associated with his name,
as his name is forever associated with the des-
tiny of this people What was said of him,
and by him, carried me back to an occasion
on which l was present, and on which he
was not running two boats, with one foot in
one and one in the other, but had both his
feet in one and the same, and i'll this one all
his energy and inclinations were embarked.
1t was the occasion on which we met by fair
means to nominate General Grant for the
presidency. | recoll ect-and, for one, never re-
fleet but with pride and pleasure on the part
l bore-a conference of 1855 men, APO of
whom were sent for one specific purpose, and
who were in honor bound before God and
man to abide by their instructions; and yet
they were beaten. 1 believe, and [ say it in
all confidence that the result of that conven-
ton put back this country ten years. Some
one said when Napoleon lost Waterloo that
the clock of ages had been turned back six
degrees. So did l believe when l sat in
Chicago and saw it, and all the events of the
checkered time have since passed through
show that the sorrowful work of that day
cost the Nation ten years of progress. What
is is right, they say; so what has occurred has
happened. One of my friends here tonight
is a leader and example of the Democratic
party. Well, he and the rest of them are
about to take control of the country; indeed
they control it pretty we'll already. Two
years ago the Republican party came out
with flying colors from the greatest battle it
had ever fought in which though weighted
down and struggling against heavy Odds it
triumphed and flew its banner in every
State, from sea to sea. To-day in almost
every State from sea to sea titles PROSTATE"
Mr. Conkling then referred to what Gener-
al Grant had said about Mexico, and said
81 believe we should be in affinity politi-
cally and commercially and 1 hope we shall;
and if after all which he has labored for, all he
has done-not in the commonplace greatness
of the word, but in the arduous greatness of
deeds done, it falls to General Grants lot to
be leader-no, sir l ought to take that
word back; it has become nowadays a word
of reproach. If man is Il leader he is a
boss; if boss, no end of men whom l will
not call snivellers or charlatans or humbugs
though before God and man you and know
they are SUCH are ready to pull down and
deride bosses and array themselves against
superiority If any man is boss, it is be-
cause by his actions he has demonstrated
that he has q right to be so. | will therefore
withdraw the term of leader, and say that if
it falls to the Generals lot to be the Moses
and Aaron (names which my Democratic
friends here may not be familiar with, as |
believe Democrats never read the Bible) of
this great anal gamation, he will add to the
crown he wears a decoration which alone
would be honor enough and over much for
any distinguished citizen of our Republic"