Daily globe., 1883-07-20

tory to Mr.. Arthur and Mr.. James, and
had little III ii that was refreshing even
to Mr.. Conkling It was impossible TOR
him. however. TO forget the character or
his impression of it, of the president, WIN
whose agent he was dealing. lie knew MIN
through and through, and he nelther IiAeo
him nor trusted him. But he would nave
been content to accept the admlnlstra-
tion's terms. He naturally Wanleo more
than was rendered him, and ne do noI
like the restriction that the attorney gen
eraI made as to the granting OF proper re-
quests. He resented the implication that
he wouI6 make improper requests, and
lonC arguments and explanations followed,
all four of the parties present taking part
in the conversation. It was o'clock in
the morning when MacVeagh and James
left the house.
At the last Conkling was cheerful, and
it was evident to Garfeld's negotiators
that peace between the New York senator
and the administration had been secured.
It remained only for the president to keep
his word, and MacVeagh at that time had
no doubt that he would. Mr.. Conkling
said at parting that he would call at the
VII to house onithe folio wing Sunday even
ing, and while there he would again urge
MacDougalrs appointment on the presi-
dent. This consent to see Garfield had
been fairly wrung from him by MacVeagh,
who in this had been assisted by both Ar
thur and James.
On Sunday night Mr.. ConkIing,
accompanied by Vice President
Arthur and Postmaster General
James, called at the White house. Mr.
Garfield was profuse in his protestations
Of friendship.
Mr.. Garfield assured Mr.. ConkIing and
the others that there was nothing he would
not do to please the stalwarts of New York.
He insisted only that Robertson and his
friends, whose break from the instructions
of the state convention had made his nom
ination possible, should not be punished.
Mr.. Conkling was not deferred by the pres
ident's evident liking for Robertson from
expressing his opinion of him, and of what
he denounced as his treachery and infamy
in refusing to vote for Gen. Grant, and in
persisting in voting for that man Blaine"
Garfield excited Mr.. Conkhng's suspicious
by alluding to the possibility of giving
Robertson the collectorship; but his (Gar-
tield's) attention was at once called to the
pledge that Wayne MacVeagh had given
in his name, and he abandoned his
apparent purpose to insist on
change in the programme laid down on
the previous Friday evening. Perhaps he
had been approached by adverse influences.
If he had, he had evidently consented to
yield to them. At least, that seemed to be
Mr.. Conkling's conviction, for ne launched
into fresh TRADE against Robertson, and
showed plainly that there could be no
friendship between himself and the ad-
minIstration if the collectorship should be
given to the man selected by Mr.. Blaine.
Garfield then hastily and even apologeti-
cally retreated, and began looking about
for another place for the present collector
a place that would satisfy the demands
of Whitelaw Reid and others of BIaine7s
friends and supporters in New York.
Finally he suggested that he might
give Robertson the district attor-
neyship. Conkling, however, was
opposed to giving his enemy anything at
ali. He saw that the president was deter
mined that Robertson should have an ap-
pointment of some Importance, and he
placed too high value on peaceful rela-
tions with the new administration to treat
with it on a district attorneyship. Gar
field had granted McDougall's appoint
ment, and Conkling gave his promise not
district attorship in the now famous re-
mark: "Well, Mr.. President, suppose I
can go out into the lobby and hold my nose
while the senate is voting on the nomina-
tion.'
The interview ended pleasantly enough.
Garfield repeated the assurances that Mac
Veagh had given that he would not make
any change in the custom house until the
three men then with him had been con-
suited. He was so happy that he walked
to the door of the White house with his
guests, repeating his assurances of eternal
friendship. Arthur and James were pleas
antly mpressed with the interview, but
Conkling made no manifestations of
friendship for the man whom he had be-
gun to despise. He walked back to his
rooms in Fourteenth street silent and
moody.
When the three entered his parlor, the
other two were cheerful, but Mr.. Conkling
was gloomy. Arthur and James congratu-
lated themselves and their party friends
in New York that once more they were to
be in accord with the federal administra-
tion. Finally one of them said to Mr..
Conkling;
''You don't seem as pleased as we are,
senator. Don't you think that the presi-
dent will keep his word?''
81 trust that he WILL said he; but there
is no perfidy of which l think him incapa-
ble.''
The next day came the first nominations,
and on the next, Robertsons. The presi-
dent had broken his word. Neither Mr..
Arthur nor Mr.. ConkIing had been notified
of the intended appointment. The first
intimation that the vice president had was
when he opened the envelope containing
the nominations, which the presidents sec
retary had brought to the capitol. He
sent the paper at once to Mr.. Conkling,
who read 1t, made no sign, handed it back
to the page and felt that his premonition
had been verified.
XIV.
What had caused this violation of agree
ment? 1t was the remorseless evidence of