Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-02-25

The Ex-senator's ReeoIleotiOns of Past
Political Events.

Political Events.
The St. Louis Globe Democrat pub
fishes long interview which the
Rev. DR.. snyder, pastor of the
leading Unitarian Church of that
city. had few days ago with ex-senator
Conkling, who discussed political matters
with great freedom. Speaking of political
bosses, the ex-senator asked, satIrieally:
Don't you want political party to be
something but a flock of sheep with bell
wether aboutY
Il am sick OF this miserable stuff about
bosses, coming from people all over this
country who never did any political work
in their lives. don't intend my remarks
to be personal, but since the Republican
party has been getting rid of its bosses,
every man who was head taller than his
fellows has been killed off. The party is
now like an army that has shot its own
leaders in the face of the enemy. l hope
the cranks are satisfied. What is the re-
suit?
''Well. YOU have lost the lower House
of Congress, and that is only the begin
ming of your losses. OF course l have nc
present interest in the contest, because
am out of the whole thing. l am Re
publican and expect to remain one, but
have no sympathy with this method OF
fighting a headless army"
Speaking of the convention which nOml'
mated Garfield. he said: "The matter Is
past now and have little interest in the
result. 1t was such sickening history
of false pFetense, miserable hypocrisy ano
detestable political corruption that have
no heart to review it. 1t had been all
arranged weeks before, and it was great
pity"
With a sigh of regret in his voice Mr.
COnkling continued: general Grant
could have secured the votes of two OF
three Southern States. and thus opened
the door to Republican party IN the
South"
what effect upon the Democratic
prospects for next fall do you think thell
divided leadership upon the tariff viii
have?n
"'The Democrats may have a divided lead
ership, but they have no divided army.
have tried, in past times, to break through
the solid phalanX of Democratic voters in
the South, but never yet found weak
place in their line. No matter what issue
you spring upon them, the rank and file
of the Democratic party are always
ready to march under the commands o.
their acknowledged leaders. There never
was such political organization IN any
other party"
The convention again becoming the sub
ject Of discussion, Mr. COnkling said
| ''BevOnd all question, Gen. Grant made
Gen. Garfield President of the United
States. He made him President, sir
The Republican party would have suf
fered defeat if Grant had sulked in his
tent"
"Tell me, Senator, if you feel like speak
ing freely upen the subject, what, III
your opinion, should have been the at
titude of the whole Republican party in
respect to the Tilden and Hayes cOntrO
yersy%'
"Well, it is difficult to say at this late
day what would have been a wise and
just policy in such an issue. The policy
should have been marked with con
sIstency at least"
(Which, in your opinion"
1T was not, sir. Judge these facts
The Electoral Commission declared that
Rutherford B. Hayes with emphasis ha6
received the electoral vote of Louisiana
After the accession of Rutherford b
Hayes to the Presidency, he affirmed that
Nichols, who had received 5000 less votes
than Samuel J. Tilden, was Governor Of
that State. If Nichols was Governor
then Mr.. Hayes held his place by the most
palpable fraud ever perpetrated."
THAT surely was a miserable blunder?
cit was worse than a blunder, sir; ii
was a crime" This was said with in
creasing emphasis.
"YOu were not member OF the Electo
raj Commission, if l remember arightlt
Mr.. Conkling?"
mo, sir; l was not IN favor of the ere
alton of the Commission, in fact; but we
| had limited ourselves in the Senate by ar
| absurd ten-minute rule, and l knew
| could not give my reasons for opposing
the Commission inside Of that time, anC
! so | remained silent"
at did look as if a bargain had beer
formed especially in the light of subse
/ quent events"
Il cannot trust myself, sir, to charac
1 teriZe the whole transaction. 1t was only
a part Of that whole programme by which
! these people have been imposing on con
| fiding public"
! "What do you think OF the future pros
| poets of the party, Mr.. COnkling:"
'Well, sir, ! am by no means sanguine
and l fail to see an intelligent basis fol-
| expectation. l pretend to have no knOwl
| edge in the matter, but mark this, sir, O
/ one thing ! am certain. In my own minC
| the Democratic party Will elect the mex
President. | do not say he will be {
Democrat, but | do say that that party
will be the determining factor in the re
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