Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1885-10-30
ROSCOE coNkLING.
Dealing with the subjects Of Money
and Politlcs--sneers Of the Ex-
Senator at Mr.. Davenport.

NEW YORK, Oct. 26.-Ex-Senator
Roscoe Conkling, in an interview to-
day, after denying the statement that
his hurried return from Germany was
for the purpose of again entering into
politics, makes the following remarks:
"On arriving at the dock, l heard the
inevitable newsboy shouting the usual
cry, with some sort of an information
that a State Republican Convention
had been held. 1 purchased a paper
which | read as / rode to the hotel. l
was exceedingly surprised at what |
found in its columns. | anticipated,
as every citizen should, that the can
didates would be men who had been
worthy of the high places to which
they were nominated by reason Of com
mandingqualifcations endowed upon
them by nature, or by reason of servi-
ces rendered to their State or country
upon the forum or in the field; but such
did not appear to be the case; nay,
more, such is not the case. To begin
with, 1 found, upon referring to the
editorials and the news columnso of the
partisan papers, that the principal and
only qualification needed to ecure the
selection of a Governor of the State Of
New York was the fact that said can
didate should at least be a millionaire.
Behold the array of monumental
wealth in the list of those who were
considered possible candidates. There
is our old friend, the Hon. Levi P.
Morton, a very wealthy gentleman.
Then there is the name of Mr.. Drexel,
a worthy citizen; then follows the
younger Mr.. Seward, the wealthy
banker; then Mr.. Axtell, said to be
ranked among the millionaires; next
Jul brilliant friend, Chauncey M. De-
pew, who has heavy wealth ready at
his call, and lastly, one Ira Davenport,
who is a millionaire, a~nd-Dothing
else" considerable vitalized energy
was developed on the enunciation of
the last named.
The Senator continued: "Like the
rest of well wisherS for our common
humanity, l have no personal animos-
ity against any nan because, forsooth,
he may be possessed of millions upon
millions, piled high as Mount Ossa on
Pelion. But to any free and enlight-
ened American Tire announcement that
any mans qualifications to a represent
tative or executive position in the
Government Of any portion of this
nation, whether municipal, State OIL
National, should depend upon the
wealth he commands, is an announce
ment that should be Indignantly re
PEELED and condemned, and is sc
utterly repugnant to all finer sensibili
ties of all educated men that it SHOULD
at one receive the uttermost e~xecration
of every patriotic voter who has the
true welfare of the country at heart
Take the Republican victory as il
stands-all but the second name there
on is synonymous with wealth. The
laudations of the candidates
teen with them heraldic prisons
to these gods of Mammon, with
joyfully paraded headlines that
victory is SURE with these "%millionaires'
to lead the voters. Not a word is tC
be found stating that they have beer
and are faithful adherents to and ad
vocates of the grand principles which
have made the Republican party the
savior, the protector and promoter o.
the prosperity of the State and of thu
United States. The fact to-day standt
before the people of New York State
that the suffrage of the intelligen'
members of that party, men are foisteC
upon them whose election is urged be
cause they are owners of unlimited
money bags. The thought that thi
State is dependent upon such a Shib
boleth to rally its masses is at one,
sickening, and leads me to believe with
Goldsmith, that Ill fares the land, tc
Fastening ills a prey, where wealth
accumulates and men decay"
Il should judge, then, Senator, that
you will not enter into the present
campaign ?" said the reporter.
"You judge correctly. The state
ment that l have been in communica
ton with old political friends in Utic;
and Oneida Counties is absurd. M,
whole correspondence there has beef
with my family"
! "Then it is fair, also, to infer tha'
the allegations that you have beef
= gathering your forces here is untrue ?
: Decidedly So" replied Mr.. Conk
> ling. "The fact is that for the pas
year. and 1 may say during the pas
. two years, not a politician of high o
low degree has crossed the threshold
! of my office. Not even my frien
Ex-President Arthur has been her
, upon political matters. AS to tn
! statement that 1 am going t
take the stump for the RI
publican candidates, it is III
warranted. 1 have other an
l hope more profitable business to at
tend to, Neither could 1t be expecte
that a nan in the position in which
n stand to Davenport would be Gale
upon by any argument to aid in hi
q election. The thing is preposteroui
> A man who, while my friends we1
, fighting a battle for me in the Legisl;
4 ture, did everything in his rover as
a legislator, and doubtless spent thol
sands of dollars to accomplish the d,
!, feat of my reelection to the Unite