Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1888-05-04
auarttaG,
FRIDAY MAY a, 1888.
The Conkling Resolution ut the Re
pubIicnn Stnte Convention.

on the closing day Of that convention, and
regarding The treatment OF one accredited
delegate to that body-Mr W, II. Tucker,
of Toledo-Ns being without precedent
in the purer lie Of the Republican party,
we hastily jullcd down u few thoughts md
gave IN illustrOtion an opera house in Gin
ttnati full OF people listening TO n fire.
ealing speech IRON VIM. j.. Innoy, OF
Mississippi, but few weeks prior 10 the
breaking out of the rebellion IN 'Gl-nnd
without interruption. Feeling in every
fiber of our business for n few ycnrs past
the effects of the bull-tozer aud robbers
Of labor OF its just rewards. from source
that knows but little law, human or divine,
and less OF the earlier teachings oil the Re
publican party, and no hinge to the knee
that will enable us to kneel 10 such force,
we dropped copy Of that JOURNAL TO Mr.
Tucker 10 show Him that he had Mt
| asst one friend left who would continue
10 n lvoca;e the right OF free speech and
free press. The following brief letter
from Mr.. Tucker reached us oil Saturday
morning last too late for issue last week,
which explains itself
TOLEDO, o., April 2Gih, 1888.
Mr., JAMES TIMMoNs-Dedr Sir;-A
copy OF your journal was received some
days ago, and should have been acknowl-
edged before this. j assure you that lis
generous treatment OF me, under the trying
ordeal TO which ] have been subjected,
was and is deeply appreciated. With
hut few exceptions, the press entirely ig-
more the action OF the convention, in
trnmplng umder-foot the fundamental
right OF every American Citizen, i. g. the
right to be heard in the defense OF his &c.
tion. No one would accuse me, OF having
no symgathy for those who mourn for the
dead still il did not seem to me. that IL
was insl the thing for the Republicans of
Ohio, to lick the hand that lnd smiiten
them, and to endorse the Republcanlsm
Of the man who was largely instrumental
in defeating the party, aud was even lately
looked upon hy the Democratic party AS
their hore in New York.
Mr.. Cunkling was, at the time of his
death, an nnrepentant rebel against the
Republican party. lie was as much n
mugwump ns G.. w. CurIisa, and it world
hsve been Just as appropriate to have ell
dorsed Mr.. Cuitiss' RcpublicaniRm, as TO
have done so for Mr.. COnklng. The great
or Mr.. Cunkling's ability, the greater hrs
guilt Tor the course lie took, and wNs taxi
ing nj the time Of his hcCease.
My friends here, with but few exceptions,
approve my course, and could explain II
to the public, why voted az | did, icel
confident that my course would be less crit
icsed. Again thanking You for your
fearless nAintenanance OF the great prin.
ciple OF free speech, shull.ever remain,
Most truly yours,
w. ii. TUCKER.
We also find in the Toledo CONNER
cial the following correspondence which
explains itself, and shows that Mr.. Tuck
er has other friends to advocate his in
alienable rights in convent on, as well
rs others, to recognition rs an American
citizen
To the Editor of the Toledo Commc rcial.
The Commercial having in disparag-
ing terms referred to an article furnish
ed by the writer to the Cincinnati Ga
zette, and seemingly attributed its pro-
duction to an unworthy motive, it is no
more than reasonable to ask that the
same be placed before your readers, to
the end that thus they may be enabled
to Judge Of the justice of such criticism.
The article is rs follows;
To the Editor Of the Commercial Gazette;
The action of the recent Republican
state convention, and attendant facts in
connection with the death of Roscoe
Conkling, are suggestive of thoughts
which may properly be noted.
1t seems that resolution strongly
commendatory of Mr.. Consling's public
life was introduced by Congressman
Grossvenor. Upon its passage the vote
of the convention was wholly in the af-
firmative, save that of one delegate
Mr. w. ii. Tucker, of Lucas County
who alone voted in the negative and
persisted in demanding that his vote be
respected and recognized, in the face of
loud and clamorous protest from mem-
bers of the convention and the evident
purpose OF the president to ignore him,
that officer, despite such vote, declar-
ing the resolution, carried unanimous
ly." Such action by Mr.. Tucker was
followed by comment by press cores
pondents and newspaper editors severely
in criticism of him and in approval of
Now | have no knowledge whatever
rs to the reasons which controlled Mr..
fuckers action in the case. Nor for
the present purposes is it essential that
should have such. 1t is sufficient to
know that lie was an accredited and ac-
Ceptcd member of a representative body
which was subject 10 parliamentary law
common to such cases that the resolu-
tion presented, ostensibly was submitted
for the equal consideration and action OF
every member of that body. and hence
each individual member had as perfect
right to vote inthe negative as had Others
10 vote in the affirmative. To deny sucl
equalIty-and especially for the major
ity, by overpowering clamor and noise
10 undertake to silence, and the presid.
ing officer to refuse to recognize him be
cause he was in the mimority-constitu-
ted n gross personal wrong, while III
most serious oifense was against tn,
clearest public interest. AS preceden
for future like representative bodies, i
could hardly be more unfortunate es
pecially if it is 10 be endorsed by the,pub
lie press and accepted by public senti
ment.
The case is made even more significan
by the fact that the presiding officer OF
thc oSSuSiuh NuS an tA-hpeuhsT Oh COn
gress, and as such supposed to under
stand parliamentary law. When mi,
norities are subjected to such experienc,
in the South, Republicans can under
stand it, but occurring in Republica
convention at the North is is not s
readily explained.
or the merits of the resolution itsel
but little need here be said. Dssen
from praise of the dead, however full
some and undeserved, is always a deli
cate matter. And yet justice TO bot
the living and the dead sometimes de
mands it. What there is about the put
lie life of Mr.. Conkling to call for sue
exclusive and extraordinary cxpressio
by that convention does not appear
Daring the year preceding the mcctin
of that body pnblic men had been dy
ing in every state in the Union, an
yet but the case of one is recognize,
This point has special force in the IA,
khut within thirty dnVa of thp assan.