Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1888-05-04

sion upon the convention which largely
promoted his nomination four days
later.
Mr.. Conkings quarrel with Mr..
Blaine, arising from personalities used
In debate In the house In 1865,
has exercised remarkable influence
upon the fortunes of the two men
and upon the political history of their
country. 1t was a strong element IN
the defeat of Mr.. Blaine In the Gin
cinnati convention Of 1876 and again at
Chicago In 1884, and elected Mr.. Cleve-
land president It also led Indirectly
to the quarrel of Conkling with Gar
field, the resignation of COnkling and
Platt, the assassination of Garfield, and
the fatal embitterment of the republican
factions IN New York state. These IN
cidents have become a part of the
history of the country. Mr.. COnkling
has been unfortunate in his quarreIs.
He quarreled with Blaine, with Gar
field, and with the latter just at a time
when quarrels with his ieutenants
made it impossible for him to receive
the VindicatiOn at the hands of the
New York assembly which he cOurted.
His enemies he has usually character
lied in terms which forever after for
babe reconciliation.
President Arthur offered Mr. Couk.
ling associate Justiceship of the su
preme court, which he declined. Ate
his retirement from politics he devoted
himself to the practice of law, In which
he enjoyed signal success. 1t Is STATED
that when he left Washington after hil
resignation he was compelled to Dor
row money to pay his fare to New
York. He had never been a money
maker in public life, but as a lawyer he
enjoyed large fees. A friend and ad
mirer thus wrote of him a year ago ::
"The intimate friends Of Roscoe COnk-
ling say that, as he grows old, he Is
gradually losing that accerbity and
imperiOusness of manner which in the
past drove so many men from his side
and lost him the position of one of the
foremost political leaders OF the country.
When In New York city-and, having
to all intents and purposes given up
his Utica home, he is never absent
from it now, except when the demands
of his profession call him to the su
preme court at Washington or the court
of appeals at Albany-he is a steady
patron of the opera and of the theatre,
where he loves to go behind the
scenes, a habitue of the parlOrs of the
Manhattan club, and a visitor on
odd nights at the Hoffman house cafe.
Mr.. COnkling was becoming compar-
atively rich when his last sickness came
on. He never made any money in poll
tics, and when he left the senate found
himself responsible to the extent of
some $40, 600 for the debts of a friend
whose security he had gone. During
the last five years he has been in nearly
all the important cases which have
claimed the attention of the courts Of
this city. He has appeared agains
Gould and for him in suits involving
millions of dollars. His industry wal
untiring, and when his number on the
calendar was called the court always
found him ready. His income has been
put as high as 500, 600 a year, but it
probably was not twO-thirds of that
sum. COnkling was not man of ex-
tensive reading. His life was one long
political warfare, leaving him little
time for books except those of his laW
library.