Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1888-05-04
ROSCOE CoNKLIEG.
REisf Outline Of the Career Of the Dlstin-
guishsd American

In the dispatches is a brief account
Of the death of Roscoe COnkling, the
distinguished. ex-senator of New York.
Whatever friend or foe may have had
to say regarding him, all agree that
enc OF the most distinguished and able
Americans of his generation has gone
from among men.
Roscoe Conkling was born at Albany,
October 80, 1929, a son of the Hon. Al
fred Conkling, who was a member Of
the XVII. congress and at one time
minister TO Mexico. Roscoe was edu-
GATED at an academy IN his native city
and studied law at Auburn and Cen
eva. He conducted his studies in the
Office of Spencer d. Herman at Utica,
Mr.. Herman and his young student af-
terward becoming colleagues in the
United States senate. Conkling was
bright and rather precOciOus as a law
student, and soon became locally noted
as a promising and witty young man.
Before he had reached his majority,
before he had been admitted to the bar
even, he received the appointment of
district attorney of Oneida county. He
was admitted to the bar at q, and
Immediately commenced most brill
liant career as a lawyer. He also began
to figure prominently in the politics of
his state. He was a leader by instinct,
and soon became one in fact. Before
he WAS 30 years of age he had won
great triumphs as an advocate, become
one of the recognized leaders of his
party in New York, and been elected
to the United States congress. Having
married a sister of HOratiO Seymour, he
made his home in the city of Utica, Of
which he became mayor in 1858. He
was elected to the thirty-sixth con-
gress, taking his seat in December,
1859. Mr.. COnkling was reelected to
the thirty-seventh congress, which met
In 1861. Mr.. Blaine IN his book thus
speaks of Mr. Conkling: The ablest
and most brilliant man of the New
York delegation was Roscoe COnkling.
He had been elected to the preceding
congress when but q years of
age, and had exhibited an elO-
quence and a readiness in debate that
at once placed him In the front rank.
His command of language was remark
able In atfiuent and exuberant dictiOn
Mr.. Conkling was never surpassed In
either branch of congress, unless per
haps by Rufus ChOate."
Mr.. COnking did not often speak in
those days, but on a few occasions he
gave such evidence Of the possession Of
those powers Of eloquence to which Mr..
Blaine refers that he quickly took rank
as one of the orators OF congress. He
took a modest part IN the debates and
legislation of that trying session, and
more than once gave the house taste
of his elOquence and his command OF
pure English Though one of the
youngest members, he also gave EVIL
dence OF the possession Of strong con-
victiOns and rare courage, as In his OPP
position to the majority of his party on
the abOrtive thirteenth amendment
compromise, and in his vote against the
Acknowledgement of Virginia as a union
measure. On this question the repub-
hcan party was almost unanimous IN
favor of admitting West Virginia. In
his second term Mr.. COnkling had the
pleasure of sitting IN the house with his
brother Frederick, who represented
one of the New York city districts.
In 1862 Mr.. COnkling was defeated
for reelection In the Utica district by
his law associate, Francis Herman, but
he was successful two years later, and
resumed his seat in the Thin ty-ninth
congress. His work during t le sessions
of this congress stamped him as one of
the foremost debaters and statesmen of
the day.
In the campaign of 1886, when the
republican party rose up to indOrse the
military, financial and reconstruction
policy of its leaders in congress on the
one hand and TO repudiate the Johnson
administration on the other, the ad-
herence of Mr.. Seward to the admins
tFatiOn, the loss Of IhurlOw Weed as
an organizer, and the desertiOn of the
New York Times, created great fear as
to the result IN New York. The repub-
Gcans carried the state and in the au-
tumn of that year Mr. COnkling was
elected to the United States senate and
soon became one of the greatest sena-
tors. He was strong IN debate, and
the galleries were sure TO be filled
whenever he was announced for
speech. He was gradually assuming
that leadership in the party of New
YOrk which for ten years was almost
abs lutte, gaining full control of the
reins of power in 1871, when he over
threw the FentOn- Greeley faction In the
state convention. This control was
never broken till after the resignation
fasco of 1881. The incident was indi-
oative, too, of the political methods
which Mr.. COnkling ever afterward
pursued. OOnkling's well known friend
ship for and influence With Gen. Grant
are well remembered, and gave him an
almost unrivaled influence in his party
and With the government during the
Grant administration.
Mr.. Conking was the candidate Of