St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1888-04-26
THE DEAD EX-SENATOR.
ConkIing's Animosity Toward Blaine.

ConkIing's Animosity Toward Blaine.
Mr.. Conkling's luminosity toward Mr..
Blaine had it's root in one of those per-
sOnal dislikes that were part of the ma
ture of the ex-senator, and it was fed
on private grudges rather than inspir
ed by public considerations. The two
men were alike ambitious, scOveting
power and personal following, and
both were intOlerant of opposition. 1t
was inevitable that they should come
into collision, and when they confront
ed each other in the house, Mr.. Blaine
spoke words that Mr.. COnkling never
forgot or fOrgave. 1t was impossible
for him to do either. In the arena of
vituperatiOn, and in the use of cutting
and deriding words, where Conkling
studied to excel, Mr.. Blaine pierced
the self-love of his opponent to the
quick. In that famous tilt the "plumed
knight" said, with the gall of Gail
Hamilton
AS to the gentleman's cruel sarcasm,
/ hope he will not be too severe. The
contempt of that large-minded gentle
man is so willing; his naughty dis
dain, his grandiloquent swell, his ma
jestic, supereminent, Overpowing, tur-
key -gObbler strut has been so crush
ing to myself and all the members of
this house, that | know it was an act
of the greatest temerity for me to ven
ture upon a controversy with him. But,
sir, know who is responsible for all
this. / know that within the last five
weeks, as members of the house will
recOllect, an extra strut has character
lied the geHtleman's bearing. 1t is
l.. L. Of
er. That gifted and satirical writer,
Theodore TiltOn of the New York In
dependent spent some weeks recently
in this city. His letters published i'll
that paper mbraced, with many serious
statements, little jOcOse satire, a
part of which was the statement that
the mantle of the late Winter Davis
had fallen upon the member from New
York. The gentleman took it serious
ly and it has given his strut additional
pOmposity. The resem blance is great.
1t is striking. Hyperion to satyr,
Thersites to Hercules, mud to marble,
dunghill to diamond, singed cat to a
Bengal tiger, a whining puppy to a
roaring lion. Shade of the mighty
Davis, forgive the almost proclamation
of that jOcOse satire
The Issue arose over the provost
marshal generals office, and it matter
ed nothing that Mr.. COnkling was
probably right in his structures that
led up to Mr.. Blaine's attack. The
member from New York could not turn
aside with good nature a thrust so
savagely personal and the wound sank
deep and ranked.
MIR. COnk1ing's Fee.
There is IA story of two Rochester
men Who lately were in New York on
legal business. 1t occurred to them to
consult Mr.. COnkling, and they did so
at some length and very much to their
satisfaction. AS they rose to go the
spokesman said: "Mr. Conkling, we
thank you for your advice, which is
very valuable to US. When we get
home we will send You a check for
$500" "Oh no, gentlemen" said the
ex-senator, "dOn't do that. | am only
too happy to be of service to you, and
make no charge. YOu are quite wei
come, but when | do charge, my fee is
$5OOO."
Conkling was not Mason.
Alderman Conkling was asked if Mr..
COnkling was not member of a Ma
sonic lodge, and, if SO, if his lodge
would not like to be present and take
part in the funeral services. "NO,"
said Mr.. COnkling, "the senator was
not a Mason nor did he belong to any
other secret organization. When his
father, Albert Conkling, was public
prosecutor in Montgomery county,
about 60 years ago, he was at one time
prosecuting a murderer who in the
midst of his summing up against him
made the Masonic sign of distress. My
grandfather was so disgusted that he
resigned from his lodge, and since that
day no COnkling has ever Joined the
order.