The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-04-18
-onc occasion, whom Roscoe was quite young,
IFS fariitr WIZ announced to speak at a

-onc occasion, whom Roscoe wasauits Young,
IFS farttr wiz announced to speak at a
political meeting in Livingston county
When he came forward on the platform, the
chairman introduced him rs "Judge Conk.
ling. tho fathcr OF Roscoe Conkling" The
judges dignity was offended, aud nfter the
meeting he took the chairman to task for the
manner OF the Introduction
Senator Conkling has given graphic &c
count OF his determination to devote himself
70 tho law II Law dangerously i'll at Utica, +"
he said, my breath coming painfully, the
shadow OF the King of Terrors darkening my
bed. and then reflected how little had &c
cumuated for those depending upon me
had given the twenty best years Of my life TO
my country instead Of to my family; and
there | rededicated myself, and promised
that. II God would let mo live, would de
vote my remaining years to those having a
right 10 my protection SO ON giving my
whole attention to the law
That his devotion TO law practice il com
piete, his opponents in many important cases
can testify Speaking of tho necessity Of
concentrating his attention, be once said
"The law is "A jealous mistress, and in this
country SO vast and wide. If an attorney at-
tends to the calls Of his profession he viii
lind that his waking hours are too much
taken up with his business to allow him TO
devote much attention to anything else. In
Englsnd-which, leaving ont Wales, is
about the size OF New York state-a
man can be in the house Of commons
and still can practice law, but in Amer
lea where New York lawyer IL ex-
pected 10 do business, not only in the
many courts Of that state but IN the neigh
boring states, and even in Illinois, Missouri
and California, 10 is simply out OF the qucS-
ton for him 10 NEEDLE with politics or any
thing else. For many years | ignored this,
10 the injury OF my practice, but ! assidu-
ously refrain from attending TO anything
else but my business. One of the greatest
proofs Of the divinity and authenticity OF the
Christian religion is its survival OF hypocrisy
within and attacks upon its faith from with
out, So the strongest surely that our gov
eminent will endure is that II an administra-
ton makes grievous blUDders, as we some
times think, all the losses are made up and
disappear in tho grand avalanche OF prosper
ity But why DO you ask me about politicsf
1t would be immoiest for me 10 attempt to
talk about matters in business Of which
know nothing IL IL as though should give
long talk about tue manufacture Of glucose,
when there are hundreds Of men who know IA
thousand times rs much as do about it,
IL has been well said that Roscoe Conkling
made but one notable mistake IN politics;
but it was a monumental one The attempt
u introduce English methods into congress
by resignation and an appeal 10 the peo-
pie was such a colossal blundrr that the
first announcement of it stunned the people
II was "a funny feature OF the excitement Of
ISL that the oldest and shrewdest politicians
were as much bcwildored by the designations
Of Senators Conking and Plat, and ms un-
certain Of tho final result, As the novices IL
is claimed that their reelection was, IN a
sense, prevented 10y trick. The sc-callcd
"Hali Breeds IN the legislature saw "a little
in advance Of the "StalwartS, or supporters
Of the two senator's. that the people were not
pleased with the resignation, and that If
time could be gained for members 10 hear
from their constituents tho defeat of the two
for reelection could be secured Accordingly,
Two or three Half Breeds cOncOctcd q
scheme for adjournment and carried it just
before Governor Cornell's message announc-
ing thercsigpatiOn reached the assembly The
needed time vas gained, aud Messrs Platt
and Conklns wei'e defeated. The assassjna-
ton of Carrie Id also came at the most unfOrtu-
nate time for tho two aspirants. Against
such formidable combination OF men ard
circumstances even the mighty organizing
genius of Roscoe Conkling could not prevail.
Tho ex-senator has for some time been a
familiar and very pleasant figure in New
York city Straight and manly in bearing
"a, ever. though somewhat stouter, he shows
few siens OF age save N bis silycry hair and
beard his firm and we'll knit frame was ap
plrantly as strong as ever when the great
blizzard of March II struck New York. He
was then engaged three hours in a struggle
60 reach bis home, and arrived completely ex
haustei, from that came neuralgia pains IN
his head, en- abscess m his ear, and many
other ills, which showed too plainly that his
strength had been oveTtaxed.