The Washington critic., 1888-04-24
MR. CoNKLING's DEATH AND ITs
pOIITICAL EEEECT.

siR. CONI<LING's DEATH AND ITS
POLITICAL EFFECT.
The effect of the death Of Mr..
Conkling upon politics in New York,
which, to. a great extent, means ma
tional politics, is variously regarded
There are those who believe that
while Mr.. Conkling during his life
time held such relations toward the
adherents of Mr. Blaine as TO nccessi-
tate an almost fatal schism in the
party, Mr., Conkling dead becomes a
memory" This is the language of
the New York Graphic. which says
further that existing breaches will
probably be healed.
y Washington letter to the EceaiHg
Post says in the same line that
Blaine men at the Capital are con-
iident the death of Mr.. Conkling
will give an impetus to the Blaine
movement in New York that it would
not have had otherwise Also:
They say that a personal following so de-
voted Is not composed Of men who will be
at the grave of any man. and that they will
turn from the worship of the memory of a
dead leader to follow live one. They think
that parallel will be found for the action
of Conklng's adherents In the course pur
sued by the Webster Wings when Webster
died Few Of these wings Joined the Demo
cratic party, most of them choosing to follow
new leader.
In response to this another cor
respondent of the Eoening Post, over
the signature of NJ. II. b." says;
The latter lines are marvel. What was
the course Of the Webster Wings In 1859 :
They all TO man signihed their resentment
of the way their favorite had been treated by
voting for Pierce, almost carrying Massa.
chusetts for him and giving Scott the elec.
toral votes of only four States. That is His.
tory with large II. The lines mentioned are
Peryersion with very large p. Will History
repeat itselfi Nominate Blaine and see For
one, think II will. Graves sometimes speak
louder than living men.
The truth of this statement is his
torical. Its conclusion that graves
sometimes speak louder than living
men" is not to be gainsaid, but the
analogy between the politics of 1852
and 1888 is not so striking as to force
aconviction that what happened to
the Whig party on the death of
Webster will happen to the Republi-
can party on the death of Conkling.
1t must be borne in mind, however,
that antagonisms such as existed be-
tween Mr.. Conkling and Mr.. Blaine
are not to be placated in moment.
Had Mr. Conkling left successor to
his political fortunes or misfortunes-
some able lieutenant possessed of the
same magnetic hold upon the con-
iidence and sympathies of his follow
ers-there would be no question what
ever as to a perpetuation of hostilities.
But who shall marshal the implaca-
BILE resentments Of the past? Where
is the leader to fill the place of the
most unique and positive character
the century has produced ?
1t may not be necessary that such a
leader arise.
1t may be that by consentaneous
impulse, born of an unfading and
loyal devotion to the dead, the men
who sullSed in their tents when Conk-
ling gave the order from his living
lips, will sulk again upon the same
inn erishable order, albeit the clarion
voice is hushed.
The friends of Mr.. Blaine have Ger.
tainly no cause for exultation. Tine
will heal the estrangement, but not
until Mr.. Blaine has followed Mr..
Conkling out of the world will come
the perfect healing. There were two
persons to the memorable quarrel
Only will the removal of both secure
full restoration of peace.
Four years hence, perhaps, the situ
alton may be different, but we have
10 do with the immediate present
and while general stampede of Stal
wart Republicans to the Democrat,
party in case of Mr.. Blaines nomina
tion, as Of old Wings to the supper
of Franklin Pierce, is not to be ex
pected, still the sods on Mr.. Conk
ling's grave are too fresh and tn,
sense of his powerful presence too
recent to justify the belief tha
Blaine's candidacy would receive
more than u passive and nominal sup
port from the large minority of New
York Republicans who have put OF
the badges of mourning for their idol
lied leader.
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