The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1888-04-26
CONKLING DEAD.
The Most Abused, But Grandest
Republican Of The Age!

ling died at the Hoffman House, New
York City. With the closing of that
life was removed one of the greatest
figures in American politics. Nc
abler man has figured in the public
affairs of this country. He was Re-
publican from principle, and believed
in putting none but Republicans on
guard For this he was perhaps the
most brutally abused of any man who
ever entered American politics. This
abuse universally came from men who
had been at times very close to the
Democratic party, and Conkling's un-
yielding Republicanism was considered
his great sin.
His one great mistake was his res
ignation from the Senate. Had he
remained, he would have seen the tri-
umph of his ideas and the vindication
Of his position. The very men who
started the crusade against Conkling
had never been valuable as political
quantity, save in the advancement of
the interests Of the Democratic party.
Conkling was abused because he was
in politics, and notified to get out, or
he would be kicked out. With his
natural dignity, he stepped out.
When it was discovered that the effect
was disastrous, he was notified to get
back into the ranks again. "Gentle-
man, I am engaged in the practice Of
the law" wassthe reply of the great
man. This served to increase the
TRADE of abuse. His law business, his
social standing, his private life, were
handled with devilish scoundrelism
by the newspapers. Conkling, how
ever, went about his law business, and
Cleveland went into the White House.
He never again entered politics-yet
one speech, or one days work, from
him, would have shut Cleveland out
in New York.
Conkling's retirement from politics
was the result of bowls Of political
''grannies" like George William Cur
tiss, whose test of political wisdom is
that man shall part his hair in the
middle and wear an eye-glass. Yet
Conkling in defeat was greater than
all the enemies he ever had. in their
victorious moments.
The Union had no better friend
than Roscoe Conkling. He believed
in strong characters like that of
Grant, and there was ever the closest
friendship between the great states
men and the illustrious soldier. The
American people may well feel, as
they lay away the remains Of this
grand man, that one of the greatest
lives in the history of the Republic
has gone out:
SKETCH OF ROSCOE CoNKLING.
Roscoe Conkling was born at AL
bany, N. Y, October 80, 1929. His
father, Alfred Conkling, served as a
district attorney, representative in
the Seventeenth Congress, a United
States circuit Judge and as minister to
Mexico under President Fillmore. The
son received good academic educa-
tion, and in 1916 removed to Utica,
where he opened law Office in 1849.
The next year he was appointed dis
trict attorney of Oneida county. and
in 1858 was elected mayor of that
city. At the close Of the same year
he was elected a representative from
New York to the Thirty-sixth Con-
gress, serving as member Of the
committee on the District of Column
bia. He was reelected to the Thirty
seventh Congress, serving as chairman
Of the committee on bankruptcy. and
also as chairman Of that on the Dis
trict of Columbia. Mr.. Conkling was
again reelected to the Thirty-ninth
Congress, and served on the commit
tee of ways and means and reconstruc-
tion, being reelected at the end of
the term as representative to the
Fortieth Congress, but in January,
1857, ne was chosen senator in Con-
gress for the term ending in 1878,
serving on the committee on appro-
priations, the judiciary, and mines and
mining. He was also president of the
Republican state convention of 1857,
and was reelected to the Senate for
the term ending in 1879, serving as
chairman of the committee on the re-
vision Of laws. He was again returned
to the Senate, and on May 16, 1881,
he resigned the positition as United
States senator.
As member Of the special commit
tee Of fifteen on reconstruction at the
close Of the war, he gained great dis
tinction as a leader in congressional
policies. While he was generally
known as brilliant orator and power
full in argument, his first important
speech that attracted national atten-
ton was in support of the fourteenth
amendment to the Constitution. In
the Senate he had been from the first
member of the judiciary committee
and at one time or another connected
with nearly all the leading commit
tees, holding the chairs of those on
commerce and revision Of the laws.
He was also member of the select
committee that drew up the electoral
bill of 1877 and supported that meas
ure on the floor of the Senate. al