Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1888-04-18
ssscsE CssxlrxG.

with the death of Roscoe Conkli %
1isappeass one Of thu most Botabls "a
ssss Of that period Of our countsy's
history which followed Immediately
upon the close Of the great rebellion.
Brilliant. mssserfui, aadacious. be vas
Thoroughly lifted by nature 10 be q
great party leader 10 sach time OF in.
tsnse partisan feeling a. that In which
be aosed. With genius for politics
and possessed Of the nAsnre Of psrii-
san, he thrsv himself into the struggle
Of the rsoanssraotion psriod With an at
DOR which inside him at onss ose Of the
foremost leaders Of bic party and one
Of the noss prominent marks for the
shafts Of its enemies.
IL would be folly TO sttcmps to meas
ure the value Of Conkiine's public
services BY the legislation 10 which bis
hand directly appeared. lie Vas more
q great party isades than great Isgis-
laior. He made possible the passage Of
measures introdaoed by others. In sen
atoriai dsbase be was The foremost
champion OF his party. Before the
people he was political leader and er-
eanixss without Superior In the his
tory Of the country. Hs reduced the
Republican party Of New York 10 a
machina operated by single lever. and
% long ~ the lever vas In his hsad The
mschius ~as ased 10 good advantage.
Ccnklina could noe brook opposition.
He vas BY nature q leader. not fol
lower. Ia the eyes OF many bis great
eel shortcomins Was the intensity OF bic
personality. His only serious errors as
. politician were b bis impstioacs a,
opposition from those whom he regard
Cd a. his follossrs This qaaiity. how
ever. was Invaluable where implicit
ebedience wa rendered to hlm. 1.
made him confident. ltmade him bold
and seif-reiiant. II made him an auto
orAs Ia the politics Of his own state.
In all the years OF partisan strife In
which Conhlsnr fSufed 90 eoaspies-
ousiy. not cne vosd was altered, even
By his histsrest snemy, against bis hon.
esiy % parpose or the npsish.aess Of
his character. lie served in congress
daring period OF exusvasanes and
eosrugsicn. TIE regulations OF many
Of hts csilssgaes we're oissted. Those
Of others we're iaIared. Fsw escaped
unseAthsd. ba. Of thoss scw uonklirg
vAs one. Ne man Questioned biz
honor. No nsan sought Questionable
motive for HE puelis acts. Eaenles
agreed wlsh friends tia, he was aneor.
rupssd aud incosruptihle.
when al iast Csnkiius retired ans1-
pestedly from politics. be wss = peer
NAN. lie had accumulated neshios
daring . quarter Of century Of Ese-
lie service. and he vas deeply la 3shs. |
with g eourags that stamped .him -
trniy great, however. be sntnei 10 TIE
new life before him. lie aia nee eass.
plsiu. bat sol resoiaseiy 10 xSsk 10 .
ncv 6sia ot labor. Magnificent saacsss
crosnea his lsbeSs and Ia few years
he became ais,csf as eminent ss las
yes As be hsa previously been as -
li,isai header. IL sli bis career. there Is
nsshinx ussse 10 be admired issn The /
manner 10 which he thas Aesspiea his 1
fate and srsaplsd villa 5asasalslss 4
vales woald have ovsgeams smaller /
msn.
A nation viii mo1ra for Cansilng 10 /
dsy. And well uasy n uease. tes a. /
vas kasfas With Armos uapie rcsd snt
shield unssatsed.