Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1888-09-07
Conkling's Righteous Anger.

"Roscoe Conkling, had he lived, would,
believe, have stumped the State of New
York this fall for Cleveland and Thurman"
The author Of this startling statement was
Myron Bangs, a well-known citizen Of Fay
etteville, N. Y. This remark was made to
an interviewer last week. Mr. Bangs being
asked If he any facts TO sustain his assertion
replied "Indeed have. You remember
how intimate was with the great stalwart
eader2 In the summer of 1886 Mr.. Conk-
ling invited me 10 a Goldfish tongue dinner
at John Chamberlin's Carlton Club. During
the dinner the conversation drifted on poll
tics. l happened TO mention Folger's name.
1t excited Mr.. Conkling. His eyes blazed
and his whole form quivered with excite
ment. After moments abstraction he said
Bangs, the Folger episode is one of the
blacklist pages in the political history of
America. knew Folger well. He was one
of the purest men in the Republican party.
He valued honor before any earthly posses
sion. The treachery of Blaine's friends, un'
der Blaine's direct guidance, defeated him
by majority unprecedented in the politics
of the State. He never recovered from the
may directly be laid at the door of James
g. Blaine
"Mr. Conkling was much grieved over the
recital. Pausing for some minutes, he con-
tined Il am charged with having stood
aloof from Blaine in 1884, or of tacitly ex-
pressing my disapproval on purely personal
grounds. This is not so. | seldom speak
| OF it because it is past history, but desire
that my old, tried and constant friends
should understand my position. You are
one of them. did not withhold my sup
port from Mr.. Blaine for personal reasons.
withheld my support, and friends either
voted against him or voted in the air, be-
cause of his treachery to the Republ can
State ticket in 1888, and because they knew
| him to be corrupt man, a false friend, and
| that II elected be would be the tool of
sknaVish- rings ard that he would certainly
| get the country in trouble. My friends de-
ieated Blaine in 1884, and that is an end OF
his political career
"rhe conversation then turned ON Cleve-
land l asked Mr.. Conkling his opinion of
the President. He replied with earnestness
MIR. Cleveland is making all excellent Pres
ident He is able, honest, courageous and
hard worker. He seems to place duty to the
people before political advantage. He will,
| believe, go down in history as one of our
great Presidents When | reflect that his
only practical experience in government
was gained in brief term as Governor of
| New York State | am amazed at his evil
dent grasp of national affairs
"Shortly after this went to Washington
in company with Conkling, Colonel and
Mrs Robert G. Ingersoll and Judge Loeb
rane, of Georgia. | called on the President
with Judge Lochrane. During our visit
mentioned that Mr.. Conkling was in our
party. Mr.. Cleveland smiled and said :
Oneida and Onondaga counties held the
balance of power in 1884 l would very
much like to see Mr. Conkling. | respect
and admire him thoroughly. Please bring
him to the White House. | gave Mr.. Conk-
ling the Presidents message and tried to
persuade him to call. He said No! can,
not Should do SO people would say had
some favor to ask or some axe to grind. |
defeated Blaine in 1884 aud that is sufficient
satisfaction Tor me-"