Montgomery County sentinel., 1888-04-20
ROSCOE CONKLING.

1t is hard to do justice to any character,
and, dealing with such complex nature as
that of Roscoe Conkling, we are continually
perplexed between that which forces and
that which repels admiration. His public life
began in 1868 and ended in 1881, and dur
ing the latter part of it, he became what he
remained-the most picturesque figure in
our politics. He was never more admirable
than in the impotent conclusion Of his pub
lie career. Had an ordinary man quarreled
with his own party representatives about
patronage and resigned his seat in the Sen
ate of the United States, he would have had
public contempt added to the deserved pun
ishment of political death, but no one was
ever able to despise Mr.. Conkling He has
been caricatured and ridiculed more than
most men, but he was never brought either
into contempt or odium. If he was accused
of being excessively vain, it was remem-
bered that he was rigidly honest; If he was
reproached with overbearing pride and self.
conceit, it was forgotten that he was cour-
ageous and candid; if the charge was Of be-
ing theatrical, it was Offset with his gener-
GUS impetuosity and the lack of calculating
shrewdness. History will find it hardest to
forgive him his leadership in the third-term
movement, which. could not have failed of
the most ruineus consequences to the coun-
try. His work in the third term is harder to
overlook, even by his own party admirers,
than anything else in his career, but in view
of his manly independence and other things
and his incompatible honesty in all things,
even much of this sin has been forgiven him
by friend and foe.
If it is asked on what his wide reputation
as public man rests, the question at first
seems hard to answer. His career in Con-
gress was not notable above that of many
other men of ability who make themselves
felt in the lower House and are promoted
TO the Senate. His exit from the Senate
was spectacular in the extreme, but wide
reputation for force and power is not to be
founded on tableau however striking.
The question quickly answers itself, how
ever, on the most cursory review of events
a strain on metaphor to call him the Samp-
son who pulled the Republican house down
on himself, but that his resignation in 1881,
impotent as was the result he expected of it,
resulted in driving the Republican party
from power in 1884 no one can doubt. The
chain of cause and effect is too close. The
resignation of Conkling and Platt and their
reputation by the faction in control of the
New York Legislature left no room for re.
conciliation between "Stalwart" and "Half-
Breed" the election of Cleveland to the
Governorship and his consequent election
to the Presidency followed.
1t is probable that Mr.. Conkling took no
part whatever in the campaign of 1884, but
it is clearly evident that he greatly assisted
in casting the electoral vote of New York
State against him. 1t was not what he ex-
pected to accomplish when he resigned from
the Senate, but the proverb has it that "the
unexpected always happens" and it is large
ly true of mems actions when they are at,
tended by far reaching consequences The
effect may be connected with the cause
in reviewing events, but it is seldom pos
sible to ioresee it, even as one of the re-
mote possibilities. In Mr.. Conkling's case,
what would have seemed, then, possibilities
too remote for consideration, became quickly
actual Few men have accomplished as
much ia their most brilliant successes as he
did in his most signal failure.
Hon. Roscoe Conkling died at his resi-
dence about 2 A. M. Wednesday last.