The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-04-30
CONKLING AS AN ORATOR
AMOS j. CUMMINGS REVIEWS HIS
MOST BRILLIANT EFFORTS.

Eis Party-How the Ex-Senators
oratory Affected the Reporters -
HOW He Led the Famous 800 at
Chicago.
WASHINGTON, April 2S.-I received my
srst impressions of Roscoe Conkling from
reading about him in the newspapers. He
,,,as then Congressman. 1t was during
+be DAYS of the anti-Lecompton fight. John
p Heskin was one Of the Douglass Demo
crafts who voted for Pennington for Speaker.
In one of the exciting scenes in the House
over the Kansas row, Haskin re-
santed an attempt at bulldozing on the
rart of the Southern members. His gesti-
citations we're so violent that revolver
dropped from his vest pocket, and Conkling
Quietly kicked it under seat out of sight.
Afterward he returned it to Haskin. The
newspaper correspondents got hold of the
incident however, and told the story in
mastery style, giving great credit to Conk-
ling for his presence of mind.
Roscoe's row with Blaine attracted much
attention, and undoubtedly made many
neoDle believe that he was stiff, aristocratic,
and unbending-in fact, thought himself
superior to everything human. His cham
Di6nship Of the Grant administration, and
his natchleSs tits with Schurz and Sumner
over the French arms expose, made him
more conspicuous than he had ever been
before. It was just after this debate that /
first met him. had been sent to interview
him I had formed dislike toward him
from what | had read in the newspapers
concerning his turkey-cock disposition. 1
sent my card TO his room in a Philadelphia
hotel. and was invited up stairs He greeted
me very courteously, assuring me that he
knew me well by reputation, and talked with
me freely, He concluded by asking me not
TO use his name in detailing the information
had received Without the use of his
name it was almost valueleSS. | tried to
induce him to change his mind, but he was
firm set, and his name was not used. There
was an ndescribable charm about his man
ner never saw man more Sociable and
vet so dignified. He made me perfectly at
ease from the time L entered his room. He
did most of the talking himself, and he
found good listener. When took my
leave he accompanied me to the door, and
even went as far as the head of the stair
wav, saving Goodnight" in the cheeriest
of tones as I descended the steps.
next saw Mr.. Conkling in the Syracuse
Convention where he met George William
Curtis in debate. 1t was the famous Gar
had made powerful speech and Conkling
used him up without ceremony. He was
evidently in the best of physical and intel
lectual health. He not only skinned Curtis
logically but he took off the under cuticle,
and shOwered the raw spots with vitriol.
He was dressed with scrupulous neatness.
He stood with head erect, and shoulders
thrown back, Saul among Republican
politicians The imperial curl danced above
L. se
was as pointed as his nose. His eyes were
blue and flashing, his voice was remarkably
sonorous, and his gestures were natural and
graceful. 1t was probably the most re-
markable speech of his life The most of
the ideas were evidently preconceived.
He had apparently expected the encounter
and was prepared for it. He was spur-red
to the highest point of vehemence. Cur
It's had stung his dignity, and there was
nothing that would fire Conkling with sar-
casm as quick as this. He carried the day
by sheer force of eloquence and animal
magnetism.
/ next saw Mr.. Conkling at the Chicago
Convention. A few words were exchanged
with the newspaper correspondents every
day. He was terse in Snis remarks and logi-
cal in his inductions Very little informa-
ton was CLEANED from him, and that lit
tie was secured under the promise that its
bDuIC6 SuOulu uOu D6 IONcdlcu VIC luCl-
dent, illustrative of his intellectual versa
tiity, ought to be recorded. 1t occurred
at the head of the main stairway of the
Grand Pacific Hotel about half-past l in
the morning. Among those present were
Gen. Thomas L. James and Tom Murphy.
] had assembled the stairway in company
with Joseph Howard, Jr., and A. M. Glib
son. Mr.. Conkling put his hand on my
shoulder and said:
4 4 l. H. e..
ask you what you telegraphed to New York
to-nightp
/ replied: 81 sent a description of
what saw and a very little of what 1
heard
The Senator smiled and turned to Joe
Howard: 1T would give me great pleas
ure to hear what you sent, Mr.. Howard, !"
he said.
''Wen, replied Joe. 81 did not send what
Senator Conkling said but / did telegraph
what Senator Conkling thought, which he
had concealed with his usual intellectual
veneering"
Indeed, returned the Senator. 'That
is not astonishing If there is any che
who thinks he knows more about what
Senator Conkling thinks than the Senator
himself thinks he knows, of course, it
would be correspondent of the New York
Herald.
Inc nit dId not touch Joe IN the least.
He struck back with his usual briliancy,
and there was the quaintest and liveliest in
tellectual tilt that was ever heard in the cor
ridorS of the Grand Pacific Joe's intellect
never flashed more brightly, aid Conkling,
revealing in the same mental atmosphere,
replied in the same strain. 1t was nip and
tuck between the two Words of one syl-
liable were rarity. Three-sylable nouns
were preceded by four-syllable adjectives
and succeeded by five-syllable adverbs. 1t
was hard to say which had the best of
the fight. Conkling's sarcasm was
SO deity concealed that you could scarcely
tell whether he was complimenting the cor
respondent or excoriating him. Joe's boy
hood was recalled, and the boyhood of
Henry j. Raymond. The Senator, it
seemed, had known both when boys. Some
OF Joes boyish escapades were recalled,
and compared with his exploits in later life.
1t was new ground for Joe, but he fought as
well there as he fights elsewhere. The bat
Tie lasted about half an hour. Then the
Senator shock hands with all of us and re-
tired. A moment afterward he sent Gen.
James back to us, assuring us that it had
been confidential conversation, and de-
string that it should not be repeated by
Telegraph.
Tell Mr.. Conkling," replied Joe, ''that
aus all right. Pm sorry but it's too late to
telegraph it now. The telegraph office is
Thereupon Joe invited his brother CORES
rlSondents up stairs TO sample his whiskey.
Anet Two men were surchargsd with the men