Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1888-05-17
CCNyl,NI AND BLAME.
=. - Cox Tells the story Of the Famous
Quarrel Between the Two.

[,hicago News
I'm an interview :. :. Cox said: "Iou i
ask mo ioi some OF my recollections OF
Roscoe Conkling. was Il member oil '
the Thirty-sixth congress when he tlrst '
appeared in federal life. | was but
boy member from Ohio at that time. '
but among the members of the senate '
and house in the Thirty sixth congress /
there was no one who commanded so
much attention by his modesty and
quietude i'm the first session rs Roscoe
Conkling. lie spoke little. but he had
presence and personnel that any one
who was sagacious as to representa-
tive men might have noticed. But,
after all, he made no remarkable inn
preston either upon the American
congress or people while he was in the
house; and yet he made an impression
upon me. presume it was owing stoa
little vanity on my part, Tor when he
was reelected to the congress, which
met in extraordinary session in 1861,
after the war had become ilagrant, and |
the melancholy pleasure icli upon me
to make the eulogy of Stephen A.
Douglas. At the conclusion of my |
forty-mnutes' speech. a graceful, ele-
CANT and accomplished form moved
from the Republican side Of the house
to near where sit now, and with con
siderable gravity, deliberation and
: punctilio, made his coneratulat ations to
: me on my obituary effort. There was
: 50 much nea sured courtesy IL its ut
. terance that in the little fervor OF my
hour transferred much kind feeling
toward the gentleman who had stepped
out from the throag OF the Republican
body TO do this amenity, not so much
7 for myself as for my friend, Judge
'' Douglas"
= Were you present, Mr. Cox, when
i the contest occurred between Mr..
Blaine and Mr.. Conkling in the house,
c IL happened to he present on hat
IF occasion. IL was the Thirty ninth
, congress. was not u member, but
: hap,cned TO he present. II wasa wild
scene. 1t began with u little matter
!" about Provost Marshal Gen. Fry. II
N was not great theme. but it aroused
Is intense excitement. inasmuch as Mr..
N COnkling insinuated some dishonesty
er against the general. 1t was n hot de
ld bate We Democrats stood aiooi ana
n, observed it not without some salts
:, faction. Ii began, as II great many oi
these troubles do in congress, about
' the report OF the debate. Mr.. Conk-
a. ling charged Blaine with frivolous i'm
e. pertinence in putting into the debate
AN imputation upon his motives. 1t
ended some time in April. il 500, about
this time twenty-five years ago. But
it was renewed on the last day o
NJ April.
lit was a terrific encounter between
F. two men who were thoroughly IRON
T" clad by hat time. II began on that
ch day with demand from Mr.. Blaine to
ell have Gen Fry letter read. Mr.. Blain,
=, contemptuoilsly referred to Mr.. Conk
.. ling as the member from the Utica
ne district Then the debate began. Mr.
OF Conking, in his measured. quiet. sar
* donic tone and humor, threw his ho'
:, shot upon the member from Maine
OF course. we Democrats enloyet 1t
me The debate showed Mr. Conkiins in hi
in best light OF repartec. so lar a. tin
IN house was concerned. Several gentle
!, men interpoSed to stop, ii they could
the blows that were gwen and taken
'o but Mr.. Blame, who WAS skilled IN tn
"" dialectic, and rules Oi the house, 90
~, ii" he last word; and, alter rep"ilili
NY what he called the cruel sarcasm u
10 which Mr.. Conklin1 wa~ an expert, h
liS hoped that hrwould not he too sever
''ii, i'm that mode OF hln,lling his innocen
u" sell The contempt oi Tint larS.
;. minded gentleman i so whiting, hI
Ire naughty lisdain, his grandiloquen
gan swell. his maiestic, sIIperemlnent, Owe
ck powering. turkey-sobbler strut ha
'h'i been 50 crushing to myself and all tt
u members Of this house that know
ma VA, AN act of the greatest tcmerlty y lt
ed' me To venture upon controver-
in'c with him
Sht Then Mr.. Blaine referred to II
leil man whom ! supposed to be he mos
ms elouu,lt orator haVcmct M con"re
'he Henry Winter Davis. llerelerrei
SEQ the little ioco-e satire al Theodo
'fo- Tilton-that the mant le oi Davis ha
u II fallen upon the g,ntlemnn from NJ
ay. York and that that gentleman ha
'AN' taken il seriously and IT htd gwen =
'erh additional strut to his ponpoSit!
!. " 1T j. striking. said Mr.. Blaine, 'lIyl
M riou 10 ~atyr. Thcrc-iir~ to llercul,
llNe mud to marble, dun-hili ia damon
u a n .iuned eat to Bengal tiger Win
N''- ing puppy to "A roaring non. ne
t5e. phrases have never been repeated
ihe house with 80 much Vindictive al
mostly. But the democratic ENJOY
IT. IL was not their fight.