Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-09-13
came to know one another, and to have many
political purposes in common.

The close relations between Grant and
Conkling, arose somewhat late in the first
term of the Grant administration. When
Grant attained power in 1869, Fenton was
the political ruler of the State of New York.
have always thought that it was the Fen
ton domination, aud the active support
given to it bv Mr.. Greeley, of the Tribune,
that led Conkling and his friends to con-
tribute as they did to the enterprise of Mr..
Dana in the founding of the Sa9l In skill,
patience, tact a recognition of the limita-
tions of human nature; with firm, unyield-
ing will, and a technical education in the
business aspect o. politics, Fenton never
had a superior.
A contrast to Conkling in every attribute,
their antipatEy became irrecoRcilable, or
rather l should say that of Conkling, as
Fcnton was without antipathies. He was a
practical man, with an eye to material re-
suits He wanted the crops to grow, the
sun and rain in their seasons, and had about
as much sentiment over political relations
as farmer over his barnyard. The rivalry
ran high. Fenton was the point of many o
sharp, brilliant phrase. Can go around in
his stockings during a heavy shower and
dodge among the drops without wetting his
feet" as heard Conkling on one occasion
epitomize a Fenton campaign. So when
Grant became President, the political fact,
so far as New York was concerned, was that
Fenton was master of the State. Conkling
was Senator. As he was not prone to push
him self or to wait in ante-chambers he was
soon lost in the crowd that swarmed around
the new Caesar
STEWART AND THE TREASURY PORTFOLIO.
Fenton had no false pride as to securing
''needtul recognition" and would have
waited on the doorsteps all night in a rain
storm, and in the most amiable mood, if he
could have helped a friend into a post
Office. There was the nomination of A 7.
Stewart to be Secretary of the Treasury
the new Presidents first attempt at an ideal
administration-''Nob beer on the premises;
no politicians need apply" The obstacle
10 Mr.. Stewards confirmation was an an
tique statute, going back to the Alexander
Hamilton days, forbidding the Treasury to
q citizen in trade. Grant, keen for Stew
art and for suca an administration of the
finances as could only come from the pres
ence in his Cabinet of the most successful
merchant OF the age, wanted the law re-
pealed.
do not remember that Fenton had opin-
ions on the subiec.. He would probably
have voted for anything that would please
new administration. Senator Conkling was
a lawyer, and among his not very many OBJ
jects of reverence were old statutes. Time
and experience gave dignity to the law,
gave it authority, and should this be rudely
put aside by the uncouth hands of the un-
trained soldier? This is what Conkling
could not endure, and he made an earnest
appeal to Grant for the withdrawal of
Stewards name This gentleman in the
Treasury, Mr.. President % as he said in his
stateliest manner. "He may go out of bust
ness; he NAV transfer his almost royal
dominions-his commercial empire-to the
regency of Judge Hilton and Mr.. Astor; he
may abandon the semblance, not the reality
of his power. And that power Do YOU
comprehend ii? 1t is as if YOU put his hand
Oh the thermometer OF the nations pros
peritv, which would rise and fall with the
Temperament of the unconscious blood
which coursed through his veins" This
and Other arguments in the proud, Conkling
way, and Grant receded Stewards name
was withdrawn.
RED CLOUD IN HIS TENT.
While Stewards name was withdraw
the circumstances leading to it were not of
the character to commend those who gov
erned the action TO Grant. 1t was in Grants
nature to turn out of his path if compelled,
but not to 90 about and walk arm in arm
with tie one who had checked him So in
the earlier Grant days, the relations of the
i
mild, distant esteem. and as COnkling's
velvet-footed colleague was taking in slice
after slice of the Executive patronage, the
Senator was not in the best of moods. One
heard mutterings, criticisms, phrases with
double meaning, phrases which would have
been as clear as the stream and as resonant
as the waterfall, but that Conkling had
vast admiration for Grant, and could not
escape from it. Still admiration is one
thing and human nature very much an
other 10 public man compelled to endure
the sight of blithe and gracious colleague
loading his vans with Executive bounty and
his own followers in hopeless hunger
The feeling ran into the State of New
York. Republicans growled here and there.
Fenton was spotted Tail'' and Conkling
"R.s Cloud, and while Red Cloud was
sulking in his tent, Spotted Tail was dec
Grating himself with scalps 1 have often
thought that if Horace Greeley could have
met the advances of Grant, which were
marked and distinctive, Grant having the
Henry Clay Wing blood in his veins and
more of a Greeley man than the great ed
itor ever dreamed, political events would
have taken another turn in New York and
Conkling would have drifted off in the Sc
cession which carried away Sumner and
Schurz But Grant was one of Greeley's
aversions, was a soldier and the man of
peace never loved the man of war.
GRANTS RELATIONS TO GREELEY.
brought Greeley and Grant together at
breakfast one morning. party of four at
Uelmonico sand the talk ran into farming.
Greeley, presume, took up farming be-
cause he would avoid immediate trenchant
themes. Grant was satisfied, because farm
ing was one of the subjects he knew all
about, and upon which he could give even
Greeley information. Nothing came of the |
breakfast, nothing tangible SC far as a COM
plete understanding between the TWO gen.
tlemen. So matters did not 60 on well.
Fenton was taking everything and giving
nothing. What could he give-with Greeley |
in his mood. unchanged and unchangeable? |
And as for Conkling Well, even the most |
Indifferent observer could net fail to hear as |
ne passed the mighty Red Clouds tent a |
sharpening of the war knives and a grooming |
of the war song. which boded no good to |
the Administration. Matters were in this |
state, the keen eyes of the silent watching |
President observant, when it occurred to |
modest Republican gentleman, a kind of |
worshiper Of Conkling, and at the same
time in familiar relations with Grant, to see |
what could be done.
II am sure" said this friend to me-. s'that |
If Conkling and Grant ever know one an
other there can only be one result. But |
were there ever two men so hard to be made |
acquainted. Il
Difficult, indeed, for Roscoe toward Grant
was in one of his Conkling moods The |
idea of his dawdling about the White |
House while his colleague was sitting on |
the garden porch, perhaps, pouring out tea !!
for the family No, never, for above all |
things he was the Senator from New |
York, and would never forget it. and even