The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1893-02-03

Colonel Frederick A. Conkling, Informed
the writer of thes lines that it was q mis-
take TO suppose that the reference to
turkey gobbler had mortally offended
Conkling The mortal wound was given,
SO Colonel Conkling said, by Mr.. Blaine
when he caused TO be read in the house
letteA. from Provost Marshal General Fry
to himself (Blaine) in which direct ACCUSE
tions were made against Mr.. Conkling's
pecuniary and official integrity. ConklinS
told his brother that when Br. Blaine pub
licly retracted and repudiated these accusa
tions then it would be time to talk of re-
Cancellation.
But the incident was mighty in its con-
sequences. 1t undoubtedly prevented the
nomination of Mr.. Blaine in 1876 and 1880
and contributed to his defeat in 1884. On
the other hand can be traced to it the
causes which ultimately led to Mr.. Conk-
ling's retirement from the senate in hui
initiation and to his withdrawal forever
from public life.
Mr.. Blaine as Speaker.
He made n superb speaker. When he was
first elected he had hardly entered the
prime of life. He was only thirty-nine
years Of age. His hair and beard, by an in
herited tendency, were already showing
streaks of gray, but his complexion was
rudy, his skin as smooth as u babes, and
the mysterious and splendid fascination OF
his eyes seemed constantly to increase with
political activity. He stood behind the
speakers desk superb specimen of manly
strength. 1t was invigorating to those in
the gallery and to those upon the floor to
look at him. His eyes seemed to be every
where. He had mastered the confusion of
sounds which prevail in that turbulent
body, as the head machinist is master OF
the distraction of great foundry or man
ufactory, so that he could detect instantly
that which was relevant and of impor-
lance and that which was OF no conse-
quenee.
He held that great and noble body us alb
solutely at his command as though it was
n family or tribe of which he was the
chief. He dispatched business with celebrity
which seems incredible. The stroke of his
gavel meant authority, and the house
obeyed it, and no eyes which ever looked
forth from the speakers desk upon a throng
animated by the most consuming of the
higher passions ever commanded such ODE
dience by glance as his. Therefore he
gained the respect which comes from proper
fear, and even Democrats joined with Re-
publicans in saying, "There is a mani" 1t
was the superb exhibition of these quail.
ties which undoubtedly suggested first to
the congressman of his party, and through
them to vast numbers of the party through
out the country that here was the man to
succeed in the presidency the hero of the
civil war.
Blaine himself was an acknowledged can.
didate before he had finished his second
term, and he used his power as speaker un
questionably, SO far as he honorably could,
to create the politics which command n
presidential nomination. Over in the sen.
ate there were certainly three rivals of his
for that nomination, two conspicuous-Mr.
Morton and Mr.. Conkling-and Mr.. Blaine
played his game against them and played it
splendidly. At the beginning of his third
term as speaker he realized that if his grasp
was not quite upon the presidency his hand
could almost touch the prize.
His Moral Courage.
1t is therefore all the more remarkable
that Mr. Blaine was capable Of exploiting
as he did in the highest degree both moral
courage and audacity, which might serious
ly imperil his prospects. His audacity was
displayed when he was brought face to face