The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-12-31

Two weeks ago tle UIouLs ss1b1s % kAV5-
zoe Conkiing Was unveiled In Madison
square. New York city. The great me-
tropolis OF thu nation is adorned by statues
Washington. Alexander Hamilton. Lin
soin, Seward and several other distin-
guished Americans. and IL Is not too much
10 say that the services of Roscoe Conk-
hmg ~ q patriotic statesman and ineor-
ruptibls politician deserved the excep-
tionaI honor Of 4 public statue to his
memory.
From 1850 to 1881 the record Of Conkiing
was most brilliant. able, patriotic and
pnre. He was great lawyer. an impress
sive orator. man Of pure private morals
and simple personal habits. No man in
the Republican party squaiIed him in the
leadership Of . great political assembly
when 1t became necessary to sway IL by
the power OF forcefui platform oratory.
lie never eajoied. never begged. never
wheedied, never hastersd: he simply beat
down all opposition by the weight Of =
battle az which none bat himself could
WELD.
The late George William Curtis more
than once tried to measure swords with
him, but he was like dude trying to put
. lion to fight by tapping perfumed
handkerchief in his face. Conkiing's
stigma of ''the political man milliner" sx-
tinguished Curtis - completely - Ben
Buffers ''shoo fy" did Sunset Cox. No
mans speeches were ever more effective a.
comprehensive campaign documents.
He had the rare gift ascribsd by Ban
croft to Lord Chatham OF making the
sscorching lightning of sarcastic wit play
along the iron links of argument" He
Was frank, truthful. q steadfast friend, q
relentless bnt honorable foe. In the union
Of great legal ability to great gifts of
forensic leadership Conkling was for
twenty years the most striking and CON-
handing figure in either party. Above all
bis peers, he won all his honor by the
sheer force Of bis remarkable abilities and
the senacity OF bis intellectual grip, for he
had serious faults of manner and temper
that would have ruined with n lesser man
oil chance OF success. Disdaining all con-
eealment of his purposes or his opinions
aud all compromises with his foes. Conk-
ling entered the fray. trusting TO the
keenness OF his sword and the strength of
his arm.
In Law or In politics Conkling was bold
aud skiilful boxer. Aggressive in his tenn.
peramsnt. his hostile speech vas saturated
with fine sarcasm that stung like hot
sand. finding its way through every crew
Ice OF his enemy's armor. and his beaten
antagonist was sure to cherish long and
bitter memory of the method OF his defeat.
This Incorporating spirit: thi. pug
nacity of temper that shoots scorchlng
words right and left ike tiight of arrows
sowed the seed of so many resentments.
,ighing to be satisfied In crop of re-
Eenges and retaliations that 10 was wonder
gni Conksing so long escaped destruction
rom the elements which ne detied as Ma
roleon deiied winter when be moved on
Moscow, for he treated Curtis with undis-
gaised contempt. and qusrreled with
Blaine, John Sherman, President Hayes,
Garfield aud Arthur.
He never eonciliated, he had no social
magnetism or tact TO compel love and melt
hate everywhere: bis manners were i'm no
sense popular or captivating: he was dis
sant, and when not cool was eondeseend-
ms. Bob ingersoll called him "A we'll
dressed sneer," which was only rcvslnring
Carlyle famous description OF byron AS
aothing bat sulky dandy" These quail
les are not agreeable. but Conkling ad q
very bright and far nobler side. There
vas no taInt Of the dirty. trading. treach.
sroas, syeophantic politician IN his I'M
perious and arrogant composition.
When Cenkiine IS az elected 20 his second
term in iss3 the New York World, though
hostile 10 his politics. said that ID
uss pleasant TO remember that no
citizen Of the Empire state ever
had cause 10 blush for Roseo.
Conkling by hearing tina, he vas onsn 70
any soFs Of aFise. whether Of place or
Peit. or ever stopped so any kind or dsrres
Of political iehhery or tricsery. uis
aseeadency was won b. hard knocks In
The epen Geld. he vas never found in am
bush. he never tried TO corrupt the garrt-
son or hctrsy the camp III. "a. IN.
most ambitious soldier in the Rsrahlsesn
tanks. but never forgot that no gentleman
saa become an ealcer hy fraud an. f.wn.
ln9 without nFsi eeassus 10 be gentleman /.
ae Was always . bold. daring, relea.is.,
soldier whe searnsd 10 play hrsx.nd.
pirate, piespoeSss o. ps~nerssss in poll.
stes.
Conkgsug did . vsst amount Of useful.
honorable ana able work for the RepaA
ioaa party; he savrd the Empire state 20
the party in iSs2 by speeches 50 mastery
in argument aud expression. 50 rsrls,s
With the essentssl facts and AEnres TIA. ali
other spreeAes II that campaign we're but
The rwvrreerstOFY echoes Of Caaglinx'.
thunder Ne asa in the history q the
Republican party ever organized wieseTv,
Nodded the pub}js thearhs iaso sirEls
sclt and shot ls sAroavA aud through the
,ne'ny's heart Ia ira aassv eshs Of TIE
ssFapsiga equal - ko<ece conkllnx. II.
ssd . rFornPs, aggressive. energetic, fear
sss and altogether hAesss lntsll~cs. a..
s@s a safa partisan. Be aaa na coed.
sasasss reitsssai eSsaaisr, 40 srs,h,ss,