The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-08-09
rae ELAINE AND COEKLIsa
q QUARREL

4 aD0uET IL IS an HISTORICAL ahct Eohs
| France joined the coalition against Fred
| eriek the Great Of Prussia because Nine.
| de Pompadour, the mistress Of Louis the
/ Fifteenth, became enraged st Frederick.
who had uttered some bitter tests con-
corning her. The furious woman had in
fuence enough with the king to persuade
him to turn the arms Of France against
Prussia II the anger ofaone woman came
near running Frederick, the death of
| Eiizsbsth. empress Of Russia, and the ae-
cession of Peter the Third, saved him II
| one OF the most critical hours OF his tre-
mfndous struggle for his crown. Peter.
was crazy creature, who Withdrew the
Russian army just at the moment when
Frederick was on the verge Of ruin.
Examples might be multiplied from
both ancient and modern history. It was
10 please the within of Greek courtesan
! that Alexander the Great in a fit OF
/ drtsnken recklessness set fire to- Persepo-
lis In our own history examples are not
wanting. The snubbing of Peggy Eaton,
wife OF President Jackson's secretary Of
war. forced quarrel between him and his
cabinet, and was the beginning of his
| quarrel with Vice President John G. Cali
houn. Therecent death of63en. James B.
Fry, U. s.. A., recalls the fact that the
original quarrel between Conkling and
Blame dated from q CON pafatiyely small
matter; the defense of Sen. Fry by Blaine
| against the STRUCTURES Of Conkling.
Gen. Fry was a distinguished graduate
Of West Point Of the class of ls47. He did
excellent service In the field at Bull Run,
Shiloh, Corfnth and Perryvgle, and was
assigned TO duty as provost marshal gen.
eral of the war department, having charge
of enlistments. conscripiion and draft.
In this capacity he rendered most Inn
portant and indispensable ser vice. 1t was
in the course Of his duties as provost mar
shall general that the controversy between
Blaine aud Conkling took place which
had the serious and far-rearhing conse-
/ quence OF dividing the Republican party
into two hostile factions This controversy
grew out of charge made by Mr.. Conk-
ling in the house on the 9th of April,
| 1866, that certain men who had .stood up
| honestly and attempted to resist bounty
| jumpers were stricken down and trodden
under foot by Gen. Fry" Mr. Conkling
added: The only way to aoquit him of
venality is TO convict him Of the most In
credible inoompetency."
Mr.. Blaine replied to this attack in
language which drew from Mr.. Conkling
the answer that the charge was false. For
| this he was called 10 order by Mr.. Blaine,
i who was sustained by the chair. A few
days later Gen. Fry wrote letter to Mr..
Blaine which the latter caused to be read
from the clerks desk. Mr.. Conkling had
been acting as judge-adyocate in the
that he condemned had been committed.
Gen. Fry now made the point that If he
knew the things that he pretended to
know he ought to have made formal
charges against him. lie concluded his
letter by saying; "He lConkiiug), there
fore can only escape the charge of de-
liberate and malignant falsehood as a
member of congress by eonfessing an I'M
pardopsbIe breach Of duty as judge-adso-
cate.
4 Gen. Fry. in publishing review OF the
matter last year, admitted that he sub
mitted bis letter to Mr.. Blaine before send
ing it, "by whose advice some OF its ex-
pressions we're sharpened.@ In the acri-
monious debate that followed Mr. Blaine
said of Mr.. Copkiing:
1.-THE contempt Of that large4minded in
dividual is so willing. bis naughty dis
dam, his grandiioquent ssslt. his maies-
tic, superemineht. oYerpowering, turkey
| gQbbier strut has been SD crushing 10 my
self and all the members of this house
| that know IL was an act Of the greatest
tenerity for me TO venture upon contro-
yersy with him"
Referring to the statement Of Theodore
Tilton in the New York Independent that
''the mantle OF the late Henry Winter
Davis, of Maryland had fallen upon Mr..
! Conkling." Mr.. Blaine proceeded:
"The gentleman took it seriously. and IL
has given his strut additional pomposity.
/ The resemblance - great IL il striking
/ Hyperion 70 satyh Thersites 10 Her.
I Gales, nud 60 marbs, d@nghtiI 10 tiIa-
mond. sfnged cat 20 Bengal tiger. a
whining puppy 70 roaring lion. Shade
Cd the mighty DAVIS, forgive the almost
protauatlon OF that l0eose sastfei"
i Is - atA Interesting HISTORICAL TACT that
the worst sentences ia this extravaeapt
lnveo,ivs OF Mr.. Blaine are found in n
political psnphles published By the eccsn.
,rle David Crockett. who fell al the Alamo.
In this pamphlets Crockett praises presl.
dent Jackson, but bitterly denoances Mar
tin Van Barren. and says that Van Buren,
Was 10 Jackson IS "dunEnilI Is 20 a
diamond" etc. Biaine had evidently
read Croekest's attack on Van Baren and
deliberately selected some Of its vitupera.
tive sentences Tor use against Con king.
Conkling made no reply 30 this surprssIn.
personal attack. but he never forgAve
Blaine.
The committee appointed under Mr..
Hulbard's resolution reported that there
Was no palhasion or excuse for Gen. Fry,s
attack on Mr.. Conkling. and that il was q
gross violation Of the rights and privilege.
Of a member Of thshOnse aud merited IN.
qualified dlssppFobAtion. Tss report ga.
adopted after a EOag dehAss ~ Vose Of
- 20 81
This most unfortunate and Il raust he
conceded most nnigstiaahle persoaAI at
tack Epoa Cankliag uaaoabsediy los,
Blaine the pfesIisney. II divided the Re.
publican party In Sex Yogk state; cost
Blaine tie nomination in FS76 Anf in Issa
and lost him Nsv York aud the slectloa in
iSsA Rislns bitterly regretted this speech
Z a.. 4 -