The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-06-06
GARFIELD AND CONKLING.
NEW LIG HT ON THEIR CONTROVERSY
SHED By n. y. CONNERY.

hIfEO III u. ". IUNNb"Is
Al Account OF tire EiSst over the Kominsisn
Of Judge Robertson which Pats the Biame
Tsr the Outcone on Senator ConhiinE-
Gen. Garneia's Desire for Recsnciiintion.
The controversy between President Garfield
and Roscoe Conkling ovor the appointment OF
William II. Robertson to be Collector OF the Port
Of New York, which led to the resignation Of
Senators Conkllng and Plat from the United
States Senate, was an incident in the political
history Of this State that is recalled Whenever
the names OF Garfield and Conkling arc men,
toned. No one doubts that Garaold's appoint
mcnt OF this enemy OF Conkling was a breach Of
tho agreement or understanding with which
the Grant Republicans had boon led TO support
the Republican canvass Of 1880. 1t now appears
that after the deed was done Garfield was In
duced to ~retract, and n rohrranRement salts
factory TO Conkling and his friends was on the
point of being contaminated when Conkling's
peculiar vanity arose 10 thwart 1t, ana TO put
upon him the direct responsibility for the split
that cost the Republicans the Presidency in 1854.
The new light hos boon thrown on the con-
troversy in an article in tho Cosmopolitan
maEasine by I. b. Connery, who. fifteen years
AFRO, was the personal representative of James
Gordon Bennett in tho management OF the
Netp York Herald. Tho article is entitled
Secret History of tho Garfield onkling
Tragedy In tho introduction to the arti.
clio Mr.. Connery says that in May, 1881, he
was summoned to Washington by Senator
Conkling to see tho latter ON q most i'm
portnnt matter" When Mr.. Connery reached
Washington no found. to his surprise, that what
Senator Conkling wanted was the assurance by
the manager OF the Herald Of the papers sup
port should both the senior and tho junior Sena-
tor of New York conclude 10 resign their seats
in the Senate.
After making this statement to show how he
happened TO know about the inside history OF the
controversy. Mr.. Connery goes on to tell how
near the whole trouble came to being settled
satisfactorily to both President Garfield and
Senator Conkling, and how such a settlement
was only prevented. at the last moment. by the
action Of Senator Copkling himself. OF this Mr..
Connery says:
"But before proceeding to describe tho nego-
tiationB about Robertson's nomination and tho
demand for It's withdrawal. let me refer to a
conversation between Garfield and ConklinR
ioriy e sha s sonrs before fn ob ESdR'STtson Is name ;Dv Tss
james, senator Conkling visited the President
In no event, the President said, would he take
s saiS s'f Senator On d 5as k mst'S sa. T X. %a. most sSat
anxious to hayc the question disposed Of salts
f%9s,orily to all parties. and he would be greatly
colleague. Senator Piaitt, with the Vice.Presi.
dent. Gov. Cornell. and other loading New York
would take In the independents fairly, as well
as the other branches OF New York's' Republi-
this, and left the White House In very g good
humor, believing that at last q satisfactory
agreement had been made with the President,
and that harmony would thenceforth rule.
But Blaine upset the entente cordiaie.. HAY.
Ing heard Of the proposed arrangement, he left
protest against It's execution. The result was
that within Gnn tto'Ety,ei and i hour prs Of the i Int rosS.
nations DstEseo Of I Robertsson aV WAS 'r sent tf to the Senate sns aom Il
was like q bombshell thrown into the army Of
the stalwarts and proved q complete surprise to
President could SO easily disregard his promise
10 do nothing about the New York positions
ators, that he could put Conkling and his friends
to SO much trouble as the preparation Of their
plans involved, for nothing. hlled Conkling with
aconEiing saw that it was to be q struggle to
preserve his own supremacy as leader Of the Re-
RRsSt the great battle Q. his lie. He summoned
TO his aid all the agencies " ilhin his control. The
F RGss P Sis BOSOM 90 sn fsisp My'S Wee nis , fsSasskas' ssesa9;
his faithful associate, Postmaster General
had Ss%dSSs Been 1St candidate SSIasa: for for asp United efe STATES SEN.
pealed TO what was known as the Senatorial
courtesy an unwritten rule Of the Senate,
favored by Democrats as well as Republicans
that no nomination offensive to q particular
cCudlOI, U OHCo III lib OWN oIdtS, buOulu to
ceive confirmation. This unwritten rule was
FOR, a long time used successfully as a bar to
ho6erts9n,S c on and was viewed With
fields Cabinet-Postmastor- General James and
AttoIney-Generai Macyeagh.
loving Senators as reasons why GARFIELD should
reconsider the unwise step he had taken, and.
rather coldly. though he let it be known that
Senators who should range themselves against
him in this matter need look to him for no favor,
and w0uld rannifA lettAFa 0f Introduction tn him
thereafter-he was nevertheless deeply I'm
pressed BY the powerful opposition sfrayed
would have yielded Il left to himself and un-
Influenced by the stronger will of Blaine.
nation and offer him some other position quite
as honorable and lucrative as the Collectorship.
an}oTau nSt - Potent fat hin a. P Por aonki lsTsr and B sar
bio telegram from Gov. Cornell spoiled all the
at the moment when they seemed about TO be
crogned with success,
SympathiEed with ConklinE, In spite Of his own
unpleasant experience with the senior sena-
@ easet = p p%S from roe nf The f PFssiSsnt to % w FL a. 8 "
for the Presidents pride had been touched, and
he Was ek &c aysrse to ree,cding from bis
Limitation from the senate and arrogance on
the part Of Conkling. Still he wanted peace, and
ne was SICK OF the perpetual row ana 1mportuni-
ties among office seekers, and was especially
DESTROYS Of solving the New York problem
warts without compromising bis own dignity as
President. President Garfield had even re-
QueBted Mr.. James 10 ask Conkling TO go to the
White House with Arthur. Plat, and MacVeagh,
10 as to have q formal agreement as soon as
possible. More. even, he authorized James to
assure ConklinR that he stood ready to do all In
his power to- end tho irritating dispute; and
Conkling, on his side, most willingly agreed to
"Postmastsr-Ge General James and Senator
Plat left the Arlington Hotel toGethsr. calling
Conkling's house, that all might proceed to the
Executive, Mansion as per appointment. They
found Conkling waiting for them in one OF HIS
best humors, which were rather rare in those
trying days. The Senator salutod them cor
daily, and asked playfully:
How are the ENJOYS extraordinary to-
HMacveagh answered for his companions that
lions OF peace were practically agreed upon, and
only q few minor points still remained to be
discussed between the high contracting parties
before the formal treaty could DO drawn up and
ratified
'Tis well, gentlemen said Mr.. Conkling.
still In a playful mood.
A were ready to start for the White House.
Mr. rnnkttnn hah Annnadh ia Iiuht nyaranaf N md