The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-12-11
Seventeen Years After.

ield-Conkling fight has been
revived by the death Of Judge
W. III. Robertson. the immediate oc-
casion of IL all. Robertson's appoint
ment as collector Of the port OF New
York by President Garfield against the
wishes Of Senator Conkling resulted in
the designations Of Senators Conkling
m Plat and the elections Of F.. G..
Lapham and Warner Miller to sac-
coed them in the United States senate.
Robertson led the revolt against the
third term nomination of General
Grant. and his opposition to Conkling
and the republican state machine con-
trolled by Conkling, Plat and Arthur
split the party I'm New York state.
Judge Robertson had lived a retired
life for several years past.
Now that the passions provoked by
that memorable republican tragedy.
which eliminated in the assassination
OF President Garfield, have cooled
nearly all the prominent actors in II
being dead-it Is not amiss to recall 1t
in the calm light of history. 1t viii
be remembered that shortly after be-
coming president in 1881. General Gar
field nominated Robertson to be collec-
tor Of the port of New York. The NOM
ination went in with several others
from New York and that of Mr.. Rob-
ertson was the only distinctly anti
Conkling one in the list. For some
weeks the utmost efforts Of President
Garfield n Secretary Blaine To secure
the confirmation of Judge Robertson
were unsuccessful against the opposi-
tion of Senators Conkling and Plat.
but at the same time those senators
could not accomplish the rejection OF
hat nomination. on May 10, 1881. when.
the confirmation Of Judge Robertson
was probable. Senator Plat and Sena-
tor Conkling resigned their positions.
to appeal to the legislature for r~e-elec-
ton. and. by securing Il. to secure the
censure of the president by his party in
New York. With the retirement of the
two from the senat by resignation. OPP
position TO Judge Robertson's conhrma-
ton ceased. He filled the collectorship
loi lbui NtdiSs dllu W. oiiltldl tNItTl-
ence in It was %uneventful. Neverthe-
less, events. related to his nomination.
Of the most exciting and tragic charac-
ter followed. The struggle 10 hll the
vacancies caused by the resignation OF
Messrs. Plat and Conkling from the
senate lasted from the 18th OF May to
the 22nd OF July. Fifty-six ballots were
taken in the legislature. the republican
majority dividing on a number OF men,
but finally uniting on Warner Miller to
succeed Thomas c. Plat and on T.. q.
Lapham TO succeed Roscoe Conkling.
on July ., 1881. President Garfield
was shot by an assassin in the railroad
station at Washington. when on IN
point OF leaving for williams College
commencement. He died on September
10. that year. when Chester A. Arthur
succeeded him as president. Mr.. onk
hng's variance from Arthur became as
marked as IL had been from Garfield.
for Arthur would not and felt hat he
dared not. supersede Robertson. as coll
lector. and appoint the man MI. Conk-
ling desired. The results OF the strug-
gle were far reaching. For the next
twelve years the state OF New York
went democratic n a democratic pres
ident was elected in 1884. Mr.. Conk-
lng's estrangement from his party he
came so marked that I'm the dispute
about Clcveland's majority over Blaine
in New York tate, Conkling acted ~
official counsel for the democratic M
ional committee.
As TO the merits OF the dispute be
tween Garfield and Conkling. there Is
little to be said. Public opinion at the
time sustained Garfield in exercising
his prerogstive. As an abstract prop
osition the appointing power is superior
to the confirming power and must not
submit TO its dictation. But the cir
cumstances in this ease were peculiar.