The herald., 1898-12-29
BLAINE AND CONKLING
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The personal difference between these two
men is historical, and, so far as the Re
publican party was concerned, it was as
troublesome as the war of the roses in Eng
land. Beginning with 1876 Republicans were
pretty we'll divided between the camps of
Blaine and Conkling for ten years. The
quarrel had deleterious influence upon the
fortunes of the party, and prevented each
OF the principals from achieving the OBJ
ject of his ambition. Both were candidates
for nomination to the presidency in 1876,
and, in order to defeat Blaine, the friends
OF Conkling went over to the support OF
Hayes. In 1880 Blaine was Il candidate
again, and Conkling was not. In the Chi
cago convention of that year Conkling had
two objects to attain-one being the NOM
nation of General Grant, and the other
the defeat Of Blaine. His attitude in the con-
vcntion, more than any other thing, con-
tributed to the accomplishment of his sec
ondary object.
In 1884, though Conlling was in political
retirement, his influence was adverse to
Blaine's election, and doubtless was suffi-
cient to turn the balance against him in
the state of New York.
Both men possessed very great ability,
and both We're positive characters. They
were ambitious, and their wills were i'm
perious. Probably it would have been i'm
possible for them to cooperate cordially
under any circumstances. Both were un-
usually Industrious They were orators, but
unlike in their oratorcal qualities. Blaine
| was impetuous, but did not affect gesticu-
| lative attitudes and intonation. He abored
to produce an effect upon audiences rather
than to make a record for eloquence. Conk-
ling was deliberate, used carefully selected
wcrds and his manner of delivery eXempli-
fed the highest art. Both were high tenn
pered, but Conkling could better control
himself. Blaine had an advantage in being
more approachable and suave. Conkling
was dignihed and surercilious. which re-
PEELED He had devoted friends, notwith-
standing he exacted compliance with his
wishes in politics.
The causes which brought about the his
toric antagonism were several, but that
which preciptated the dissolution of their
personal relations and started them off on
divergent lines in party management was
the following:
| Charges were preferred against Provost
Marshal General Frye in the house of repre-
sentatives, which were referred to the conf
mittee on military affairs. Conllling took
the side of the prosecution before the com
mittee, and Blaine the defense. Blaine had
taught for several years in Kentucky col
| lcge, and therefore had warm side toward
| the people of that state, and General Frye
was a Kentuckian. The investigation arous-
ed a good deal of feeling, and this was CON
tinued during several sessions of the COM
mittee. W. 5. King, postmaster of the
house, said to me that the sparring be-
tween Blaine and Conkling was spirited and
| bitter; that he never listened to greater
displays of eloquence, and that ''some of
! Conklng's sentences were the most remark
able that ever fell from the lips of man."
Soon after this the two men collided
upon some question on the floor of the
house, and in the discussion Conllling made
a contemptuous allusion to Blaine, which
provoked a philippe of a very severe char
acter. In contrasting Conkling and Henry
| Winter Davis Blaine used such SMILES as
whining puppy to a roaring lion" and
"dunghil to diamond" This coarse Ian
guage fell harshly upon the sensitive and
chaste ear of Conkling, and was to him all
otfense that could not be forgiven.
Many of Bane's friends thought the Sc
verify of the philippe was not justified, and
that Blaine should apologize to Conkling.
1t hurt Blaine more than it did Conliling.
! know that there were times when Blaine
would have made advances with a view to
reconciliation, but Conkling maintained an
attitude that forbade approach. In 1873
was with Mr. Blaine in Ohio for two days
while he was on the stump. His candidacy
in 1880 was discussed, but as it was supposed
g., hot 4I,,,. .,rttbarn nf Iynu1I hp solid For
the Democratic ticket the Republicans
would have to rely on northern votes, and he
expressed the fear that through ConEling's )
influence New York would be lost were he
the candidate. He said he had thought that,
ii he were nominated, he would go to Conk-
| hing and ask what would satisfy him.
Blaine watched Conllling with the eye Of
a hawk all the time ! was in congress. He
eXerted himself to undermine him in New
ork, and it was he who engineered the bolt
in New York in 1880 against The unit rule
adopted by the state convention, by which
twenty of the seventy delegates were de-