The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-12-11
ROSCOE C0NKLING
A BORN FIGHTER
SIDE LIGHTS ON A FAMOUS
CAREER.
The Giant Struggles of a Giant Re-
publican Sketched in Entertaining
Fashion by a Well Known York
State Democrat - How Conkling
Rose and How He Fell.

Hon. Milton H. Northrup, in the syra-
Cuse Post-Standard.
Few characters in American history
ire more interesting than Roscoe Conk-
ing, the whilOm Great Senator" of
New York. Born October 30, 1929, the
10th day of October last passed would
iave witnessed, had he lived, the COM
pleton of his threeScore years and ten
He died in March, 1883, a victim to the
memorable blizzard of that spring. Ha
'ame of proud stock. His father Alfred
Conkling, was in his day a Judge of the
United states District court, and later
United states minister to Mexico-the
former by the grace of President John
Quincy Adams, the latter through
President Millard Fillmore.
The naughty old gentleman was once
upon a time introduced to an audience
his son having become famous-as the
father of Roscoe Conkling." The form
of Introduction reused the old gentle
mans ire. Proudly Strengthening him
self up he hurled back this indignant
protest: Has it come to this, that 1,
who have sat upon the bench of the
United States court-that T, who have
been United States minister abroad.
should rest my chief title to afame on
the fact that ! am the father of Ros-
roe Conkling'" 1t was the truth,
nevertheless.
Conkling's preCOCity in politics is
shown in the fact that he was district
attorney of his county at twenty-One,
the wear he was admitted to the bar.
At twenty-ninC he was mayor of Utica.
the city of his residence. He had
gained an enviable reputation as a law
yer long before. In 1858 he made his
first canvass for a seat in congress. 1t
was successful. Indeed, Conkling' !
only defeats thereafter came in 1862,
when Francis Herman was elected over
him-Kernan, with whom he had
studied law and who many years after
ward was his cOllea que in the United
States senate-and in 1881, when, hav-
ing with Thomas G. Platt. resigned his
seat in the senate, he failed to secure
the Endorsement of a reelection from
the New York legislature.
In early life Conkling MARRIED the
youngest sister of Horatio Seymour.
The ilustrious Democrl'is statesman
strenuously opposed the match. but.
of course. without success. In later
years only did the two great statesmen
of opposite political schools become
mutually reconciled. When President
Grant was Conkling's guest at his
home in Utica, at the dinner given by
Conkling to his distinguished guest
Horatio Seymour sat the same table
with Grant, his successful rival in the
then recent presidential election. And
Seymour, whose home was in a SUBURB
of Utica. passed his last illness ard
died at the COnkling residence. He
was followed two years later by C)nk-
ling himself. 1t was always under
stood. Notwithstanding the apparent re-
conciliation, that there was no love
lost between the two celebrated broth
ers-inlaw. Seymour was too simple
and unaffected to like the lordly ways,
the turkey strut" as Blaine called it,
of COnkling. In more ways than one
they We're antipodes.
WAS A BORN FIGHTER.
Roscoe Conkling was a born fighter
Had he not been d statesman he might
have been puGlist. One of his daily
diversions was to punch a bag in his
attic. He was a tremendous hitter ant
those who received the brunt of his
blows. however given, had good causr
to remember them. Nature gave hin
a splendid physique. In the mOderr
college he would have been foremos
In athletiCs-Captain, probably, of The
foot ball eleven. He was most in HI.
element when he was hardest oppose
In conventions of his party he lowered
above his fellows like a viking. HI
was cast in heroic mold. The first mdI
who in congress had the temerity tt