The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-01-14
AN OLD CONTROVERSY RECALLED.

AN OLD CONTROVERSY hECALLED.
In an article in McClure's Magazine. ex-
Secretary Boutwell, reopens the Blaine
Conkling controversy. So far as these two
brilliant antagonists are concerned. Mr..
Boutwell, throws no new light on the af-
fair. II arose in a debate in which Mr..
Blaine, while not In the right on the main
issue, defended friend. In the clash Mr..
Blaine wounded the pride of Mr. Conkling.
In his early days in Congress Mr. Blaine
had many verbal contentious. which were
adjusted because he was conciliatory and
would go more than half way, but Mr..
Conkling refused to be conciliated. The
general drift of the article of Mr.. Boutwell,
Is rather more favorable to Mr.. Conkling
points affecting General Garfield which are
novel, not to say startling. The first of
these is that when Mr.. Conkling went to
Mentor early in October 1880. after the
setback in Maine in September made the
defeat of General Garfield probable. Mr..
Conkling would not see Garfield alone for
a moment, so that there could be no SUBJ
sequent charge that a bargain was made
by which Mr.. Conkling should have the
patronage of New York for his active par
fact. the charge of bargain was made
and persisted in by Mr.. Conklings friends.
but not by the senator himself. who was
above denying such an imputation upon
his party loyalty. There was no such bar
gain.
The second novel statement of Mr.. Bout
well is much more important. 1t has been
given out. and is generally believed, that
Mr.. Blaine as secretary of state was re-
sponsible for the appointment of Mr.. Rob-
ertson as collector of New York, Mr..
Conkling's enemy, after President Garfield
had given Mr.. Conkling assurance that
one of his faction should be appointed.
Mr.. Boutwell, asserts that this was not
the case. President Garfield had decided
to appoint man satisfactory to Mr. Conk-
ling When those New Workers who helped
to nominate General Garfield heard of
this determination they sent him scores
of kilograms and letters charging him
with sacrificing his friends. While he was
wrought up with these charges Of the
betrayal and sacrifice of his friends. Pres
ident Garfield. on the spur of the moment
sent the name of Mr.. Robertson to the
Senate. Mr.. Boutwell, declares that when
Secretary Blaine heard of the action of
the President he was astounded and turned
pale. as he believed that it had been set
tied that Mr.. Conkling's man would be
nominated. Governor Boutwell, AYERS with
the utmost positiveness that Mr.. Blaine
had nothing to do with the nomination
of Mr.. Robertson, and that in no sense was
he responsible for the act which led Mr..
Conkling to resign and use his influence
in 1884 to defeat Mr.. Blaine. To his per-
sonal friends Mr.. Blaine said he was not
ton, but after General Garfield's death he
could not possibly controvert the very
general conviction that he was RESPONSE
BILE.
This action had a disastrous effect upon
the Republican party-sending Mr.. Conk-
ling into a half voluntary political exile.
embittering his life, and causing the de-
feat of Mr.. Blaine In 1854, with all of it's
personal consequences to him. from which
he never recovered. 1t is now a matter Of
moderate interest, but in the interest of
truth in history and OF justice to General
Garfield and Mr.. Blaine. the real facts
should be ascertained regarding this most
unfortunate incident. Are there others
| who have any positive information upon
| this subject?