Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1901-07-24


mating Blaine" He says:
The lifelong feud of Roscoe Conkline
and James G. Blaine was one of the
signal and vivid episodes of later Am
erican politics. Beginning with the
famous and fiery parliamentary COM
bat In 1865 over the charges of Provost
Marshall Fry it ended only when death
drpped the curtain on the drama. Both
OF the actors were born gladiators
Widely different, neither has been sur
passed in power of forensic controver
sy. When these political and oratori-
cal chieftans crossed swords is was in
deed Greek meeting Greek.
Different in method, they were no
less different in nature. Mr.. Blaine
was generous, impulsive and kind
hearted. He cherished no resentments.
Mr.. Conkling was sensitive, self-con-
scious, exacting and implacable. He
had lofty and naughty, but honorable
pride. In his friendships he was un-
restrained and in his enmities unrelent
ing Mr.. Blaine would have been as
ready, upon the asking, to clasp hands
as he was, upon the provocation, to
cross swords. But Mr.. Conkling's
pride had been wounded; he felt that
his honor had been assailed, and
through the long succeeding years "still
ranked in his side the fatal dart"
THE SILENT HOSTILITY OF THE
LEADERS.
From the hour of that early battle in
the House they never spoke to each
other. They sat side by side in the
Senate; they Joined in the same debate;
they replied indirectly to each other;
their friends at times conferred and ar
ranged; but between the chiefs no sign
of recognition passed. The quarrel had
personal consequences which it is diff &.
cult to estimate. Mr. Blaine was a
great popular leader and the idol of a
large portion of his party. Mr.. Conk-
ling held the mastery of the party or
ganization in the pivotal State of New
York, and exercised large sway over
party leaders elsewhere The conflict
of these opposing forces, both strongly
entrenched, Influenced, if it did not
mould, events for long series of years
Mr.. Blaine, who came so near being
nominated for President in 1875, would
certainly have carried off the prize but
for the strenuous earnestness of the
powerful organization against him of
which Mr.. Conkling was the master
spirit; an earnestness which was inten-
sified by his vehement antagonism.
With this depth of personal feeling
1t would have been extraordinary if Mr..
Blaine had been nominated for Presi.
dent under Mr.. Conkling's leadership
and by his deliberate and avowed act.
Such denouement under such condi.
tions would have been one of the most
surprising and dramatic chapters of
American politics. So irreconcilable
does it appear with Mr.. Conklings long
cherished and undisguised sentiment
that it would be generally regarded as
incredible and impossible. And yet,
strange as it may seem, there are rea-
sons for believing that the Republican
National Convention of 1850 was on the
edge Of this spectacular and thrilling
exhibition. The circumstances which
point in that direction constitute one
OF the mcst interesting unwritten stor-
les of personal and party history, and
whatever deduction be drawn from
conclusion which is somewhat yelled,
the. facts that lead up to it will serve to
soften the impression Of an uncompro-
missing hostility.
The battle Of 1880 was the culminat-
ing struggle between the Stalwarts and
Half-Breeds. The Republican party
was divided into two great camps. One
was for Grant and the other for Blaine.
There were small outlying detachments
for Sherman, Edmunds, and others, but
the battle royal was between the Stall
Wart forces that were marshaled like d
solid phalanx for the hero of the Civil
War, and the no less ardent but less
compact and disciplined followers of
the Plumed Knight. OF the move
ment for Grant, Roscoe Conkling was
the life and the soul. He entered into
1t with zeal and vigor which he never
carried into any other contest. At the
beginning of Grants administration he
had been rather at outs. but he came to
be Grants stoutest friend and his most
conspicuous champion. For him the
third term had no terrors. He believed
IN Grants chivalry and public devo-
tion; he felt that the glamour of war
and the record of his Administration
would make Grant invincible; he dis
dained what he considered the flabbi-
ness of the Hayes regime and sighed
for the strong meat of lusty partyism;
and so. he threw himself into the cam
paign for Grant with an unquailing spi-