The Washington herald., 1914-02-20
HISTORY BUILDERS.
lhuriew Weeds Opinion Of Roscoe
ConkIing's Oratory.

A FEW days after the Republican
"A State convention OF 1871 was held
at Rochester. n. Y. called upon
Thnrlow Weed AZ his home in New York
City, for the purpose Of getting from
him an explanation Of the meaning Of
that now traditional gathering and
forecast Of what the Republican leaders
OF New York State would be likely to
do In the way OF Presidential politics
which would have the Presidential noni-
nation of ISIS in consideration.
Mr.. Weed was almost blind. He could
see dlmly. but ne told me that while he
perceived my figure he could not make
out my face.
Since my eyesight has become i'm
paired he said, Il find that I am able
to get a pretty good idea OF the character
Of men who call upon me from the in
Elections OF therr voices. cannot res
their faces. but I can interpret their
thoughts and this Is new gift for me.
so I am satisfied from what you hav.
just been saying to me that you want
TO find out from me who the Republicans
will nominate in 1850 for President
Yes" ! replied. that is one Of IN"
purposes Of my CALL
Well" said Mr. Weed Il have had
~ PfEtaath'' VI NItf EkOSHNslFl
convention read TO me. Roscoe Conf
ding's speech had more meaning in II
than any one who does not know Conk
ling as well as I do would Discover.
BY the way. I want to say this Of
ccnklins's speech. think he made 4
isIalle in attacking George William
Cunt as nc did. Nothing is gained ~
an attack % that kind. 7 do not think ~
made mistake from his point of vicw
in setting forth his opposition 70 Presi-
don: Hayes. have been persuaded all
along Jhat the President made a crieyous
blunder. from Tn" political point OF view.
when h" removed Gen. Arthur Naval or
Gccr Cornell. and Surveyor Sharp from
the New York custom house
Politically speaking. it was done too
early in his administration. 1t revealed
2 purpose to destroy the present Repub-
liran organization OF New York. the IN
tentiOn being. I have no doubt. to build
up another organization which will h.
able to swing New York Republicans :"
the support OF John Sherman for III.
Presidential nomination. Sherman is un-
doubtedly Hayes candidate for the ST.
cession. and ii was poor politics for
Hayes or Sherman or both OF them to
show their hands At this time. For that
reason. Roscoe COnKlinE. who is the lead
sr of the New. York Republican organize
ton. was perfectly justified in attackin-
President Hayes as he did. I am salts
fed that ~ is Conkling's purpose TO -
cure the nomination Of Gen. Grant in 1SSs
Now | have answered you frankly. but
7 want to add another thing. You should
read CorklinG's speech over and ovof
again. II is masterpiece OF its kind
COnEliuE's command Of the English Ian
aUaGe is superb. and his rhetorical art
fees were never better displayed than in
this speech.
Il heard only this morning that al
though ConkIinE spoke without any note
before him. and seemed to be spcskin-
eNtempOrancously. he had given all q,
his time for several days to writing tina
speech and then had committed it t.
memory word for word My friend
Thomas l.. James. told me this rlorniu-
that ConklinG read that speech TO him
from the manuscript the evening before
il was delivered
(CCpyriE'f. la1fl