Year: 1870




must be the next victim.


Our State Politics The Republican Fac
The fight between the Fenton and Conkling
factions does not seem to be at all ended. No
matter how peaceful the surface Of things may
be-, the rumblings of smothered volcano
arc discernible to any one who will lend
patient ear to the subject. Moreover an
actual breaking out occasionally occurs which
throws the red hot lava all around the camps
of the factions This was the case in recent
republican caucus in Utica, the home Of
Conkling, the chief and champion of one of the
factions, where Fenton delegates were chosen
to county convention, despite the earnest
efforts of the Conklingese. OF the effects of
this defeat the Utica O6seryer (democratic)
says-


The defeat of Conklng in Utica last night by the
FentOn forces must make the Federal 0fice-holders
shake In their boots. The United States Senator
who Is unable to carry the ward caucuses In his own
city cannot long retain the confidence OF the PreSi
dent Look out for the Fentonian scalping-kniie


How sweet and pleasant it must be to serve
ones country in places where the prospect of
holding on is so uncertain as it happens to be
about this time as regards federal offices in
this city! But we are inclined to think that
it is not altogether the spoils in the New York
Custom House that just now embitter the
leading republicans in this State against each
other, although the disposition thereof may
have had no little influence in serving as the
entering wedge to open the split. With ordi-
nary sagacity these leaders might take look
beyond the Custom House and examine new
element of strength that is every day growing
more and more powerful as an auxiliary
sort of political mitrailleuse-in the ranks of
the republican party. We mean the great
German element Of the country, which has
very adroitly been swung into republican inte-
rests by the party managers This element
will not only be effective to the republicans
in the coming State and Congressional cleo
tions, but will also prove Of great advantage
in the Presidential contest in 1872. And it is
not only in the Western States this German
strength will exhibit itself In this city and
State it has been welded on behalf of the de-
mocratic party, because that party opposed
the Excise law aud was in every way more
liberal, according to Teutonic ideas, than the
republican party. 1t was their love for lager
and rational enjoyment of the Sabbath hol-
day that induced many republicans to fall in
line with the democracy and march with them
to the polls. But few short months has
wrought very great change in all this. The
German finds that his love for his Fatherland
preponderates over that Of his love for
his favorite beverage. Hence, when he dis
covers that the democratic leaders decline to
sympathize with his countrymen in the tre-
mendous conflict now going on in Europe,
and, on the contrary, throw the weight of
their influence to array the party as party
in support of the enemies of his Fatherland,
he very naturally arranges himself on the side
of his brothers friends, and sinks the lager in
food of patriotism.


The republican leaders, therefore, are no
doubt calculating how they can use these
newly found allies to their own advantage.
Conkling broke ground and ''struck lie" whom
he came out for the Prussians some time ago
in Saratoga. He made himself famous among
all ''mein Herrs" for the bold position he
assumed at that time, and he is now regarded
by the Germans as the head and front of the
republican party in the State. Allthis, it will
be observed, is to secure the cooperation of
the Germans in such future movements, both
State and nationally, as Senator Conkling,
who is comparatively young man, may
think it advisable for him to inaugurate for
the benefit and the glory Of Senator Conkling.


A few days, however, will demonstrate the
extent and bitterness of this factional fight
among the republicans in this State. The
State Convention meets in Saratoga on the
7th of September, and then the scat will be
let out of the bag"