ROSCOE CONKLING

Then a Congressman and attacking his own Republican leader, Roscoe Conkling:

The "single Senator" was Roscoe Conkling. He was the Republican Party Leader (Boss) and a great proponent of the Spoils System of giving all Federal appointments to loyal party men without regard for competency and merit. See {622341} and {622340} for Hayes’ contest with Conkling.

Senator Conkling was the Republican Leader of the Republican Party and a party boss of the old school. Hays was a reformer, especially about appointments where he generally tried to pick the most meritorious candidate instead of the party loyalists desired by Conkling. There was (and still is) a tradition in the Senate that the Senators from the state of residence of any Presidential appointment had a veto of any Federal appointments in the state. Conkling, in addition to being the party leader, was the senior senator from New York and wanted two party loyalists for the jobs. Hayes appointed the better qualified men and decided to fight for the nomination of his candidates, but expected tha Conkling was strong enough to assure that the Senate would not confirm Hayes’ New York appointments. See {622341} for the outcome.

He was referring to Senator Roscoe Conkling, the Republican party boss who was Hayes biggest opponent in Civil Service reform. At the time the Congress was the dominant branch of Government and any Congressman or Senator who was strong enough to control a House of Congress was at least equal to the President in power.

Conckling was the Senior Senator from New York and the leader of Hayes own Republcian party. But it had been the custom for the Senators of the President’s party to control and have a veto over ALL federal appointments in the state—including even minor secretarial and clerical jobs. Hayes, a Civil Service Reformer, wanted all lower level federal appontees to be based on merit and he wanted politics out of the Civil Service Preocess. However, the New York State Senators convinced 31 of the senators to vote against the ratification of all the Hayes New York appointeed. Hayes lost the battle but finally won the war.

Platt was the boss of the Republican Party which controlled New York State, His personal office was at 49 Broadway in New York City. See {622998} for more on Platt power in New York.

What was amazing about this attack was that at the time Conkling was one of the most powerful Republicans in the nation and Blaine was just a young member of the House. Also, the House rules prohibited the personal attack on another member. Blaine carefully phased his attack in the abstract but everyone knew to whom he was referring. Most, even within the party, agreed with the personal criticism of Conkling although he was much admired as a politician and political leader. After this House speech, all the political cartoonists depicted Conkling as a turkey gobbler in full strut. “Supereminent” is an adjective which was and is not commonly used, but is perfect for the quotation. Blaine’s attack on Conkling immediately made him a national figure and he succeeded Conkling as the national leader of the Republican party.

After James Garfield became the Republican nominee for President, the defeated Conkling, refusing to run for Vice President, was asked whom he personally favored to run as vice-president with Garfield. Conkling replied:. President Garfield was assassinated six months later, and Arthur became the 21st President, to Conkling's dismay and chagrin. Compare Lyndon Johnson's "Power is where power goes."

Referring to President Andrew Johnson:

Some had organized and led lynchings; others participated, and others stood by without speaking out.

When the slaves were emancipated, they were free but they were no yet citizens with civil and political rights either. They had no land or other property and racial discrimination in the ex-slave states was vicious and rampant.

Abraham Lincoln was the only third party candidate to win the presidency in U.S. history. However, when he was nominated, there was little conviction among Republicans that a third or fourth party could actually win:. Lincoln's primary opponent, William H. Seward

The were debating the wisdom of an Constitutional amendment to enfranchise Negroes.

When the slaves were emancipated, they were free but they were no yet citizens with civil and political rights either. They had no land or other property and racial discrimination in the ex-slave states was vicious and rampant.

The then President Rutherford Hayes was an aggressive reform advocate who had instituted Civil Service reform which eliminated a large proportion of the patronage appointments of the Federal Government. Conkling a classic political boss of the era felt that Hayes’ motives were just pandering to voters and saw him as a scoundrel. See {589693}.

Conkling the boss of New York politics had designs on the Presidency. However, when the President was assassinated, the murderer claimed to have acted in favor of the Conkling political views as Vice President Chester Arthur was a Conkling political soldier. Although Conkling had nothing to do with the assassination, he left politics and returned to private law practice. He also refused an appointment to the Supreme Court.

When asked to campaign for his arch-rival James G. Blaine for the presidency: Conkling was the most important Republican in New York State. His Presidential ambitions had been thwarted and he left government to return to his New York law practice. When Blaine became the Republican Presidential candidate, New York Republicans wanted Conkling’s OK to campaign actively for Blaine. Conkling refused. New York State went for the Democrats and Blaine lost the election by a smaller margin than New York’s electoral votes. There are some historians who question whether the quotation is an accurate one or merely apocryphal.

The reference is to wood chopping, where flying chips are a constant source of injury. Often misquoted with "fall" rather than "fly."

Abraham Lincoln was the only third party candidate to win the presidency in U.S. history. However, when he was nominated, there was little conviction among Republicans that a third or fourth party could actually win:. Lincoln's primary opponent, William H. Seward

After James Garfield became the Republican nominee for President, the defeated Conkling, refusing to run for Vice President, was asked whom he personally favored to run as vice-president with Garfield. Conkling replied:. President Garfield was assassinated six months later, and Arthur became the 21st President, to Conkling's dismay and chagrin. Compare Lyndon Johnson's "Power is where power goes."

Referring to President Andrew Johnson:

Some had organized and led lynchings; others participated, and others stood by without speaking out.