Greeley against
Grant's renomination,[1309] the intense bitterness between Conkling and
Fenton, and the boast of the State committee that it would control
the State convention and substitute its own creature for the Greeley
committee, all coalesced against harmony and a compromise.

[Footnote 1309: New York _Tribune_, May 6, September 15, 1871.]

Moreover, even the appearance of relations between Greeley and
Conkling had ceased. "Mr. Conkling's frenzy," said the _Tribune_,
"generally comes on during executive session, when, if we may be
allowed the metaphor, he gets upon stilts and supports his dignity....
We can see the pose of that majestic figure, the sweep of that
bolt-hurling arm, the cold and awful gleam of that senatorial eye, as
he towers above the listening legislators." It spoke of him as the
"Pet of the Petticoats," the "Apollo of the Senate," the "darling of
the ladies' gallery," who "could look hyacinthine in just thirty
seconds after the appearance of a woman." Then it took a shot at the
Senator's self-appreciation. "No one can approach him, if anybody can
approach him, without being conscious that there is something great
about Conkling. Conkling himself is conscious of it. He walks in a
nimbus of it. If Moses' name had been Conkling when he descended from
the Mount, and the Jews had asked him what he saw there, he would
promptly have replied, 'Conkling!' It is a little difficult to see why
Mr. Conkling did not gain a reputation during the war. Many men took
advantage of it for the display of heroic qualities. But this was not
Conkling's opportunity. Is he a man to make a reputation while his
country is in danger? He was not. Probably he knew best when to hitch
his dogcart to a star. Such a man could afford to wait. Wrapped in the
mantle of his own great opinion of himself, he could afford to let his
great genius prey upon itself until the fulness of time."[1310] Of
course, after this there could be no relations between the editor and
the senator. These editorials recalled the Blaine episode, and
although not so steeped in bitterness, as a character-study they did
not differ from the prototype.

[Footnote 1310: New York _Tribune_ (editorials), May 19, 20, 25, 1871.]

This was the condition of affairs when the Republican convention met
at Syracuse on September 27. Except Greeley every prominent leader in
the State attended. The question whether the rival general committee
created by the State organisa