The daily Argus., 1874-08-11

it. When congress met, puDnc SeDtl
ment extorted an investigation. The
Speaker appointed compliant committee;
the inculpated Senators and members de-
Tended themselves by concerted periuries,
and Poland whitewashed them. Nothing
was done. Nobody was punished. The
retiring Vice President, who had attempt
ed to swear himself out of one crime by
swearing himself into another, was sue
ceeded by Credit Mobilierist only less de-
praved than himself. The Speaker Of the
House escaped only by adroit and concila-
tory management. But he was the slave
of his guilty associates, and when the next
Congress assembled, Mey acre one and all
redppointed to the high places ,ohere'n
they had already sold Themselves and their
c0s1ntyy Colfax retired with an approx
ing letter from President Grant, and vii;
son took his place, Dawes was punished
by being made chairman OF Ways and
Means, Garfield of appropriations, Scofeld
of Naval affairs, Hooper, Kelley, and all
the rest we're handsomely provided for in
the House. while Bingham was sent out as
Minister to Japan. No; the Republican
party is sodden in its own corruptions, and
is neither able nor willing to discipline its
rogues. 1t is rotten to the core, and there
is no health in it.
The Washington Ring was detected, ex-
posed convicted, and driven headIon,g
| from office by the indignation OF the whole
peaple. But which of them has been con
| fronted with justice? Shepherd was nom
mated by the President to head the new
commission, and was rejected only be-
cause majority of Republican Senators
were too servile to vote ageinst him and
too tim,d TO vote for him. They lodged
that vote. and with Polond aud Freling
hnvsen gave him the gag law instead.
They did not punish Shepherd, but they
gave Shepherd, as they hoped and IN,
tended, ample power to punish us, and all
other honest people who should d!sap-
prove of his conduct.
The history of the Republican party Tor
the last few years is a mere chronicle OF
frauds and outrages of nepotism, earpe'-
baggery and robbery of Moseses, Kel
loggs, and Claytons Of Richardson's, San
borns, and Jaynes, of Babcocks, Shep-
herds, and Harrngtons Of Pomeroys,
Harlans, and Collaxes. We might mu-
tiply examples without number, and show
in every instance how tenderly it has
nursed, fondIed, and protected every
knave who claimed it's sympathy by rea-
son of previous association and service.
But for the present we shall pass by the
host of minor offenders and ask the atten-
ton of Starkweather to the case of the
President himself. In 1868 he was known
to be utterly destitute of political opin-
ions, and to be willing to accept any nom
ination that promised success lie had
already begun the practice OF brlbe tax
ing. and from that day to this has accept
ed everything of value that was offered
to him, and prostituted his official power
to reward and encourage the donors lie
has been in the lobby time and again pres
sing corrupt schemes like those Of the San
Domingo and Washington Rings. He has
| been the firm and fast friend OF the worst
men oi the age, aud was never suspected
of willingly yielding a single one OF them
to law or Justice. His theory as well as
his practice Of government leads to every
excess Of tyranny and corruption, while
! bis personal vices are Of such character
as to be nGmeless in a respectable journal.
| Has the Republican party ever shown him
the edge of the knife Has it visited any
one of his iuiquties back upon his own
head? 1t has punished him by register
ing his DEGREES without question; and by
doubling his salary A large proportion OF
its managers are even now preparing. to
nominate him Cor n third term, when
Starkweather viii lie expected to issue
apother address declaring the immaculate
purity Of the entire family and their pollt-
cal slaves.
But we may have more to say of Stark
weather and his issues " J. SIN.