Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1876-03-13
LETTER FROM NEW YoRK.
NEW YoRK. March :. 1876.
.Spq,-faI C.lrrsSpCElsnee

.SDeciiGI Correspondence.
No thunderbolt from clear sky could /
have fallen.with more unexpected viO- /
lenee upon the community than have the
late kilograms from Washington. reveal
ing the most startling instance Of cor
ruptiOn in high places which the eoun-
try has vet been called upon to witness
For the moment political differences van
ISL like smoke before = whIrlwind. Our
citizens are neither Republicans nor
Democrats. ContraetiOnists nor IuHation-
lists. but enly heart-siek Americans as
they look blankly into each others fac
Is. like men who see that the ground
upon which they stand Is the bubbling
crust Of a volcano,
Under whose feet will the next ex-
plOsion take place ," is the question that
rises in all minds: and an answer is al
I ready more than limited at in the threat
eued exposure Of another Of the Cabinet
Of the President Of the United States
men whose positions are higher in power
and dignity than the sovereignty Of ma
ny foreign State. The whole affair
thus far is like horrible dream.
nightmare. the reality Of which one
hardly dares TO admit There were none
of the usual preparations Of the public
mInd-nO vague suspicious, no rsnors,
no gathering of the storm 1t Wis -
word and blow. with the blow drst-"
The accusation. the trial, and the SEN
tenee were announced in one breah. and
that terrible word Impeachment head
ed the column that gave Us the first in
timation Of this new shame
At this moment the events are 100 re-
cent for any one to fOretell their exact
results, but it is hardly doubtful that
Impeachment viii now. for the first time,
be successful At the national capital.
And for how pitiful 4 mess of p'ttage
was this splendid birthright sold What
amazing, what incredible weakness must
be his who would ruin himself. his fam
lily. and an honored name, would spread
decentralization through the army If one
Of the greatest nations Of the earth. and
force his country into the dust and ash
es Of bitter humiliation for = few thou
sand dollars. 1t seems impossible that
all this could have been done with any
intention /; but what shall We say of .
nan who walks upon the edge Of such a
prseipiee and realizes no danger? He
has not even the excuse Of the ostrich,
which. plunging its head into the desert
sand believes itself safely hidden from
Its pursuers-
But one explanation Of these things
. remains, and that Is, that the atmOs-
, phere Of public life has in some way be-
come poisonous. and that like the fumes
Of charcoal. 1t so dulls and stupe6es the
senses Of those who breathe it that they
suecumb TO Influences which their nor
!. nal strength would easily throw Of, and
the country itself IS like . man who.
nearly sufOeated BY the same miasma,
has to be roughly handled. and even 70
-uHer some cruel blows, 70 be saved from
sleep which might prove endless
Truly the Centennial year brings with
! It abundant cause to moderate national
transports and humble national pride.
But if its tempests have the result Of
clearing this deadly atmosphere, and let
: ting in the fresh air Of rugged honesty
, to aid in reviving the nation from it
: moral lethargy. the devastation which
: they work Is as nothing to the benefits
they viii confer.
=, With so memorable an Ash-Wednes
: day as the last. Lent ought to be vel
: and mOurnfuliy kept n New York
4 however. the effect Of the I.enten season
: Is getting rather weak, excepting among
the extremely High-church communities
and even such people viii occasionally
: indulge in solemn and decorous littI'
{ hop during the forty days, just to "keel
: their foot in ;" and it might be Difficult
TO prove how much they are spiritual,
: damaged thereby
= A really useful and valuable enter
: prise Is The Carletons' new monthly
t Record Of the Year" Of which they ar
{ just about TO issue the first number. 1t
Il plan makes 1t sort Of reference scrap
e book. containing a record Of every even
, Of the month worth preserving. togethe
y with q careful selection Of really goo
Ie current miscellany. all properly indeIed
1t will also contain = series Of fine en-
a cravings, the first being a steel portrai
= Of the late William 3. Astor. The edi
d tor IS Mr.. Frank Moore. famous as Ii
IN Protector Of The Rebellion Record.
~ Any one can see at glance how exact
l. y this new periodical meets = real van
Fe how much trouble and fruitIess scare
after facts and dates it will save, an
u hoE indispensable = record Of Il
)" months doings it will Be TO many a b
ID 81 nau- 1t viii Be great success.
N There have been two incidents Of Il
s. Tweed suit this week which served
ID recall public attention TO il for = tim
Ne One was the rezppezrznee in court