Middletown transcript., 1876-03-18
Gathering the Smutted Sheaves.

datn0flng the Nmuttod NneaVes
Belknap has fallen. A corrupt cabi
net minister has at last reaped th
whirlwind to which he had sown
There is general pause in the ways Q
life by the people Of the country. I
reckon the scope Of the disaster and th
measure of shame it metes out to them
That . man has proved per6dious il
! public trust would not startle the ma
ton. It has had such trials before il
cabinets, in Senates and in the field
and has been more than equal to them
and Why should there be the shadow o
that profound distress that forbids ever
partisan exlltation or partisan apology
upon every face. because minister ha'
been deposed in dishonor !? If a Clay
or Lincoln, or a Peel or Disrael
had thus sacrificed public fidelity t
private greed, the civilized world would
mourn the fall but only BelknaF
has risen to giddy heights under rule
that tempted weakness beyond it's pove,
of resistance, and history has but re.
peated itself. He was fair soldier and
slowly earned his stars. He was a
middling lawyer, a respectable district
revenue assessor, local legislator Of
that creditable service that does not
dream Of distinction, and would be an
esteemed citizen to-day had he been al
LEVIED to plod out bis life in his own
congenial paths. But evil days came
upon him when he was ruthlessly trans
planted from his petty local Office west
Of the Father of Waters to the vulgar
splendor Of Washington court that
had discarded statesmsnship in men.
modesty in women and integrity in off :
cial trust.
In Belknap's fall no pity can reach
him to temper the retributive stroke !;
but in bis hour Of hopeless destruction.
the nation is compelled to look beyond
him to the fountain that sent the poison
into his soul, and now drives him in
witbering scorn from the temples Of
manhood. He was called from an OBJ.
security that beitted bis tastes and at
tainments, to accept q position that only
the statesman could fll with honor to
himself and to his country. That be
accepted it in mistaken Judgment was
but the dictate Of the in6rmity that
greater than be had bowed to, and
when be came to mingle with the trust
ed and reverenced rulers Of the Repub-
lie. be dreamed their dreams, gratefully
shared their honcrs. greedily bowed at
their mercenary affairs, and soon was
one of them. He saw the ,peculator
and the jobber at the threshold Of the
White House and the favorites in its
inner counsels. He saw wealth gather
ed by bis fellows on meagre salaries,
and amidst the extrayagant yulgarity
Of a social organization that hated vir-
tue. He saw that men had come laden
With gifts and had received the highest
honors in return for them. he saw the
Summers, the Schurzes, the Trumbulls
and the Greeleys Of Republication for
bidden guests at the Republican feast,
because they were honest. He saw the
Mortons. the Conklings. the Carpenters
and the Blaines superserviceable friends
of power. and dwarfed from statesman.
ship to the shutting tricks Of the politi-
clan. He saw the Kelloggs. the Spen.
GERS, the Pattersons, the Caseys, the
Whippers and the Mosbys crowned as
Republican dictators and parting the
official raiment Of the administration
He saw Sumner dsposed for his purity,
and the phrenzy Of arrogant personal
rule sweep even Cameron away up to
the leading Craftsmanship Of the Senate.
He saw Schenck go out to the first
Court Of Europe to huckster the honor
'f the government in private specula.
i've swindles. and the nation unfelt in
It's demand for his recall. He saw
Babcock arm in arm with District plum
lerers. faringf sumptpously every day. |
'esting in splendor BY the seaside in
hummer vacation. and the most beloved
# all the Presidential circle. he saw
ellow Cabinet officers dazzle the vulgar
'rowd with their equipages, the great
men of authority worship about their
avish hospitality, and read with wound
ID pride the eloquent pen-pictures Of
dependent journalists. portraying the
counterfeit tints and the shcddy trap
'ings Of official households. He saw
he Attorney General aud the Secre-
ary Of the Interior hand in hand With
raad. more than proven aud at last
onfessed. and no sevefer judgment for
than reluctantly accepted resigpa.
ions with Presidential certificates of
eviction to them. He saw the Secre-
ary of the Treasury SO abuse bis trust
hat the accusation Of ignorance would
ave been boundless charity, and his
etirement delayed until Presidential
'vor could charge bin with high Judi