The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1876-03-08
The Administrafion's DIsg ace.


We do not envy the feelings of any
American ct'zsn who can read the account
puols1ed this morning of the disgrace of
Secretary Belknap with other feelings than
OF profound regret. Not regret that crime
j. exposed, bot that so high a position as
cabinet officer of the government should
be filled by man so corrupt IS Secretary
Belknap has been proven to be. Day after
dsy these exposures are made until there
is forced upon the public the conviction
that the present administration is utterly
corrupt and depr wed. There seems ID be
an atmosphere in which the office holder
moves that poisons all conscientious coz
victions, and when tempt alton bsstts
them they fall before it.
In what department of the government
are veto look for honesty nov? is there
no finsl responsibility anywhere TO which
the people can loo for reliel? Just now
the chief subC rdinste OF the department of
state CONES back from England under a
cloud. For months there has been a series
ofexposurSs in the treasury department.
The revelations in the interior department
1aNO oNCAcpcQ e0Co OulOuS CODOlLlOn
of things that nobody believes there is any
honesty in the management of the Indian
affairs. The country has for years DIS,
trusted Robson OF the navy department,
Tbs odor of the Williams disgrace has net
yet been cleared away from the depsr
ment of justice. What is now lett to the
country Of the administration that is
verify of credit? Who of Republican
officials are to be trusted? Is there no
honesty anywhere: The Republican
pr IS have scoffed a: the present House
and their INVESTIGATING committees. 1t has
been declsred that nothing has been de-
veloped impesching the civil service OF
that nine-tenths of the rascslities that have
been perpetrated have been covered up
and can not be brought to light The Re-
publican party, until the assembling OF
the present congress, has had everything
its own way. Committees have been
raised by motion OF Democrats, but white
washing reporss have invariably
followed. The administration did
nothing in the whisky fraud
prosecutions until reasonably GER
tain that congress would move upon the
ring as soon as organized. For this rea-
son public stealing has gone on 1t has
been covered up. concealed, and investi-
cation stifflsd, and the rogues have gone
on from year to year. and from the pro-
ceeds of their untaithfulness to public
trust, they have provided corruption
funds to debauch the psople, and continue
themselves in power.
How long is such state of affairs to
continue? Will the people upon any
pretext or pretense sustain party with
such record as has been
made during the last eight ysars3
Mr.. Grants first cabinet officers
were appointed upon principle that in
real morality differed little from bribery.
Their previous gifts TO the president COM
mended them to his favor. Who knows
but that gifts, Of which the world knew
nothing, and perhaps never will, secured
the places that have been so often con-
ferred upon unhesrd of men as Alderman,
Williams, Robson, Richardson, Borie,
and Bslknap himself. The same policy
has innumerable illus srations in subordi-
nate positions. Who upon the face of the
earth could believe that upon principles OF
public policy such man as Williams was
appointed chief justice? Look at the mat
ter in any light. even from the views of
partisan Loyalty, and no other honest con-
clusion can be drawn than that Grant il
responsible Tor these acts and that his own
honesty is fairly impesched by the dis
homes v OF his subordinates. The nation
is disgrsced, and the people must arouse
from indifference, or the whole people
must be inculpated in conniving at public
plundering.