The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-03-03
The Whole Country Disgraced.

1t is bad enough that under the corrupt
management of Republican leaders the
courts are kept steadily at work trying Re-
publican robbers, while the prisons are not
large enough to hold them, and the people
are groaning under heavy burdens to pay
all the expenses,-but when cabinet
officers commence selling Offices, and,as In
this case. when the poor soldiers are
charged double prices for supplies in order
to make up to one contractor what he pays
the secretary Of war for the Office, it ought
to startle the whole country, and the IN
dignation which follows should sweep the
party from power forever.
The disgrace of the whole country is felt
by every thinking man or woman. and the
humiliation to all Iowa is terrible. The
Davenport Gazette. leading Iowa Republi-
can paper, says:
! Like a bolt of lightning from cloud
less sky comes the Intelligence from Wash
ington concerning Secretary Belknap.
The allegations affecting the official in
tegrity of the secretary will be everywhere
received with great surprise by the
numerous friends of that gentleman. By
none will denial and refutation of the essen
tial facts of those charges be more ardently
desired, or more anxiously awaited, than
by the fellow citizens of Gen. Belknap here
in Iowa. Should their general correctness
remain unchallenged, and their truthful
ness be established, the citizens Of Iowa,
more than those of any other part of the
union, will be deeply mortified, and will be
moved to the most profound regret. Hope
will, however, yet be cherished, that in
some way not now discernible, nor even,
we are panied to add, apparently possible,
} the present indications CT guilt may be en-
tirely dissipated. Should it be otherwise
no words can measure the depth of ouI
late honored secretary's fall. 1t guilty,h
offense-his crime-is one of such magni
tude that to condone it, or to apologize fol
it in the least degree. would be to regard
with complaisance the undermining of the
very citadels of national purity and nationa
honor. If we may not with confidence
expect and look for official integrity in tn,
cabinet of the president, whittier shall WI
turn?'
The Chicago Journal Republican, says
+ This disgraceful revelation will as
found none so much as the home Friends
of General Belknap in Iowa and his lat
military brethren Of the army, who hav
e long had the warmcst respect for him. :
: And those visiting the national capita
j., during the past year or two, who hay
:. . either enjoyed or been dazzled by tn
. magnificent entertainment" periodical
e given at General Belknap's palatial home
I. or captivatad by the rich and costly styl
in which Mrs. Belknap decked herself GU
y for public occasions, will now hang thei
3 heads in sadness at the discovery that tn
j. means by which all this personal displa
r was gotten up were the proceeds of di
4 honor"
e Special Dispatch to The Chicago Post and Mail,
L WASHINGTON, March IA report
" current at the capital that Belknap b;
committed suicide. 1t cannot be verified
as no one here knows his whereabouts.
Special Dispatch to The Chicago Journal.
y WASHINGTON. D. c., March 2.-Tf
- Belknap exposure has produced the mo
g painful feeling among the Republicans
D the senate and house, and little else
n talked about. Your correspondent had i
4 terviews with several prominent Repub
can senators. this afternoon. and all agree
~ that under the circumstances the preside
ID ought not to have accepted Belknar
70 resignation, but waited the action Of Il
10 house.