Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1876-03-10

I
of Tuesday last, is correct and true, every
word OF =, and meets oar sentiments pre-
cisely. The Telegraph says: $50 far as
the baser element Of the Democratic party
claim political triumph for the national
shame Belknap has brought on the Ameri-
can name, BY twitting the Republicans with
The fact that this thief was a cabinet officer
under u Republican administration, they
are safe from the danger Of any successful
defense. But when these ghouls 60 further
and charge that the detected rascal is u
/ Republican. we are forced to call a halt
and plead the record. Beiknap as no: uoer,
and Hersr has been Republiccn. His
! presence in the cabinet of Republican
| President was one of those pieces Of pig
headed Obstinacy and political bluuderings
which has marked Grants career ever since
he chose his first cabinet officer. Dismiss
ing every one Of his past, and present,
/ Cabinet, with the exception of Messrs.
Fish and Chandler (who are fit men to aid
in governing a country, because they know
something about !he mater, Grant has
never vet chosen one man lit for the place
he has flung TO him. But we have now to
do with Belknap, and only mention the
others 10 indica te the strange anomaly OF
such 4 creature as the late Post Ira ders'
partner appearing in the Cabinet ut all.
We have asserted above, and now repeat,
that Beiknap never was, and is not now.
Republican. He went into the war Dem
ocrat. He como out the war Democrat.
Considering that this fact ought to weigh
with Mr.. Johnson, after that Presidential
wonder had rated to the democracy, Bel
KNAPP ca me TO Washington AMI for weeks
tried to obtain au appointment rs scond
lieutenant in the regular army-and failed.
He then concluded to try for place in the
civil service, and ID his endeavors TO pro-
cure endoIsers 10 the then President he
found himself unable to obtain any Repub-
Hcans TO recommend him. That, however,
was not a serious drawback TO a man ap.
plying 70 Andrew Johnson for an Office,
and so the application went in. In due
time he was made Collector OF Internal
Revenue in Iowa, and sunk a: once into
the contented Obscurity of one OF fJohnsons'
bread and butter brigade Here he
yegetated when General Rawlins died.
Then Grant took him by The hair, and to
the astonlshment OF the whole country, put
him At the head % the army johnson had
refused to make him a subaltern in Aud !
as Belkaap never did anything 10 indicate
that he was O. Republican before he became |
Secretary Of War, SO he has since carefully |
reirained from any act that could benefit |
The Republicans in any conceivable way, F.
OF indicate bis sympathy FOR it or Its princi- |
pies. His social life, surroundings, prefer |
enccs and connections, all point unerriugly |
TO his political! status. He married Ken |
tuckiau aud a rebel. She dying, he mated |
with her sister; and had for the distin- /
guished CUES, ut his last wedding George !
H. Pendlet0n, q man guililess Of one word /
ofloyalty before the war, during the war, or /
since the war. And the only act OF impor- |
taut friendship done in his behalf, since his /
exposure, has been performed by Hester
Clymer, his class-mate and mess mate at
Princeton college, who was inspired, doubt
less, 10 this act of his friendship by pOllti-
cal afliuities as well as personal knowledge
OF his friend. Mr.. Clymer IS very we'll
known bitter partisan hereabOut; and it
is incredible that he could have performed
ed. in sending out OF the country The only
witness competent TO convict him before
the Court of Impeachment, unless par
tisan affinity had suggested the act. For
the savageDess of ClJmer's political deyo-
ton is in inverse ratio to his kindness of
heart. His old time friendship would not,
and bis partisan devotion would, induce him
10 shield Belknap-and we believe he has
attempted TO shield him because he knew
him 10 be a Democrat Thus Belknap's
known attdude in politics before. during,
an Appointment: from johnson because he
was a Democrat; the absence of one
word or act, since Grant grabbed him AID
made him Secretary of War, to indicate
that he has ceased to be Democrat and
the aid and attempted protection he has re-
ceved at the hands of one of the bitterest,
most malignant, Democrats on earth all
these 20 70 prove that what we assert con-
cerning Belkuap's being anything but
Republican is true. We know our charge |
bears somewhat severely on Grant for ap-
such a man. But the stolid in
difference Grant has shown to the best
Interests Of the Republican party-in
ways-wi!l render light whatever
ceusure many be heaped on him for its be
travail. And even if he does no: bear criti-
cism with his usuai fortitude the reason
will lie found rather in n remembrance Ofhis
political 5!unders, rather than in any con-
sideratiCn Of the party that alone had the
desire 10 homer him, that did honor hlm,
and that now lies tramp!ed down by his
folly, obstinacy, -sufficiency, and dull
political pundering. Il IS time for uie Re
publican purity to unload -
The admission TO the Centennial Expo
sition has been fixed at fifty cents, and