National Republican., 1876-03-08

United States, and especially by one OF the
most trusted and honored in the land.
These demonstrations win deceive no one.
There is no feeling of deep regret on their
part over this great misfortune. They
manifest no sorrow that that conf.
dence and character should have been
shipwrecked, and that an honored citizen
should have been disgraced. Nothing of
this kind depresses and weighs down the
Democratic heart. 1t seems to be
prompted by a feeling that partakes more
of the demoniac than of the noble impulses
of human pity. Mr.. Clymer, the char.
man of the committee which unearthed
and presented this great offense to Con-
gress and the world, could not restrain the
malicious joy that filled him, and which
broke forth in the exclamation, 'it is a
"proper outgrowth, the true exponent Of
"the corruption, extravagance and mis-
government that have cursed this land
"for years past" an utterance in which
he sinks himself to a very low grade of
partisan hate. This cry has been taken
up by the whole crew of copperheads and
rebels throughout the land, and re-echoed
in the ears of the people with more salts
faction than they ever manifested over a
Union triumph, when the life Of the nation
was in peril. "
When this case is coolly and dispassion-
ately considered, without q purpose to ex-
tenuate it or to coin it into party adyan-
tage, it appears only as the act of two or
o. ;,li xr-hn a1ana rms
BILE for the offense and its consequences.
Unless the President and the Republican
party attempt to shield or defend the fallen
Secretary and the acts which have over
thrown him, they cannot be held in any
degree accountable therefor. This thing
has not been done. None have been more
prompt than the Republican party, through
its leaders in Congress, to bring the offender
to condign punishment. None would
save, none would screen, him from the con-
sequences of his violation of law and official
right, and hence no one but himself and
those who have drawn him into this snare
are responsible for his conduct.
To the Democrats this calamity is count
ed as a big bonanza. They hope to turn
popular attention aside from the great and
momentous questions so recently precipi-
tated upon the public mind by the ou.crop-
pings of that virus Of treason and rebellion
in Congress, which have awakened the
people to a sense of danger. But in this
they must be disappointed. The public
mind must not be diverted by the misdeeds
of one man from those great questions upon
which hang the future unity, peace and
happiness of the nation. Abandoning Bel
knap to the fate which he has provoked,
let the Republican party move right on in
the work of saving the nation from the dire
calamity of a Confederate Democratic tri-
umph in the coming elections, and that
will secure the future from devastation of
the dearest rights of man, which Demo-
cratic success, with the embers of rebellion
and disunion still slumbering in its ergani-
zation, will inevitably bring. This is the
point to be guarded, and let no issue over
the wicked acts of one man be allowed to
divert the people from the work of saving
this country from Democratic domination.
Because Belknap has fallen while in high
poslllon, 10 winch the Executive had eleVat-
ed him without popular sanction, that does
not involve the remainder of the Republi-
can party in any material degree of respon-
sibility or accountability. When it calls
for his punishment it washes its hands of
the crime he has committed and it should
go forward with its mission of saving the
Union and the Government from passing
under the control of those who have once
attempted its destruction, and who give no
sufficient guarantee that the effort may not
be repeated. Prompt, decisive and proper
action on the prrt of the Republican party
in maintaining its principles and the meas
ures calculated to conserve our future
unity, peace and prosperity as nation will
bring success and security. The fall of
Belknap is not to be magnified by the
enemy to the national detriment.