National Republican., 1876-03-04


nrw that political doomsday is impending
They seem to think that
In Belknsp's fall
We sinned all.
Or. If they do not think so, purposely give
aid and comfort to the enemy by pretend
iug to think so. 1t is true that the party
is Suffering under its sorcst affiiction, and
onc from which no comfort can be derived,
except in the fact that 1t finds, not one,
but hundreds of parallels in the tcn-fold
greater and more heinouS afllictions of the
same kind that in days gone by made the
Democratic party thing to be loathed
sad spurned by honest and clear-sighted
men. We admit that this is poor consola-
ton. but if we fail TO fad any sufficient
soiace in it, We may at least derive benefit
five profit by the blurdcring experience
of cur opponents. The advice of the
creaGers and others TO whom we have re-
fctrcd is cowardlv, and Smacks Of a ncr-
vousncss born Of present difficulties.
There is nothing OF the courage about it
taat IS the presaCe of victory, nor of the de-
termination required TO put 4 weak enemy
to rcut. The Democracy, VIC should re-
member, never punished its leaders for
their corrupt practices. For this reason
thcse leaders grew boldcr and bolder in
their iniquities, until they finally seized
upon the throat ofthc Government itself, not
satisfied with having robbed the Treasury,
and attempted to suck the very lifsbloOd Of
the nation When the people became
aroused to q knowledge OF this fact, the
Republican party grew into existence as
necessity of the period. We do not be-
lieYe that the necessity has passed away.
The Democracy has abandoned none OF
the hcresies for which it received popular
condemnation; its leader have los! none
of their boldness in the advocacy Of perni-
cious administrative policy, and the only
things to commend it. and them, TO the
public is the assumption of a demogogical
economy in the pubic expenditures which
has added ruin to the commercial stagna,
tioa which prevailed before Congress met
aaG the exposure of an insignificant misde
meNnor on the part OF hitherto unsus-
pected Republican official. This is the
situation at the present moment Looking
at i! calmly we cannot find anything dis
couraging in it. To be sure, if We fold our
arms and admit that the President, the
Administration and the party at large are
Jointly responsible for the malversltion of
the late Secretary Of War. we shall not
only be defeated, but deserve dc!cat. But
il we do what the Democracy never dil
do. If VIC punish the nan or men who dis
grAcc the party by violating the laws Of
the country, we at once rcinstatc ourselves
ia pubiic favor, and put our antagonists
asa:n at a disadvantage.
Thus far in the especial case under con
Iittlc headway. The hurrah Of the mo
ment. SO TO speak, IS with them, hec
the public mind has been shocked b. an
exposure of wicllcdncss in high places: bat
while the blow has staggered it has not
shaken or destroyed public confidence.
The Tccol will be on our side, and if We
deserve il, the sober second thou ght oC the
ccrntrv will sustain Us. Tuc Republican
lucnIcr> of the Committee on EXpendi
turcs Of the War Department are entitled
to as much credit, and are as much rcSpon-
si5ie FOR the result under consideration as
their Democratic colleagues, whom the
fortunes of political warfare placed in a
majority of one vote pending the invcstiga-
tion The Republican minority in tho
House, after judicious plea for time in
whiCh to examine the evidence in the case,
Joined unanimously in voting that the ac
C"sed Secretary should be impeached.
The Republican members of the Judiciary
Committee are engaged with their Demo
cratic colleagues in preparing basis for
the Impeachment trial, and Republican
that trial. But, aside from the view
of the case presented by the posi-
biIi.ies or probabilities of impeachment,
invoking legal technicalitc, and parla
meutary prccedcnts, there is another and
stronger phase of ii, from which the
mos: bcnefcent results may be expected.
Not that VIC would pouncc upon man of
Zen. Bclknap's position TO make him q
sacrifice for party's sake, nor that we
would win favor by prosecuting him
cruelty; but in the trial before the courts
oC Justice, which must assuredly follow
the events Of the past few days, the in
tegrity of the party can and must be served
10y preserving the majesty of the law.
There is no occasion to plead for such a
result 1t Is certain to come. The Presi-
dent has directed that the subject shall be
made a matter of especial attention by the
proper law officers of the Government,
and very soon the questions involved iu it
will become the subject of thorough judi.
cisI investigation. Let justice he done,
and she people will be satisfied, their faith
in the party restored, their eyes opened
once more to the true condition of affairs, and
their antipathy to the Democracy revived.
This accomplished, victory in the coming
campaign will be as certain to the Repub-
Ian party as it is certain that Republican
victory is essential to good government.
Now THAT the truth is known regard