The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-03-24
FRIGHTENING WITNESSES.
Republicans Attempting to Proven
the Investigation of Bribery
Theft and Corruption.
From the Cincinnati Enquirer.

1t wasn't Mr. Ciymer's committee that
frightened Marsh, the principal witness
against Belknap, from Washington. That
committee needed him to back up the
proposed impeachment with his testi
mony. The idea that he or anything that
his wife might say in regard to MIR. Pendle-
ton had the slightest influence in their ac-
ton is absurd. Mr. Pendleton is private
citizen In no event would his action
compromise the Democratic party. But
the Republican party was compromised by
Belknap, who was the secretary of war of
its elected president, Marsh was driven
away by the order Of Grant to Attorney
General pierrepont to commence prosecu-
tions against him as a pdrticeps crinslhis
in the bribery of Belknap. This Was
intended to suppress many other witnesses
| against suspected parties. 1t is the
policy of all governments TO encourage
intormers. 1t is an old and true adage
that when rogues fall out honest men
get their dues. The nolle prosequi enter
ed BY the government attorneys in cases of
state witnesses applies here. Grant
didn't want to apply it. Heteared it. His
cabinet feared it. Hence his order to
Pi, rrepont. 1t was the object OF the ely
mer col mite to convict tie secretary OF
war. They were not to be diverted from
it by any private citizen connected with
that secratary, even it he was Democrat.
That is one thing we have noticed In all
this transaction, and that is the difference
in the punishment which is meeted out to
Democratic and Republican thief A
man who has stolen loses all caste in the
Democratic party, but he doesn't lose it in
the Republican party The defaulting
state treasurer of Ohio, Breslin, vas made
an exile in Cauada in order to avoid pres
ecutirn. He xas Democrat. His brother
ia-law, Gibson. who took upon himself the
deialcaticn, and added thereto the crime
uf perjury. b., being The real author OF the
deficit. was the Republican candidate iol
congress in the last election. Democratic
Boss Tweed went tn the penitentiafy. Re
publican Boss Shepherd didn t go there
He was guilty ct more rascalities in more
limited theater, but was sustained by hi
party ard Tweed Was not He is now vir
tually the governor of the District OF Col
umbia He is the friend aud adviser o
Grant, Belknap. Delano, Babcock, Will
Jams. Grant himself and all the rest wh'
have been affected by disclosures are likel,
to go through scot free. The Republican
party power exerts itself in their defense
1t employs its whole agency against thos
who :,refer to prove the charges ofrobbery
Let the people mark these things. Tn
Commercial eDdeavors to draw shadow
distinction between Grsntism and Repub
licanism. Isn't one the offspring of th
other? Don't we judge the tree by th
fruit? Should the people take any invest
ments ID that party's Judgment? The Re
+publicans of New Hampshire say they viii
We know they don't express the views c
their compatriots everywhere, and tina
. there are some among them who want t
stop thievery, even when it exists anon
their political friends. There may not b
enough of them to do the Democrats an
good, but still they ought to have sem
3 showing.