Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1876-03-17
THE CAUSE OF THE DOWNFALL.

The cause Of the disgrace, into which the
Republican administration Of the Govern
ment has fallen, is that it has completely
insulated itself from the voice of the peo-
pie, and this Insulation has been the natu-
raj result of the legislation that marked
its progress. 1t began by legislating for
class, and when that is done, nothing is
easier than to shut off the cries of the
other class that is not legislated for. When
the cutlery against oppression and corrupt
local government came up from the South
ern States, the party in power at once
credited it to the dissatisfaction and revo-
lutionary spirit Of the class that was not
legislated for. It shut its ears, and ap-
pealed to the humanitarian party of the
North to stand byit. Having once estopped
sectional remonstrance, it is easy to make
the estoppel general. AS time wore on,
those at the North who protested against
the condition of the South were promptly
classed with the revolutionary spirits of
the South, and regarded with suspicion.
A protest against corruption at the South
became disloyalty to the Union, until at
last protest against corruption anywhere
in the country became disloyalty to the
nation, or, to what then represented the
nation-the Administration. Such fatal
security as this, enjoyed with the full con-
sent and support of the ruling section of
the land, warmed the corruption Of the
Republican party into vigorous life. The
charges, and even the specifications of the
most daring corruptions, were merely ridi-
culed, as in the charges against BELKNAP
four years ago, or passed by in silent con-
tempt. The press has rung with charges
against these people to no purpose, except
that when matters were made too hot to
bear, the guilty officer retired with a re-
gretful letter from the head of the Admin
istration. When memory brings up these
cases, it seems almost beyond belief that
they should have been tolerated by free
people. The Republican Congress set it's
teeth, and determined that there should
be no exposures. When the Black Friday
scandal occurred, in which it was known
that CoRBIN, the Presidents brother-in-
law, was concerned, and of which it was
suspected the President himself was cog
infant, the Congressional Investigating
Committee merely waited on that official
to receive his statement" and, getting
the information that che had nothing he
wished to communicate" dropped the
matter. In all minor cases a similar course
was pursued. The press of the country
rang against RICHARDSON, the Secretary
of the Treasury, but he was allowed to re-
sign "with regret;" against DELANo, Sec
Rotary Of the Interior, for Indian frauds,
but he was permitted to resign "With re-
gret;" against ScHENCK, the first diplo-
matte agent of the United States, who has
escaped the clutch of an English constable
for swindling English stockholders in the
EMMA Mine, and whose resignation has
been accepted after giving him time to
escape from the country under the cover of
his fag-and SO on, from the highest to
the lowest. There has been one persist
ent, unfailing protection OF the criminal.
and sometimes punishment of his accusels
by the Administration. When Secretary
BRIsToW, all ill-advised selection for such
a Cabinet, came in. some prosecutions were
commenced, which soon reached the Presi-
dents personal friends, and finally Bah
COCK, his private secretary. One result
was that the head Of HENDERSON, a pro-
scouting attorney. was cut off for ''per-
sonal reflections on the President" 1t
had to lie understood that while the Presi-
dent afforded little aid to the prosecu-
ton in the way of catch phrases like "Let
no guilty man escape" he did not intend
a reflection on himself to be used as part
of the means for holding them.
We have said that where tree bears
such fruit as all this, that it is chargeable
to the party They have tolerated these
evils; they have failed to listen to the ac-
cusers. This Is where the crime of the
Republican party and Administration lies.
This is wherein they have forfeited the
confidence Of the nation. and are forced to
part with the control of the Government.
THE VALLEY RAILROAD.