The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-03-14
THE RADICAL PARTY RESPONSE
BILE FOR OFFICIAL MALFEAS.
ANCE

ANCE.
B. BUTLER, according to late corre-
spondent of the New OK Herald, comes
out in defense of BELKNAP, and says
that he wont believe him guilty, until
he is so proven in a court of justice, so
in the honest and virtuous ex-gentlo
mans eyes, the confession and humilia-
ton OF the ex-secretary all go for moth
ing. So does Buffers opinion for that
matter, and there is nothing singular in
his defending BELKNAP or any other
apostle of corruption.
But, in this interview, the Massachu.
sets warrior and Christian statesman
does make remark worthy of no.
tce, because it is one so frequently in
dulged in by Radical leaders and the
press. He says: If Mr.. BELKNAP has
been guilty of high crimes and misde-
meanors, it does not follow that the Re-
publican party is necessarily corrupt or
undeserving the confidence of the peo-
pie &c. Granted. If the ex-
Secretary was the only case,
and if the Republican par
ty haG shown disposition to unearth
aud punish his corruption, no man in
the country would think of saddIing the
whole Republican party with his crime.
But he is only one OF long list. 1t is
under the domination Of that party
that the world has seen cor
ruptlon among us everywhere,
in all places. The President
himself has set the example of growing
rich though presents and rewarding his
benefactors with lucrative posi-
lions; of using his high office
rs measure of enrichIng himself and
relatives; of persistlng, in the face Of pub
lie opinion, not only in appointing to fat
offices his connections, but of even lend
ing himself to controlling, through his
position, such money-making places as
post-traderships, for instance as proven
by the late testimony of his own brother
ORvILLE. These. to say nothing of such
occurrences as the taking under
his wing of sucn men as Boss
SHEPHERD and HARRINGTON, of safe
burglary fame, and his interpreting every
obstacle to prevent fair trial for his
prime favorite, BABCoCK, are what the
Republican President has done.
Then coming lower down in the scale
we see that private secretary indicted a
consplrator, and only acquitted because
of the verde: "no. proven We see
our high and honorable minister to the
Court of ST. james indicted as
swindler, and, sneakingly resigning,
hurrying away from his post to
avoid arrest, We see burning
and shining lights of the party, exam
piles such as JOYCE, MCDONALD, Chief
Clerk AVERY, MCKEE, &c, convicted
felons. We read of detalcation after de-
falcatlon, peculation after pecalation in
all grades of the civil service. We see
exposed Credit Mobilier, whisky rings,
moiety contracts, huge subsidies, and a
legion of other things of like nature, all
born and nurtured in corruption. Time
would fail us to recount at length the
instances of WILLIAMS and his landau
let; of the recent charges against Pierre
POINT; of straw bids in the Postoffice De-
partment; OF the Indian frauds; and of
the suspected misconduct in the Navy
Department Suffice it TO say that it is
this one continued story of fraud and
crime which has so far eliminated in
BELKNAP's disgrace, which shows that
the whole Radical body polite as exhibit
ed by those in authority, is one
festerlng sore OF corrupt matter
and that, and that alone, is why the
people of the country connect the mai
feasance Of the ex-Secretary with his
party as party. And this will con-
tinue to be the opinion of the people, let
Mr.. BUTLER and all the Radical leaders
and papers rave about it as much as they
will.