Weekly Trinity journal., 1876-03-11
PRESS THE 5NyESTICATTONs.

If the leaders Of the Republican party |
had made up their minds to throw the
government Of the country into the hands
OF its enemies, we can think Of no surer
way they could have adopted than the
recent Developments in official circles at
Washington have shown forth. There
can be scarcely reasonable possibility OF
doubt but that men in high station, who
from their surroundings and the degree
Of trust rcposed in them should have been
above even suspicion Of wrong. have
been guilty Of conduct which would black
en- the character oc sneak-thief. 1t may
be answered to this that the misdeeds OF
the few who have proved themselves un-
able to with.tand temptation should not be
visited upon the nation MT large by jnAict-
ing upon it n return Of Democratic rule.
But we must bear in mind that the party
in power is justly held responsible for all
abuses Of government, and neither the
truth CT Republican principles nor the
hold which the party has earned for itself
upon the affections Of the people, can save
it from an ignomnious downfall if its
public servants prove themselves so easy
OF access to corruption and bribery
There is but one opportunity for the party
to save itself and redeem the ground it
has lost in season for the coming cam
paign. The fraudulent practices of some
OF its leaders have been laid bare, and
now let disgrace and Punishment swiftly
follow. Without it we are lost as a party
the Centennial Year will witness the
restoration to power of the very party
which few years ago laborcd with every
energy it possessed to destroy and divide
the nation. For the Republican party is
composed Of different material than the
Democracy-th masses comprising its
organization are reasoning, intelligent
men, who will not care to wink at and
gloss over fraud and corruption, let the
party suffer for it. " lie. no guilty man
escape" said President Grant, when the
first corruption in the Department OF the
Interior was brought to light. And now
the people re-ccho the cry and it has no
meaningless sound Punishment must
strike in every place where corruption
exists, whether in high station or low.
And the motto should be the higher the
station the greater the crime, and what
might be looked upon rs comparatively
venal if practiccd by IL subordinate, be-
comca crime Of magnitude when brought
home to one whose position has been, 0.
is such as should make his official acts
examples for imitation to all below him.
1t matters not how pure the principles
Of an organization may be, they will be-
used to further the ends of designing men.
Putriotsm," says DR.. johnson, "is
the last refuge Of scoundrel." And
while the grand progressive principles of
| Repubiicanism were such as to enlist the
sympathy of every friend of human lib
erty and progress, it also attracted to its
ranks many Of those leechcs who follow
! the popular side to further their own in
/ terost-. Willing to pat on the livery Of
heaven to serve the devil in, none were
louder in their patriotic protcs tations, and
it is only through the revelation OF con-
/ fcderatcs that we ut last learn the depth
of degradation to which they can descend
when they have once 50 far succeeded in
enlsting popular confidence as to gain
public station. 1t has been the aim of
the Republican party in past years, to
bring to the lcIon's cell those who, in sub
ordinate positions, showed themselves
lacking IN the moral principles SO neccs-
sary to the conduct Of public duty, and
there must be no faItering now that the
| crime is charged against one or more of
those ranking among the highest in the
| land.
The evidence relating to Secretary Bel
knap's course in certain matters is simply
astounding. That one who, from past
| official life and honorable service in the
fed should yield to the temptation pre-
sentcd, and descend to such depth Of
degradation to add few thousands to his
salary, would be incredible if the charge
were not substantinted by the strongest
kind of evidence. 1t matters not what
reasons can be trumped up or adduced to
excuse this weakness ; let the investiga-
tons proceed until ho is either safe in IA
felon's cell, or stands forth honorubly ac-
quilted. And if il be found that others
are equally guilty with him, let them
share his fate. We have no desi ire to pre-
judge those who stand accused, but when
| any man, we care not who or where, is
proven guilty Of II violation of public
trust, every man who holds good govern
ment mt heart will say "Amen" to the
fiat which sends him where his punish
ment will be warning to others. So we
hope the investigations now in progress
will be pushed with determination, not
for the purpose Of making political capi-
tai, but to insure honorable service in
every department of the Government in
future, and that Republicans and Demo-
Gratis will join hands in fastening the
odlum OF guilt wherever it belongs.
s-sarrnz-.-z-zs--Sz=z--s--
WIFE WnIPrING.-Senator Roachs
bill, providing that in actions for assault
and battery, where the crime has been
committed upon the wife of the defend
ant. he may he DuniShpl hv t,vnufy-oro