The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1876-03-10
PRESS COMMENTS.
SECRETARY OF WAR OF BUCHAXAN's
aDMTNTSTRs sTToN

stracted $50, 900 of bonds from the De
partment and was subsequently indict-
ed. The fraud was enormous, but the
events of the outbreak of the rebellion
covered the shame and he was never
tried. He died in 1868, at Richmond,
and it is alleged that he derived no per-
sonal benefit His larceny was part of
his entire treason. which consisted III
the shipping of 113, 900 Inuskets, many
cannon and much ammunition into the
Confederacy, where they could be used
in enmity TO the government of which
he was then the Secretary of War. 1t
was a fearful crime. but it had some
dignity in its amount, unselfishness. and
the risk it incurred. His blame is no
apology for that of Belknap's-opposed
in cause they should have been opposed
in principle. Floyd was only traitor,
and had a shadowy excuse for his disre-
gard of official honor. Belknap has only
the plaintive excuse of the Lords Prayer
Lead US not into temptation"
THE PRESIDENTS RESPONSIBILITY.
From the New York Times (Rep).
The pIrty which has sustained PTesi-
dent Grants administration, and the
people whose good name he has, to some
extent, in his keeping, have the right to
expect that lie should be in the future
more ready than he has been in the past
to acknowledge the possibility of his
judgment of men being at fault. Blind
unquestioning confidence in ones friends
may be accounted virtue in private
life, but it is nearly allied to grievous
fault in public station. The depository
r. cl, ha,
attachments and no preiudices strong
enough to prevent him from recognizing
error or wrong doing in his associates.
The President should disregard the
counsel Of those who have thrown their
influence Oh the side of suppression and
silence, and should reassure the party
which elected him, and the people whom
he represents, by using the means which
he possesses for testing the party of Off
cials who now rest under suspicion or
distrust.
NO GAIN FOR THE DEMOCRACY.
From the New York Tribune Qnd).
There is no necessary gain to the
Democrats in all this. The people of the
country do not believe them to be one
whit better Their management this
winter has been disgusting. They have
shown no capacity tor government, and,
until within a few days, not even
capacity for investigating. They have
no policy. no leaders, practically no or
ganization. 1t has scarcely been a fort
night since they were dodging around
trying to escape the responsibility for
the appointment of a shameless liar, who
was so delighted with the assassination
of Abraham Lincoln that he named his
child for the assassin. 1t is a party
without conference, without leadership,
without principles, discordant in policy,
rent in twain on the money question,
absolutely without unity on any subject
save the desire to get into office. A
thousand times within the past twenty
four hours. honest men as they met each
other on the streets have said, ''Oh, If
the DemocrBts only had any sense or any
honesty"
GRANTS MISFORTUNES.
From the Richmon (Va.) Wing. Dem).
We have never doutted the personal
integrity of President Grant, and if any
of his chief officials fall from grace, we
would not impute to him q foreknowl
edge of their weakness. But certainly he
has been most unfortunate in having so
many scandals, if nothing woIse, traced
to those who share his confidence.
POINT NO. 2. FOR HAYES.
From the Wheeling w. Va.) mIelligeEcer.
The developments at Washington will
tend to turn public attention to the
choice of some man for President
who has not been near the city for
some time 1t would be just like Gov.
Hayes uniform good luck to be benefit
ed by what has happened. The location
of the convention at Cincinnati was
point number one in his favor, and now
comes point number two.
THE NERVE OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.
From the Philadelphia Press Rep).
In all this wretched matter it is bra
cling to observe the integrity and nerve of
the Republican party as party. Let
no guilty man escaped" has been the in
siinctive rule of action. There has been
no hesitancy, no desire 20 take iiivLu
tage of technicality; but in one prompt
session, 10y a unanimous vote, iihpeach-
ment is ordered, and the prosecution
will be.conducted 10y board OF maua-
gers in part Republican before ii Repub-
lican Senate There is no doubt as to
the action of the Senate, if, under the
law of the land, a trial is to be had be
fore that body. This decisive action is
the best evidence of conscious strength.
4 weak party or corrupt party would
have faltere1, tempCriZed, or argued.
Only a party strong i'll the Consciousness
that it holds in itself thn body cf tie
chaIuct aii inte":, -.a IT.
party vi Il gli ..I Pri':ciy : a~r ever,
thing and men moth. = -crni 5iid~ 'Iavc
confronted sluara!y ;...' = .n-.n- ~ one
OF its appointed office r rs;nd march
ed straight on to punish he offenders
and vindicate in his punishment the
honor OF the Nation.
OF DEMOCRATIC PAGT.sANs.
From the Chicago Tribune (Rep1
The ineiTable meanness of Democratic
partisans who would flsten the crime of
Secretary BelAnap and his wife OH the
Republican party is almost bpyond COM
prehension. Instead al feeling sorrow
and shame at the National disgrace.
these malignants gloat over it and rub
their hands together in great glee. This
makes IA sure thing OF New Hampshire
and Connecticut for the Dem scrats."
say they, with Il C uckir OF delight. A
Confederate member of Congress iitly
d gang OF these par; Si:.s who
were rejoicing in his presence at liIe
prospective injury the exposure of Beik
nap would intiict on the Republicans.
Said be: The Republican party is no
more responsible for Belknap'S bribery
than the Southern ladies are for the
blackmail his Kentucky wife levied on
the sutler" II parties or sections are to
be charged with their guilt. the South
and the Democracy must share it with
the North AMI the Republicans. Belk-
nap was always a Democrat-went into
the war one, came out one, was promo |
ted when one, and was one when he fell. |
But we feel as bitterly over the diagrace- |
ful cause of that fall as if he had been |
born and lived Republican. He was
an American, 4 patriot, brave man,
and, until he ielded to social tempta-
ton. an honorable and an honest man.
His crime and disgrace reflect on US all |
hike, for we are his countrymen, and as
Secretary OF WUI, he represented us all
n the government of the Nation.
PRrDE MUST HAVE FALL
From The baltimore American (Repl.
Tie NOR! OF this sad story is that
people ought to live within their income
/ man who can not get along in Wash
ngton City on a salary of SO, 900 year
,ugLt not to accept Cabinet Office. If
member of the Cabinet Qike Secretary
fish, for iusJance,) has a large private