Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1876-03-29
The Reaction That Doesn't Set In.

one OF lOtS.-CtHclEHdtt Tunes.
The Reaction That Doesn't Set In.
Though they have industriously added
their wits in the effort, the Democratic
leaders and newspaper organs cannot ac-
count for it that the Belknap exposure
was followed by an increased Republican
majority in New Hampshire, as, in Maine,
were the Whisky Ring exposures. The
Belknap affair, which the Democratic
committee FASTENED to explode for effect
upon the New Hampshire canvass, pro-
voked prompt response Of popular in
dignation which found expression in un-
qualified condemnation of the corrupt
Secretary, and an earnest demand that the
work of investigation be pushed most
searchingly into every department of the
public service, that no thieving official
might escape exposure and punishment,
swift and relentless. The Whisky Ring
exposures, too, laid out a row Of political
corpses rs utterly beyond the possibility
of resurrection as are the Credit Mobilicr
thieves. The work of investigating is
still in progress, and the whole public
warmly seconds it and insists that it be
thorough and untlinching. Yet with all
the corruption dug up and brought to
light, duplicating Republican officials,
comes prompt popular Endorsement,
through the ballot box, and more decisive
than before of the Republican party.
The result has been ascribed, by Demo
cratic dunderheads, to bribery, to popular
indifference to corruption in office, and,
in short, to well nigh everything save the
true cause. The public conscience, in
<,f bo; tod l.
and more sensitive, and is no less unspar-
ing toward Republican than Democratic
thieves. it demands above all things,
and in unequisocal terms, publication
Of the public service, and that every
department be purged of thieves and
thievery The exposures thus far made
the necessity for Fastening The work of
publication, which is undoubtedly the
great business in our politics oday But
the great public does not rush to intrust
that work TO the Democratic party,
tigates to find out Republican corruption,
record is cited, they may retort: :" You are
another" The country is not at this
juncture to be diverted from the real stu
That is the argument of the self-convicted
thief, and it fails to satisfy the American
people that the party which uses ii is to
be looked to- to rid us of corruption and
dishonesty. BY what save that thieves
argument does the Democratic party ad-
dress itself to public confdenceg What
reform has it carried out? What is its
policy upon any live question? What,
with its overwhelming power in the
House, has it done or proposed to do, be-
You'd hunting after Republican corruption
| to reinforce the you-are- another argu
ment? 1t has disgraced itself by lame en-
deavors TO hide Democratic corruption,
which has been struck at every step in the
| investigation in progress. Civil-servce
reform is secuted at by the entire rank and
| file in their chase after spoils; and the
economy in store for US, should the Dem
ocratc party capture the Administration,
| is illustrated by the appalling total of war
| claims and cotton claims and claims of
all sorts, for payment out of the Nation
| al Treasury, of the rebel war losses
AT the same time, Babcock, Belknap,
| Schenck, and the rest pointed out as the
conspicuous examples of Republican cor
ruption, are to day the conspicuous exam
| Piles of the memorable promptness with
which the Republican party requires dere-
lict Republican officials to step down and
out; and Republican voters approve the
most searching investigation, that every
Republican official who has betrayed his
trust may be compelled to step down and
out. So long as this goes on--and it will
go on until every Republican under sus-
picion is forced into back seat the peo-
pie are not to be persuaded that, because
Belknap was thief, every Republican is
thief, neither that in voting the Repub-
lican ticket they ratify and sustain thieve-
ry in office. The result Of the investiga.
tons is to rid the Republican party of
thieving camp followers, and to bring to
the front, to take the leal, honesty unm-
peachable and the best brains in the party
and in the country. The people clearly
perceive it; and, rs in Maine and New
Hampshire, no matter what may be devel-
oped by investigations, will not hesitate
! in their choice between the party that has
the moral strength to purify itself, and the
reactionary eX-Contederate Democracy, in
whose hands the country instinctively
feels the substantial victories of the War
would be iLsidiously frittered away
CAacago Tribune.
Democratic Tactics.