Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-03-06
BeIknap's FaII-COIhments of the
Danaa

BeIknap's Fall-COIhments of the
Press.
Making a virtue of necessity, we may
be prepared fer such elusive morality
from the Republican organs on the Belk-
nap ugliness. They will now make a
scape goat of the disgraced Secretary; as
il the whole concern was not reeking
with corruption from the White House
down. The Investigations have not
closed yet. Had they not better wait
until the returns are all n?-NashUille
american DEM
All that the country can do, perhaps,
is TO bear its share of the disgrace with
what patience it may, dismiss the offend
er to his infamy, and hold President
Grants administration and the party
that put it in power to a reckoning for
the shocking and multiplying scandals
that are following each other in such
rapid succession and disgracing us and
our Government in the eyes OF the World.
st Louis Republican (Dem.)
This stupendous shock TO public feel
ing a be relieved and assuaged only
by such swift and %uRrelenting punish
ment as will serve as q warning TO- Off
GERS who may hereafter be tempted to
abuse their trusts. One of the worst
features of these multitudinous scandals
is the iniexible uniformity with which
the President has defended and protected
the officers whose regulations have been
assailed. He has turned a deaf ear to
charges and proofs, and has done his ut.
most to stifeH and defeat every searching
investigation IN Y. Herald, March 3
This mornings Washington news will
be read with profound interest throughout
the country. A Cabinet officer, who has,
up to the present time, enjoyed the es.
TEEN and respect Of men of all political
parties, has been suddenly revealed to
the world as Q malefsctor of the most
contemplate descriptions b~ride-taker.
whose real victims we're the private SOL
diers Of the army to which he himself
once belonged, aud of which be was.
until yesterday, the virtual commander.
Gen. Belknap leaves nothing to be said
in bis favor st Louis Globe Democrat
Radical Rep
As nothing could be gained to Justice
thereby, there was i~ndecency, and the
appearance Of a desire to make a case
for the country at all hazards, in the way
The committee hurried this matter to the
House, refusing the secretary any fair
opportunity TO examine the witnesses or
introduce others, and in the way the
House, without printing the testimony,
or waiting for more, rushed through a
resolution of impeachment, the majority
trying to pat all who asked for delibera-
ton, or doubted the legality Of impeach-
ment in the attitude Of opposing justice.
All this tends to injure the moral effect
OF the procedure, and to create the i'm
preston that it is not justice that the
majority want, but party profit. They
also exhibited a hyena nature, which was
not at all creditabls to their manhood
Cincinnati GdEette..( Radical Rep.)
Unhappily this last accusation comes
10 company with the confession of the
victim General Belknap does not deny
the CHARGE be WINS that it is true. And
this fact seems to give some color of
probability to the reports, freely made,
that not alone in this one t~rasaction has
the Secretary betrayed his sacred trust.
II is limited that there are yet other
depths Of iniamy to be sounded and other
hideous skeletons to be unveiled. Bat
the offense that has been disclosed ruins
Belknap utterly and forever. He has de-
stroyed himself, and he can have no
cause for complaint If he shall be i'm
peached and punished by forfeiture of
bis rights as q citizen. The greatness of
his office makes his crime horrible in it's
lniquity, and the only thing that he can
do Is to step down and out into a shame.
iul retirement where he may hope to be
forgotten Philadelphia Bulletin Req 5