The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1876-03-24
THE BELKNAP BUSINESS.
More Pertinent Press ComIns nts ON this
Most A.losndIng Ha.csIIty

temper the retributiye stroke; but in his
Y hour ~ hopeless destruction, the Nation j.
compelled 90 look beyond him Ia the foun-
tain that seni the poison into his soul. and
now drives him Ina whitening sc0rn from
I the temples Of manhood. He saw the pee
uiatOr and the jObber al the threshold Of the
White House and the favorites I'm it, inner
counses. lie saw wealth gathered by his
/ fellows on meagre salaries, and amidst the
extrayagant yulgarity Of a social Organiza-
ton that hated virtue. lie saw that men
had come laden with gift and had received
the highest hOnors in return for them. lie
saw the Summers, the Seizures, the Trum-
bulls and the Greeeys 81 Repnblicanlsm
forbidden guests AZ the Republican feast,
because they were honest. lie saw the
MoTtons, the Conklings, the Carpenters and
the Blaines superseryiceable friends Of pow
er, and dwarfcd from statesmenshp 10 the
.hufiiing tricks 81 the politician. He saw
/ the kellOggs, the Spencers, the Patter-Ons,
the Caseys, the Whippers and the Mosbys
crowned a. Republican dictators and parting
the official raiment Of the Administration. He
saw sumner deposed for his purity, and the
phrenzy 81 arrogant personal rule sweep
even Cameron away up To the leading chair
manshipof the senate. He saw Schenck
90 out to the first court Of Europe 10 huck-
ster the honor Of the Government in private
speculative swindles, and the nation unfelt
in it, demand for his recall. He saw Bah
cock arm in arm with district plunderers,
fsring sumptuously every day, resting in
/ splendor by the seaside in summer ysca-
/ ton. and the most beloved OF all the Presi-
Dental circle. lie saw fellow Cabinet Off
cers dazzle the vulgar crowd with their
equipages, the great men Of authority wor-
ship about their lavish hospitality, and read
with wounded pride the eloquent pen-pic-
lures OF dependant journalists, portraying
/ the counterfeit tints and the shoddy trap
pings Of official households. He saw the
j q uar.l and he ..f
! Interior hand in hand with fraud, more than
/ proven and al last confessed, and no seyerer
Judgment for IL than reluctantly accepted
designations with Presidential certificates Of
devotion to shem. He saw the Secretary Of
. the Treasury so abuse his trust that the ac-
cusati0n OF ignorance would have been
boundless charity. and his retirement de-
layed until Presidential favor could charge
him with high judicial functions. He saw
the Secretary Of the Navy reyel in official ye-
nality and hOnored by his political chief and
associates for his social magnifcence and his
skill in carrying elections. He saw the
Postmaster-GeDeralt taken from the lobby 10
ply his vocation in the Cabinet, and when
public tolerance was exhausted, retired
with ample reward and protection. He saw
Shepherd reveling In wealth AZ the cost Of
bankrupied city. honored with the Presi-
dents commission 90 rob under color Of his
own manufactured laws: and when de-
thronedby his own unhlushing profigacy,
and his government abolished 10 rescue the
capital from his infamy, every department
/ Of power vet paid tribute 10 his social splen-
dor. and welcomed him 10 their family fire.
sides. He saw woman unseXed. scOrched
by the flames Of invited scandal, OmnipOtent
in molding the Administration. Congress,
| contracts and commissions. and Vet smiled
upon. bowed 10 and even led TO the altar by
those who boosted Of illustrious crowns.
He saw the Murphys, the Leets, the Joyces.
LEI. ~ Il
their welcome. He saw Pinchback knock
AT the doors Of the Senate. bearing a csm-
: mission that was a lie. created by an au-
thOrity that usurped the power OF COM
monwealth. and the smiles and friendly
Offices Of administrative power pressing him
into the Senator's chair. Such were the
entertainments. such the lessons. such the
illustrious examples which met him when
he was called from ohscurity 10 Cabinet
portfolio. and that he worshiped and fell j.
but the logical sequel 81 his unfortunate ac-
ceptance Of honors which were tossed in the
tempest Of groyeling selhshsess and greed.
philadelphia Times.
The ygor with which the Administration
pur>ues the disgraced Belknap j. beautiful.
lie j. denounced in court circles with as
much warmth-almost-as the tel-tale
Marsh or the impTudent Evans. lie H.
watched day and night by a detachment Of
police. The officers have orders 10 seize him
at all hazards II he tries 10 escape. He l. to
I be prosecuted 20 the full extent Of the law.
The Department ~ Justice this time will
not he on the side Of the defense...... But
I why could we not have had a little display
Of this righteous indignation four years ago:
In February ..ls12. this whole story Of the
Fort ~ill contract was published in the Tri-
/ bune. II was shown then that the officers.
soldiers. aud emigranis were mercilessly
pillaged for the benefit OF somebody in Wash
p Il n. = a
I the trading privilege. was an intimate friend
u the Secretary Of War, and we gave his
7 full name and address for the benefit Of the
authorities in case they wished 10 ask ques-
iions. Nor was il only the liccntious. ma
leyolent. and God-forsaken independent
press which made these things known at
I Washington. They were frequently brought
20 the notice Of the Administration By high
officers Of the army-among others CT i
said) 10y Gen. Hazen. The operations Of
OWL Grant have been repeatedly exposed
| II l. not too much 60 saw that for wears
the frauds in the War Department
Z have been well known To the
Administration, while at the West they
have been absolutely notorious. II Gen.
I Belknap had only denied his crime. and
tried % break down Marsh's testimony. no
doubt there would have been a party "
stanch Administration men to see him
through. The charges would have been
and Independents. put forth for effect upon
the New Hampshire election. Perhaps a
safe would have been cracked some night.
and the contents conveyed 10 Marsh's bed
room and placed between the mattresses.
where Harrington and the Chief Of Police
would have gone Immediately and found
them. II the ease had ever come 10 trial the
Department ~ Justice might have appointed
one of it, suhordinates as prosecutor and as
signed all the others 20 the duty 81 crossing
him and helping the defense. After the
customary verdict Of acquittal Boss Shep-
herd would have got up a serenade and a
subscription 81 81. 900. And II II had come
10 the worst and Gen. Belknap had perforce
resigned. he could at least have gone out Of