davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
, 1876-03-25

SECRETARY BELKNAP.-Ihe great event
of the week in the social world was the step
pins down and ou5 Of this gentleman. \
man more to be pitied than abused. The
event has loo~ened all the tongues III Wash
ington. Gossip degenerates into scandal !;
while facts heretofore ignored because it was
impolIte TO mention them, are now "a COM
mon as influenza on the corners. We have
had our buttons pulled of by people telling
us all that We knew mouths ago. Mrs. B.
was only a lobbyist, sir; yes, sir-kept up
all this style on bribes, and Mrs r. no better
siT q; no. sir. S-cur claims, French arms
Yes, strand Mrs. W. cotton claims, sir
millions. sir; millions-yes, sir. Every Off
cial had more rugs to shine on him than
Saturn yes, sir. Look at Delano resiguing
and running off 10 CahlorEia-and Coweu
Infamous, sir-yes sir; infamous. And 80
they wag and 50 rhe orld go,s. What an
illustration OF human nature IN pull-hacks
and swallowtails and the vanity Of human
"a ishes beneath diamonds, lace AMI fine linen.
But yesterday and the elegant parlors OF the
War SECRETARY We're crowded with sycuphan-
tic admirers The beautiful Mrs. Bslknap
stood In her stately dignity smiling on her
host of friends. a more lovely, graceful,
gracious creature never came 10 adorn the
social circles Of our national capital And
how thy followed. fa,tered, sought and
snei. They seemed 10 live on her sweet
smiles and fatten on her Pheasant words.
What sn uneeasIng roll Of silken-lined car
risges rung along the street. It was a favor
to be admitted, an honor 10 be recognized
-
a cemetry- The sheriff or sergant-at-srmes
alone enter the doors Within shame and
misery alone hold possession OF the elegant
Parlors. All is silent save the stiied cries of
anguish from the once courtod but now
abandoned and abused mistress y Washington
P2py.
, 1876-03-25

SHINGLES General Pierrepont
is now charged with crime as great as any
that Babcock, Joyce or Mcdonald has been
guilty of. 1t Is that Of csing his official
position to force from Col. Dyer all the evil
dence against Baboock, and then revealing
that evidence 10 Babcock's counsel before the
trial. This charge is openly made against
him in double-leaied editorials BY the S.. Lou
is 7i8.ss, and has created a great deal of slarrn
and uneasiness in administration circles Ii
true, and there does not seem to be good rsa-
son to doubt It, the case should at once /, in
vestgated by Congress and the Attorney
General compelled TO explain his disgracsful
and criminal conduct before that body. Such
a thing as the law-oAicer Of the government
interfering and tsmperiug with the evidence
against criminal whom the government Is
prosecuting, IN favor Of that criminal, was
never heard Of befeTe,au Is piece of shame.
Iessness that ought 70 cause the cheek of
every good citizen to burn with indignation.
, 1876-03-25

AND Now HERREPoNT.-Char of cor
ruption and mslfeassnee in Office are becon-
ing 80 thick aud frequent that the press and
public are well nigh choked by the fOnl tor
rent. One of the la:est-it - no longer
safe to employ the positive TERMS against
Attorney General Pierrepont, and involves
President Grant in an attempt to screen Bah
cock at the sacrifice of the public interests.
It is alleged that the Attorney General sent
for Dyer before the trial, drew from him the
whole plan of the prosecution under pretense
OF concern for the public welfare. and then,
with the approval Of the President. communi-
Gated the facts So obtained 10 the defense, and
thus enabled them 70 steal march upon the
Government. The statement Is made circum-
stantially, and with an apparently Intimate
knowledge of the facts. Pierrepoint is repre-
sented as having become Jealous of Bristow,
whose popularity casts his colleagues into the
shade, and ss having joined what the nara
tive calls " the Grant faction and the anti
Brisrow combination. Time was when
such dirty, kuavish trick would have been
dIseredired, buC since Landsulet Williams
befOuied the Attorney Generals Office, sppar-
entity with :be full approval of President
Grant, the public have no special grouut;
Tor disbelieving anything that may be slleg-
ed against the incumbent Of that positiOn.-
Washington fareT.
, 1876-03-25

PRESIDENT GRANT--Worshipping the
meanest sort of deity, wealth, this Presi-
dent has given Encouragement 10 lavish
ex ,enditure among his officials that has been
as w! gar as 1t was immoral. While nOmIn-
ating his Attorney General to the high post
of Chief j stice-a man who rode 10 the Cap
itol in a stolen carriage-he paved the way
for his Secretary of War TO u miserable sale of
sntlersbips that his family might vie with that
of the Hon. Hamilton Fish IN the glitter Of
social display. Ana yet the fault is not in
President, but in people who have placed him
in this false position. The moment We passed
from the simple constitutional government
of the fathers 10 paternal government, that
undertook TO iesislate 'or the humaDIt!es, We
opened the door to fraud. We made possible
the old cloak OF Jealous good for somebody
else that covers selfish greed While the
christian statesman rose III his place on the
floor of Congress, and said ''In the name of
God, amen, let us rob somebody" The policy
of The administration was n cOujugatlOn OF
the word ''to steal, from the present tense Of
II steal, thou steslest, he steals, down to
the impertive OF steal thou aud lot him steal.
We have robbed negrUs of their hard earnings
stolen from Indians when every cent was
stained with b,ood-ws have defrsuded the
treasury for individuals and corporations, and
wasted the public domain for heartless specu-
lators, and We have done it all III the service
of God, for the good of bumanity.-Ex.
, 1876-03-25

FAIL. OF SECRETARY BELKYAP--The
shame Of Secre ary Belknap Is felt TO be the
shame of the country, and the dis grace which
rests upon his name weighs heavily upon
every member Of the Government under
which he held 81 high place Of trust. 1t
is vain 10 disguise the fact that the crime,
wherever it may really belong, IL a public
calamity Of the gravest character. 1t Is the
first time in our political history that open,
pitiful, disgusting corruption has entered the
Cabinet of the United States; and it casts
foul blot upon the reputation of our country,
upon The character Of our public men, and,
more than all, upon the fair fame of Ameri-
can womanhood. 1t Is easy to say that We
are not responsible fOr the guilt Of our public
servants, but none the less dos the world
hold Us to account therefor. For weeks to
come, will this choice bit of scandal lie tossed
from mouth to mouth. from the confines OF
Dan to the extreme limits of BeeTsheba. Il
will b. told in Gath and mentioned in Aska-
lon. The countries across the water, ever eager
10 find fault with a form OF -.overumet whore
success causes thrones 10 shake, will uphold
the corruption as the natural outcome of re-
publican institutions. aud glpat over 1t as the
legitimate consequences OF democratic princi
pies. There Is bul one way in which the blot
can be wiped out, the disgrace shaken off. The
humiliation Of Our people must give way to n
burst of righteous indignation. Man. wo-
man, and child mnst repudiate the crime as
foul excrescence-,he unnatural growth Of
individual depravity. There must be no con-
cealment Of the olf-usa, 10 lesssning Of its
painful PoTportions- Onr country must be
seen eager 10 abhor, swif. to punish The
cancer must be cut out to the very root, and
tossed away as something utterly repulsIve
to our people. Only in stern Justice TO the
guilty can be fouad the vindication Of our
National character. at must needs be that
offensts come; but NO 70 the man by whom
the offeuse comethr'-N. Y. Tyi5ise.
, 1876-03-25

IuPElCmED.-Both the Governor and the
Lieutenant Governor of Mississippi are un-
der Impeachment by the Legislature OF that
State. Ames the Governor, is the son-in-law
of Gen. 3. f. Butler, and the Lieutenant
Governor, Davis, is a negro. Both are re-
publicans, however. in good standing, and
both, it seems, are great reseals.
, 1876-03-25

\ BILL has been introduced to Congress
declaring the Black Hills open TO exploration
and settlement. Such bill mus, be IL d.
rect violation Of the solemn treaty entered
into between the Government Of the United
States and the Sioux Indians. TO whom the
Black Hills territory was ceded and confirm
ID several years ago, with special conditions
OF guarantees against entry BY any citizens Of
the United States.
, 1876-03-25

The downfall of General Belkap and his
family is only the more deplorable because
they aspiTed to and did actually shine as
leaders Of society at the national capital.
Correspondents never wearied Of describing
the brilliancy Of their receptions, and the
magnifcence Of the costumes and the lustre
and brillianey Of the jewels, with which the
late war minister delighted TO enhance the
beauty of his accomplished wife. have formed
AN attractive theme ever since their advent
iu Washington.
, 1876-03-25

CAI.FB MARSH, the witness against Bel
knap, who fed to Canada, is to return aud
give full evidence in the bribery case. Marsh
was run off by the Government officials, who
evidently intended TO keep him out of the
way, but finding themselves detected in their
plot, they are now glad to get him back.
" Let no guilty man escape"
, 1876-03-25

SENATOR KELLY made the argument be-
fore the Senate committee on territories in
favor of annexing Walla Walla and Column
bia counties to Oregon. Delegate Jacobs Is
to reply, after which the committee will re-
port. The fate of the bill depends mainly
upon Senator MITCHELL who can either pass
or defeat it.
, 1876-03-25

Poor BABCoCK.-His trial, while it has
failed to pore him a criminal, has likewise
fallen short of removing the stain on his good
name. It he's also so impressed the country
with the idea that he is a man who 'rOlld not
aea! a red hot store, that the reflection must be
exceedingly pleasant to him. Hereafter,
when any allusion is made to the honor of
Gen. Babcock, people will know Just what is
meant by it, and like Butler, when he visits
their honses they will put their valuables ont
of sight.
, 1876-03-25

CoLD.-The most intense cold that
has been felt for years prevailed during
the past few days in Scotland and the
nor.h Of England. Snow fell in great
quantities, obstructing the railways
and impeding travel. This hinderance
was SO serious that fourteen hours
were required to make the journey be-
tween two points that usually required
forty minutes.
, 1876-03-25

SENATOR THURMAN Il gaining ground as a
Presidential candidate. He has one firm friend
in The -itlRa Courier, as witness the follow
ing "It is our deliberate opinion that, with
Blaine and Thurman in field, Thurman
would get a rousing majority of the elector
al votes. But Thurman is, in our opinion,
the only man who can be sure of carrying
che flag Of victory. Hendricks is strong in
the West, bat could not control the Eastern
vote. Tilden and Bayard are strong in the
East, but cannot control the Western vote
Thurman can control Ohio, aud is as strong
IN the East as any Eastern man could be-
His nomination Is, in our opinion, the only
key 20 the situation"
, 1876-03-25
A Suggestive Exposure.

The Belknap exposure will undono'-
edly lead to such a general inVestiga,
tion of departmental matters as VIII
uncover whatever similar corruption
NAV be lurking there. The country
generally will be surprised and shock
ed TO find that Belknap. who has been
generally regarded as a plain, upright
ordinary sort of man, belongs to that
peculiar class from whose ranks the
President draws his friends with 30
strangely an unsrring instinct. Mr,
BeikEsp, whose role in the shameful
business appears to have been sutti-
ciently conspicuous, has been one OF the
acknowledged leaders Of fashion az
Washington and her receptions were
particularly stylish and distingree. A
great many pretty and poetieal de-
scriptions Of these gay and festive oc-
casions have been peuned By rapturous
correspondents (mostly female), who
we're quick to detect the refinement,
the spiritueNe character, the ha'f'ate
no6lesse of the charming and highly
fashionable hostess. And now 1t
seems that behind the flowers and the
pretty dresses, and flashing jewels, and
the soft speeches and the lights and
the music, there must have been the
same sense of degradation that goes
with guiltily won wealth generally,
and which manifested itself even in
the person of so calIous and obtuse d
rogue as James Fiske, quite in spite
of himself.
1t would be bad enough if We could
feel sure that Beiknap's case would
be the last of the exposures, but as
We call to mind the whispers and re-
ports which have come from W ashing-
ton any time during the last three
years, i; is impossible not to feel that
there may be much more of the same
kind in store. Belknap was highly
spoken of and well considered, and he
has fallen like Lucifer, never to rise
again. What then shall be the fearful
looking forward to judgement of the
guilty ones in Office, whose IGches have
not so wholly escaped criticism and
denuncia;ion in the past, and whose
conduct invites inquiry SO much more
urgently than Belknap's appeared to
do? There is Secretary Robson, for
example. viii any one guarantee
him against the consequences OF an in
vestigation? But We will not proceed
with the list. The Clymer Commit
tee has shown the way, and no donbt
the lead will be fully explored AS
President Grant would be very unlike
ly to remark under the circumstances
-"Let no guilty man escape. ."-Ec.
, 1876-03-25

SPEAK OUT.-We have been carefully
watching the columns OF the Seattle Di.pateA
10 see what the &" old man - would say about
the Belknap scandal, but thus far he has been
dumb rs an oyster. In 8 matter of this KIND II
is the duty of the publio press to speak out, and
anare neither friend nor foe.
, 1876-03-25

Hon. D. JACOBS is understood to desire a
reelection as delegate. This is a question IN
which the people east of the mountains will
take little interest. The Sound country has
almost uniformly claimed the delegate, and
if Judge Jacobs suits that section we know
of no good reason why he should not be
booked for a second term. In point Of abili-
~ he is fully up to the average, and the
time has long since passd when a delegate
was expected TO render any special service.
Let Judge Jacobs be put down for second
tpTm.
, 1876-03-25

THE NAyY.-It appears that Mr.. Secretary
Robson is between two fires, and both grow
ing hotter and hotter momentarily. The
committee appointed to investigate The go
called real estate pool are working like bea-
vers, and it is said that they ''have the most
damning evidence against him.; and it is
said in another quarter that there Is develop
ed in the naval affairs committee of the
House already evidence sufficient TO make it
very warm indeed for the honorable Secretary.
This cabinet cancer really appears to be per-
sinrly and effectually eating its way in, and
no one can say where it will develop itself
next.
, 1876-03-25
sm Advertisements
so RlI WARD

STRAYED OR STOLEN on the night of the 9Th
- Of March, 1876, from Mr.. h. 2. Stones pasture
south OF Walla Wsila GRAY MARE about IA
hands high, and heavy with fOl Is about years old
and Is branded on the left shoulder the brand Is
dim, tut by getting close TO her II viii be seen plain
she Is slightly Asa-bitten. Any person tinding and
bringing her 70 the Lewiston Stage Barn at Wal!a
WaNa. will receive the above reward
l6 2y- WILLIAM NTrTV VG.N
, 1876-03-25

A SLOW CoACH.-A few weeks since the
OTegniw was distressed about the slow pro-
gress made by democratic Congress, and
apprehended that all the Investigations would
end in smoke. Al the very moment of these
utterauces came the Belknap exposure, and
now instead of complimenting the democrats
upon what they have accomplished, the ORE
soaia! Is as dumb as an oyster 1t really
begins to look as though the democrats are
going too fast TO suit the Cyrg0i7N, and that
paper no longer walls over the dillatoriness
of the democratic majority.
, 1876-03-25

THE WORK of retrenchment at Washing
ton goes bravely on. The committee on ap-
propriations adheres steady to the discharge
of the important duties assigned it. BY the
time It's work is completed there will be a
very material reduction of expenses reported.
But the committee gets more kicks than hall
pence for its efforts TO lessen the cost of gov
ernmentaI expenditures. Every stroke of its
merciless axe extor;s howl from the repub
lican press Just as though, instead of endeav
oring to protect the peoples interest, the
committee was engaged as the republican ma
lority for years has been. in plundering them.
, 1876-03-25
To aDyERTISERs.

T7e w,ra WallA SrErssxAS has much larger
circulation than any other paper punhsheH N ths
rs,r,,rr1 NJ washington, and hence Offers superior
= i--,',.s e. ,Iyertisers who would reach tie
very best class of paying customers
, 1876-03-25

DAVE THOMPSON, the newly appointed
Governor Of Idaho. fares badly in the over
hauling now going forward at Washington.
1t seems that Dave has been operating in the
line OF straw bids for postal contracts, and
last yesr got away with $l5. 900 as his share
Of the plumber. let no guilty man escape. y
, 1876-03-25
STRAY MARE.

CTRAYED PROM THE PREMISES OF THE
- undersigned, the Pataha, about four months
sine, q GRAY MARE, FIVE years old, branded with
joined z on LETT shoulder Is a light gray in biv
and dark nlsne and tail wlII pay TEN DOLLARS
REWARD for the return OF sad Mare, or for iafoF-
nation that can get her. Sh= can De delivered
anywhere on the Lewiston Road, or az WzIla WaIls
70 hr. Fcttir- t65w A J. FAVOR
, 1876-03-25

WAX Has BHnKES Our between japan
and C9raa. according to advices from ST.
Petersburg. Can it be that the Northern
Bear h-s a paw IN this affair also? Should
China take hand in there viii be 8 pretty
triangular row 10 .be far East.
, 1876-03-25

GEN. BABooK has retired from his place
at the White House, in disgrace. It seems
that be felgniously distracted the Presidents
private papers. aud when confronted with
the charge, admitted his guilt. One by one
the roses fall
, 1876-03-25

GOV. FERRY bas gone East, where he will
remain until after the great centennial is
over. His term as Governor is about to e1-
pire, but it is quite certain that he will be
re-appoin'ed.
, 1876-03-25

AUSTRIA is in dilemma as to what dispo-
sition TO make Of He1z-goriuan refugees.
who refuse 10 quit her territory without the
Protection Of a military escort, which would
likely give offence to tie Turkish govern
ment
, 1876-03-25

II. G. STRUvE, in the absence Of Gov.
Ferry, is the chief executive officer OF the
territory.
, 1876-03-25

PoRr TOWNSEND will celebrate the Fourth
Of July. and to that end has already made
the preliminary arrangements
, 1876-03-25

CUBA.-The value of Cuba, even when
torn by tedious and debilitating civil war,
may be computed from these facts: The an
nual importations Of sugar into the United
States are about 1884 500, ,324 pounds, of
which we get from Cuba, ,223, G92, ,524
pounds, besides molasses and melado. From
these three we collected in 1874 revenue Of
S27, ,923, ,G39. We also collected from tobacco
and cigars imported from Cuba S6,999, ass.
Besides these, are fruits and some lesser
items; and these products paid into the L..
S. Treasury during 1874, import duty
amounting 70 over $4,000 This was
nearly one-fourth the entire customs revenue.
, 1876-03-25

Mis- BELKNAP.-It is thought if sufici-
ent proof can be obtained to convict ex-Sec-
retary Belknap in criminal action, that bis
wife will also be held to answer before the
courts. In all the severe and regretiul re-
marks that have been made BY the Press OF
the country against the ex-Secretary, but lit
tie allusion has been made to the wife. In
this respect a courteous Difference has been
displayed characteristic of American Journal
ism, where the name of woman in good so-
cial standing has been involved. But the
law is no respecter of persons, and if it is
enforced IT is not probable that Mrs. Belkra !
will be let off This view is concurred in by
several leading Eastern journals, which
make the statement more IN sorrow than
with any intention to offend.
The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-12-05
Her Dying Declaration

The Union, speaking of Maj Beardsley's
idea, " the tragic PInkston scene before
the returning board, says:
The woman named her torturers and exposed her
wounds in support Of her dying declaration.
Inasmuch as the woman walked three
ourths of mile, Immediately after the row
and the very night she claims to have
been nearly killed, to the house of
Charles Tedwell, a white man, who
took care of her: and inasmuch
as she was never confined to the
house at all with her injuries; and mas
much as three days after she was hurt she
was Juggling bark in her arms to her hut
for fire wood, her dying declaration is
good But when she named her torturers
and exposed her wounds" why on earth
did not the officers under Pitt Kellogg do
something to bring them to punishment?
What have the local authorities of Louisi-
ana been about that such a piece of
brutality, committed on the 4th of Novem-
Der, has attracted no attention; has caused
no efforts of the officers Of justice to investl-
gate it and to arrest the perpetrators, and
only now. month after It's commission, is
made public, and then. not by the officers
ofjustice, not before a court. but for politi
cal effect, before the returning board?
The attempt to impress and disgust the
north by dramatic presentation of this
gross and inexcusable outrage is certainly
unworthy. The assassination of Eliza
Pinkston's husband and the hrutalities
practised on her and her child have nothing
whateYer to do with politics. As cruel
atrocities as this have been committed in
| Pennsylvania and Iowa within the year
| But let the affair be investigated: and let
tie governor see to it, toe, that the murderers
are brought to justice. Else it will be
thought that the murder is of interest &c
him only as means to affect northern
opinion.
The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-12-05
a. PARALLEL.

Suppose that the returning board sat in
New York and not in Louisiana: suppose
that New York had igone for Tilden, and
that it was found necessary to turn it over
to hayes in order to elect him; suppose
that the returning board should set about
the job, as it has set about it IN Louisiana;
suppose the majority in New York to have
been relatively the same as that given 10
Louisiana; how many votes would it be
necessaryato throw out in order to change
the result?
The total vote of New York at this cleo
ton wasl 1922, 047. The total vote of
Louisiana in 1879 was 1876. 442 The ma
jority for Tilden ranged from 1900 to o.
500, This is admitted on both sides.
This is one-fourteenth of the total vote |
So that, in order to reverse majority in
New York, relatively as great, it would
be necessary to throw Tout one-fourteentll
of l,022,047 votes, or 1900 votes! Do
you see now mere clearly the grossness of
this contemplated outrage?
The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-12-05
Some More OF Maj. Beardsley's State
ments,


In his interview with Chicago Ira-
bune reporter Maj Beardsley said:
1t should be borne in mind that the Pelican state
on ialr expression of the peoples vote is Repub-
bean by at least % 900 majority,
If Maj. B., had said Democratic his
statement would be universally believed.
The reason Louisiana does not give 40,
900 Democratic majority instead of 10000
is because of the bull whip in the hands
of Republicans. Thousands of negroes
who want to vote the Democratic ticket
and get rid of such scoundrels, thieves
and carpet-baggers as Kellogg, War
mouth, Packard, Durell, Casey & Co,
are kept from doing SO by Republican
bull-dozlng. County, state, and federal Of.
fice-hOlders swarm through the state
robbing the people and using the poor,
simple negroes as tools for their damnable
work. If negro shows any signs Of
voting against his Republican oppressors
he is treated to a bull whip. That's the
only reason the state don't give 10000
Democratic majority, instead of 10000
MAJ. Beardsley's report might DE-
for a ward caucus, but such state
ments as he makes will not stanC
before the broad field of nationa
politics. How do the Republicans likt
| his report?