Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1876-03-11
sECRETARYBELKNAp.


The astounding revelations regard
ing the conduct of General Belknap
fall over the country like pail. He
has stood high heretofore in the con-
fidence of the President, and none
expected that he would be disgrace
to himself and his friends. The tes-
timony which appears against him is
SO convincing in it's character as to
leave no room for apology and adj
mits of no defence. 1t is sad, sad
story. Lured into the meshes of po-
litical corruption through the dear
est relations of human life, it is not
surprising that he stands silent amid
these grave accusations, and bows
his head to the storm. Those who
read carefully the testimony will
readily see how the ENHANCEMENT
woven around led him into the vor-
tex. That he sought by confession
and acknowledgement not to shield
himself, but to protect the name and
honor OF those bound to him by sa-
cred ties, is to his credit. He asked
to take the responsibility, to assume
the disgrace, to acknowledge the
crime with all its consequences, if
he conld be spared the deep humilia-
ton of having the names of his wives
dragged before the public, one of
whom he followed to her grave with
a heart almost broken, and whose
memory he sought to shield, as well
as her who now bears his name, and
is the mother of his child. But the
evil had been done: no personal sac
rifice could avert the calamity. In
sadness and grief this disgrace has
fallen upon him, severe in its charac-
ter and fatal in its result.
No man of sensibility and tender
feeling can gloat over the fall of
Belknap because of any partizan adj
vantage which might accrue there
from. He has disgraced himself in
the eyes of The whole people, but ev-
cry man who cherishes the honor of
his country and reveres the Ameri
can name. will regret that this thing
has happened. But while regretting
the sad fact they would ask no
clemency for Belknap. The law
should take its course, and the Pres
is highly blameable for his hasty
acceptance of the Secretary's resig-
nation which may defeat the only
legal punishment that can be in
fficted-that of impeachment.
IT WILL be sad, indeed, if the les
son of General Belknap's disgrace
and his country's shame shall be lost.
The ex-Secretary's crime was not
freak that came without logical
cause, lacking the power to repro
duce its monstrous kind. Itcame as
naturally as the ebb follows the flood
tide. 1t is not new type of disease.
The plague has been upon us for
years, spreading moral leprosy and
death over the whole country. It
has fastened itself upon every class
and condition, bearing its most exu-
berant fruitage of recklessness among
that class of men who are supposed
to serve the people.
General Belknap has been detected,
but he is only one of the many, most
whom have not been detected except
in gross. This does not lessen his
foul crime, but it gives the country
to understand that it must be up and
doing if it would save itself from de-
struction. Protligacy and debauche-
ry in the public service are under
mining our institutions, and the
structure which we have been build
ing for hundred years must go to
the wall if we do not stir ourselves.
We must go about our house clean
ing, sweep out the rubbish and disin-
feet the premises without delay. The
Centennial year is good time for
making fresh start.