Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1876-03-10
THE FRUIT OF THE REP UBLICAN
PARTY

THE FRUIT OF THE REP UBLICAN
PARTY
The news in another column which is
headed Astounding, will really not as
found anybody. 1t will surprise people,
but the jar on the public mind can hardly
be called astounding. The gradual I'M
earthing of fraud, it's near approach to the
White House, the strange and suspicious
conduct Of the head of the Government to-
wards some of the prominent criminals,
has prepared the public mind for almost any
revelation Of fraud that may come. SHEP-
HERD, DELANo, WILLIAMS, SCHENCK,
and BABCoCK gave us preparation for see
ing that some other prominent mans resig-
nation was received by President GRANT
sswith regret" The people have been
watching the plant, and here is the flower,
1t is no disgrace to the American people.
They have not had control of their Gov
eminent for years. The leaders of the Re-
publican party have had it, and the result
is, the first time the Democrats come into
power, the grand exposure takes place. 1t
seems from the constantly occurring devel-
opments Of pestilence that yellow flag
would be the appropriate ensign for the
capitol Of the nation. Almost every officer
Of high position, and nobody knows how
many of low, are now in the public mind
in state of, to say the least, surveillance.
No man is trusted, however high in place..
The stories of the Presidents brother-in-
law, CORBIN, and Black Friday in New
York, which implicate the President him.
self are revived. 1t is known that a COM
mittee Of Congress are Investigating" the
Secretary of the Navy; that the minister
filling the first diplomatic mission in the
gift of the Government is being "investi-
gated" and that this search is penetrating
all parts of the Government. People do
not know what to expect, and are prepared
by the recent exposures to be surprised at
nothing.
Perhaps the very worst feature Of the
whole affair is the attempt by threats to
prevent further exposure. Mr.. Marsh tells
on Belknap and is co mpelled to fly the
country to avoid a prosec ution. Congress
should pass an act protecting all confeder
ates who will expose these frauds, for, it
that is not done the exposures will be effec-
tually choked off.
The several columns in which Belknap'S
fall-or rather his exposure, for he fell sew
eral years ago, tells the story of Washing
ton life. A poor applicant for an humble
Office is promoted through personal friend
ship and not through merit. until he reach
es the high place Of Secre tary of War. He
lives in style far exceeding his salary
year after year, without attracting the at
tention of our lynx eyed President, though
it does that Of more observant people. The
matter is remarked upon by the press.
They go to work and hunt up the evidence
that be is guilty and publish the fact
four years ago lin the N. 7. Tribune in
1922, it is secuted by the friends OF the
criminal denied with vehemence by the
press Of the party to which he belongs and
che man goes on in security for four years
still ostentatiously rioting in i'll gotten
wealth under the nose Of the President WHO
knows the amount of his salary and in the
face Of Congressional committee AT last q
Democratic Congress comes along and cuts
him off This sample shows where the fault
IS. Any political party may have corrupt
men in it, the fault is that they do not ex
pose and punish. The outward signs OF
extravaganza; the charges brought by the
ssress; the manifest fact that the Secretary
of War was living beyond his honest
means were not noticed. The Republican
party in Congress closed its ears to tie
people, and that is the true secret Of TIL.
growth of this corruption until it has be-
come SO great that it is beyo nd the power
of the Republicans to correct it. When
5he Credit Mobilier was discovered there
were loud promises by the party to reform
inside the party lines, but promises were
ALL Even while they filled the all, their
Secretary of War read in the public
prints charges against him which he after
saards acknowledged to be true, and re-
signed his office. The rioting in the
government funds seems to have become
anore furious, the more loud the promises.
Let us all be thankful that the government
is about to pass out of their hands.
Ex-Gov. JOHN LETCHER, while cross
ta hriI of bn Fvol, Hoto1 in