Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-03-07

4NCW OFh LH"tlt AAAcPfI
There is nothing offered in extenua-
, tion Of the ofense. 1t stands out as a
clear. bald, unblushing case Of corrnp-
ton, and as such it should be dealt with.
We may philosophize as much as we
please over the influence which led 10 his
downfall-the desire to keep up q high
position in society, which required more
money than be could legitimately call
his own-bnt that excuse only makes the
matter worse. When a desire for social
distinction sweeps away all sense Of
honor and honesty, the punishment for
the offense should be commensurate with
the standing Of the culprit- Pittsburg
Gazette (Rep,)
1t is really a m~ournful recital and one
not to be dwelt upon. No patriotic
American can wish to see bis country
disgraced through Que Of its Cabinet Of
icers, even TO wreak q partisan judg-
ment. We we're disgraced enough at
Vienna. Butifthat was not enough God
knows the cup has been filed to overflow
ing in London. Now, to cap the climax
of that sense of responsibility which
comes after long political tenure, the
Republican party presents US q final
trophy of its domination, this Secretary
of War, this poor Belknsp, ished out Of
his original obscurity to disgrace the
whole of us, and to make us haAg our
heads in every part Of the world our-
Ter Jsurn0L Sd Dem
The whole nation to-day stands hu-
inflated at the startling and unexpected
revelation of the corruption that is at
the head of the government. II is q
national disgrace, and worse than a dis
grace to an Administration that has had
80 many incentives to do what was right
and grand and has done so many things
that are shameless and groveling-an
Administration that within a fortnight
has had a trusted Private Secretary at
the bar of a court charged with defraud-
ing the revenues, and who escaped con.
viction By a mere t~echnicality. and a
Cabinet Minister at the bar of the SEN
ate, on his own confession, that he sold
and bartered the offices of the govern
ment. The people regret, but while they
regret, they ponder and resolve, and by
and by they will sct.-Pittsburg Post
DEM
President Grant has played another
very shabby and dishonest trick in or.
dering the prosecution of the witness
Caleb P. Marsh, a proceeding which
drove that gentleman precipitately out
of the country, and thus deprived the
prosecution OF an important witness
against Belknap. II was the same
spirit which led the President to inter
fere directly with the prosecution of the
whisky cases to save Bs0cock. Judging
from the high.hauded proceedings Of
the President and the Attorney General,
they seem desirous Of getting themselves
confronted with articles of impeach-
ment. II Marsh cannot be found Bel
KNAPP is relieved. General Grant stands
by his friends. - Courier Journal, 9Th
President Grant has dropped us by
easy stages to these depths of shame.
he has parenthesized in history eight
years which will be marked hereafter as
the era Of personal government and the
period Of greed; eight years Of such off
cial corruption and dishonesty, such sell
ishness and shamelessness, such low
aims aud base purposes, such grasping
avarice and eager overreaching, such
specializing in official information, such
bribery aud such barter and sale Of Off
ces, and such degradation Of all things
which the ration has held to be high
and holy and worthy an honest pride,
that to-day the country hangs its head
and holds its nose and waits for this Ad-
ministrstion to pass.-N. 7. Tribune.
In its lawlessness, it's disregard Of con-
stitutionsl restraint, its narrow partisan
nhip. the administration of President
Grant has earned just condemnation;
but all these things are trihing when
compared with the sordid influence which
it has exerted, and its subordination of
honor, justice, and even honest ambition
to the greed of gain. 1t is not in Wash.
ington alone, but in every State, in every
city, in every little town throughout the
land, that this damaging influence is
felt. Public Offices are bartered in open
market, and officers no longer seek to
serve the public, but to serve themselves. !
To be rich, or to appear rich; TO make a
show in the world; to build fine houses,
and wear fine clothes. and give grand en-
tertainments, these things constitute the
ambition Of the public men and women
Of TO day, and to accomplish these all
old.fashioned ideas Of honor and integ-
rity are thrown to the wiads.-Phila
delphiG Times Ind
Let US see how this party has made
itself responsible for this decentralization
K chardson, who approved the Sanborn
fraud, shameless and unblushing as it
was, was made a judge. Shepard, driven
from power as one unfaithful TO his trust.
was made a commissioner, and Is the
leader Of Administration society. Will
liams, after his sins we're confessed, was
intrusted with high duties. Schenck.
after be allowed his name and his Office
to be the means Of ~swindling women and
children out Of their income by bogus
mining shares, was protected. Rabcock
came from the dock of q St. Louis court,
the cell Of the jailbird Mcdonald, to be
come the private secretary TO the Presi-
dent and director Of the public works.
And now we have the Secretary Of War
resigning his Office, a confessedly corrupt
and dishonest man, and protected from
the just indignation Of the House by the
acceptance of his resignation.-Ne,
York Herald.
Without a full knowledge Of all the in.
huences leading to this catastrophe, 1t
may be safely assumed that one element
which was potent in producing it was
the extravaganza of social life which
seems to have become accepted as an
indispensable adjunct Of high official
rank in Washington. How, when or
where the remedy may be applied for this
extravaganza Of SOCIAL official entertain
ment at the National Capital It is not
our purpose here and now to discuss;