The Morning herald., 1876-04-04
OFFICIAL CORRUPTION.

Never before in the history of this or
any other nation, were there such astream
of startling disclosures of corruption in
Office, as has been developed since the
meeting of the present Congress. ACCUSE
tiols of the most damaging character are
coming thick and fast. Every department
Of the Government is corrupt. For long
time the American people, as a body,
could not believe or allow themselves to
think that their Chief Executive was per-
sonally corrupt, but through the manifest
ations and evidences of Babcock's Shep-
herds, Belknap's. and host of other Of
fcers and friends fraudulent transactions,
the people have been forced to believe that
President Grant was cognizant and toler-
ated their jobs of villiany. The whole
American people have now reason to be-
ieve that Grants whole administration
has been foul and most corrupt one. The
corruption and scandal at Washington is
terrible to contemplate The evidences of
fraud in the Army and Naval services ale
astounding. Evidences ofsecretary Robe
sons villiany in one of the most stupend
GUS and gigantic frauds of the aye has been
discovered. 1t involves millions of dol
lars, and the President and late Secretary
ofthe Treasury were privy to the transac-
ton, and probably shared in the spoils
arising therefrom. The evidence is ofthe
most indisputable character, and will
astound the country when made known.
There is not shadow of explanation
for the transaction. Nothing can excuse
this throwing million and a half of good
money into the hands of Jay Cooke,
Mccullough & Co. The Belknap bust
ness was bad and scandalous enough in
every way, but the vulgar and shameless
greed Of Belknap, who did not hesitate to
rob the poor soldiers on the plains for dia-
monds and lace money for his wife, was
not in itself as grave an offence as now
stands against the President and Secretary
Robson.
General Grant, since the commencement
Of his Presidential career, has chosen
whom he liked and sustained whom . he
liked without the least respect to the opin-
ion of any one. He has justified and sus-
tanned the most notorious scoundrels in the
country in defiance of public opinion and
in open violation of law. Since the day
Grant was placed in the Executive chair
his whole line of conduct has been of the
most gross and immoral character. He
has engaged in and tolerated jobs of the
NEST infamous character, and supported
accused and guilty men up to the last mo-
ment. 1t seems that the President has
made it his business to uphold and cling
to dishonest men and dismiss those who
were honest. He chose Mr. Chandler,
sustained Mr.. Delano, and superseded Mr..
Motley, in defiance Of the opinion of the
whole country. He has used hia position
at all times for his own aggrandizement
and for the pecuniary benefit Of his favor =
ties and relatives. His course has been a
scandal for years, and was a good reason
for calling forth the bitter invectives of the
Massachusetts, and Missouri Senators,
Sumner and Schurz.
Sad enough would it be in any year, but
in this, the one in which we have invited
the countries Of the whole world to visit
us and admire our prosperity, our nstitu.
tions, it is doubly sorrowhl. To-day
in every civilized country, and in every
tongue will our scandal he the subject Of
discussion. Our bonanza of official cor
ruption will be a Centennial disgrace.
The specific charges Of malfeasance made
against Cabinet officers, nepotisn1, pecula-
ton, bribery and every known crime; the
air reeking with stories Of corruption, and
every known political vice being shame
lessly praeticed. All this in the Centen-