New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-03-31
THE UOR.SF or 1T.

1t is clear that Belhnap had long been rev.
cling in corruption. The transaction with
Marsh was not solitary blot upon an other
wise respectable career, an isolated crime INTO
which he was led by the extravaganza OF
reckless wife. 1t was of piece with his whole
official course. The sale of appointments was
systematic and continuous. There was not
soldier on the frontier who had not to pay
PROMOTION of his S13 month to the Secretary
in Washington, to the brokers in trading
privileges, to the high-toncd politicians who
introduced" customers to MIR. Bclknap, to
the cousins and brOthers-in-law, and whole
tribe of poor relations who hung about the
posts and the department, and finally to the
party tax gatherer who levied upon the traders
for the expense of rejecting this model Re-
publican Administration. 1t was very little
better than highway robbery. The soldier
could not do without the post-tradcrs wares,
and the Secretary of War sold to the trader,
at a fixed sum per month, the privilege OF
sWindling the soldier in the prices. The out
rage was notorious all along the border.
Traders made no secret of the payment they
were compelled to send TO Washington. A
chorus Of complaint sounded all along the lire,
until at last, getting no redress, and findlng
the traders and mddlemcn in high favor at
Washington, the army came to the conclusion
that the Secretary was Il rascal, and held It's
tongue
And is it possible that the scandal which
was fragrant at the West never penetrated t.
the Capitol or the White Housed Not at all
it was quite well known four years ago in
both places. Through how many sources the
truth came out we cannot tell /; probably from
several independently, for the outrage was too
notorious to be hidden. But we have already
shown that the precise Offense which Bclknap
has now confessed was exposed iii TIE TRIBUNE
in 1872, and the story was whistled down the
wind then as "a campaign lie" after
the pleasant habit of the modern Adj
ministrati0n statesmen. The letter of Gen.
Hazen gives some further particulars which
We did not feel at liberty to make public. 1t
was Gen. Hazcn himself, officer of the
highest character and Of most honorable
record, who made the facts known ut Wash
ington. lie laid them before the Military Com
mittee and the Committee suppressed them.
Then thcy were published by The TRIBUNE,
and the President read them. What was the
result Why, Mr.. Bellnap seemed to be
bigher in faqor than ever; Orvil Grant went
on pedding traderships, and Gen. Iazen was
banlshcd to the wilderness, where he has lived
ever since under official displeasurc.
The Bolknap case does not stand alone.
Nearly all the scandals which are now agi-
tating the country were brought to the notice
of the Government years ago. Nearly all have
been indicated over and over again so clearly
that the failure to follow them up cannot be
palliated There is hardly q department Ill
which the Administration has not had reason
to suspect rottenncss But there has never
been one effort at reform. Criticism has been
treated as iusubOrdnation, and whenever proof
has been offered of official rascality, the Grim
inal has been shielded and the witness has been
punished if he happened to be in the service in
suited and viified if a private citizen. so 1t
has come to pass that in its selfish and de-
mOralizing devotion to party the Administra-
ton has made itself the protector and the prop
agator of thieves and blackmailers, and COW
cred the country with disgrace which years
of decency will hardly obliterate. Even now,
when the whole country is in revolt against
the practices Of the past seven years, Repub-
lcan leaders at Washington, especially in the
Senate, cling to their old tactics and spend
lab0rous days and angry debates in the vain
effort to cover it up.n II is too late for that.
Now that the cover is off the whole cessp0Ol
must be empted before it is put on again.
This sort Of nasty job is not to be done by