The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-03-21
WHO HAS THE CREDIT

WHO HAS THE CREDIT
1t is a matter OF every day occurrence
TO hear 1t claimed by members Of the Re-
publican party that it is to their party
alone that is due the credit of the inves-
LEGATIONS and punishments recently in
hicted upon certain leaders OF their
ranks. This cry might as it is intended
to do, deceive some people, were it not
SO easily exposed and reiuted.
The whisky ring, for instance, was not
by any means the first of the conspiracies
to defraud with which the Republican
party was connected. Long
before that, the country had
become familiar with rings, subsidies and
schemes for the illicit gaining ofwealtb
with which were Intimately assoc ated
high officials and members of Con-
grsss. Yet what honest effort was ever
made to bring one single guilty man to
punishment? Of course, when man
was detauiter for such an amount that
his crime could not be concealed, he was
tried and sometimes convicted, but who
ever heard, during the years of
Republican rule, that a single Credit
Mohilieri:e. or Moiety contract
msn, or Pacific Mail subsidy man, or
Boss SHEPHERD, or a safe burglary
conspirator. or any of that ilk, was ever
sent TO the penitcntiary? And who does
whisky ring, extending its ramiAcatIons
throughout every section of the country.
and which the Radicals SO boastiuily as
sert was broken up and the offenders
brought to justice through their exer
tions, lived and fourished for years un-
molested, and would be living and flour
ishing to-day in quiet safety had not
Democratic House been elected, and it
was known that that House would have
disclosed the frauds and punished the
criminalsl
Everybody knows perfectly well, that
the administration only became very in
dignant and said, "Let no guilty man es-
cape" when TO have remained silent
longer would simply have been political
death. 1t was necessary to assume viz
tue even though it was not had, for the
country must per.orce be made, if posi-
bic, to believe that it was the party in
power itself, which purged ITSELF To
have quietly awaited for Democrats to
do that work would have been to make too
much capital for the Democracy and
against the administration so to head of,
As it were. the incoming Investigators it
was found necessary that some sacrifices
should be offered up.
To show that this is true, and that it was
never the intention of the Radical
party to punish its own malefsctors "if
it could be avoided" let US look once
more at BELkNAPs case. In 1872.
Gen. WILLIAM B. HAZEN, of the United
States Army,a man who always has stood
and still stands high in his profession,
was on inspection duty at Fort
Sill, and there he ascertained
that the post trader then at that
point, was paying heavy bonusto Sec
rotary BELKNAP for his privileges, and !
that the officers and men stationed there
were forced to pay extortionate prices
TOR their goods, so that the Secretary |
might flourish and shine in Washington |
society. We are informed that General |
II. made known these facts to General |
GARFIELD, then chairman of the Com
mittee on Military Affairs; but what was
the result? General HAzsN, for his too
great zeal in prying into and exposing
the corruption OF his superior officer,
was ordered away of to some desolate
and retired post in Dakota Territory,
where his voice could not be heard in the
National Capital, while BELkNAP went
on his way unmolested. Now what does
that teach? Simply that had Demo
cratic House not been elected, BELKNAP's
crime would not to-day, have been exposed
nor he disgraced; but he would still be re-
ceiving his bonuses; the private soldiers
would still be made TO furnish the where
withal for him to increase his income
and matters would be conducted in the
same old way. And not only would this
be done in BELKNAP's case, but in
that of the whiskey ring, and every other
stance OF fraud and bribery which has