Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1876-03-11
Washington Correspondence Of the y. Y. Heral,
BELKNAP'S DOWNFALL.
Its Effects on the Future OF the Admins
tTatiOn Party Hopeful Feeling OF
the DemOcratic Lenders.

The political world here has had time
now to discuss the bearings and possible
consequences of the BeIknap explosion.
The general conclusion is that the expo
sure, with all which that includes, is
first class political event, which may
force an entire recasting of the plans of
both political parties and possibly change
the issues of November very decidedly.
At first the leaders of neither party form
ed an accurate estimate of the gravity of
the affair. The Democrats thought it
useless weapon for them in New Hamp-
shire campaign; the Republicans feared
it would lose them that State. Reflection
has altered the opinions OF both sides.
Belknap alone is not so serious.
''If he was only a barnaele,' said
prominent Republican, che could be
Scraped of and no harm would be done,
but he Is part of wen, and to cut it all
out may prove dangerous to the patient"
There are here, of course, Il great many
honorable Republicans, men who arc de
voted to their party, but who would like
to make the exponent of sound ideas, and
who would be but too glad to be able to
purify it. To these the disgrace of Bel
KNAPP would not be unwelcome, nor would
it dishearten them as to the future of
their party, if they had reason to hope
that they could influence the President
TO reconstruct his Cabinet in such man
ner that il should be entirely constituted
of honorable and influential men, in
whom the people have confidence and
whose presence in the Cabinet would be
guarantee that the whole public ser
vice would be purified and that the evil
influences, which have too long and too
VIGOROUSLY prevailed, should be east
away utterly. But if YOU ask any of the
leading Republicans, who would like to
see this done, they DO not give you much
hope. Such men have long ago ceased TO
have influence at the White House. They
are not encouraged to speak, and if they
venture on good advice, they find it re-
ceived by the President in grim and cold
silence. Such has been the fate Of some
who have offered their counsel since the
impeachment of Belknap.
Many Republicans sec that without re-
construction of the Cabinet, reform, such
as is demanded, is impossible; but thew
see also the difficulty of the step. Ought
General Grant to fix blot upon such
members by asking them TO resign just
now: Ii would at least he UngracioUS.-
Ii has been suggested that the whole Cab
met WiEht resign i'm q body. 50 aS To leave
the President At liberty 10 form a new
one. % which doubtless. he would be eN-
pectcl to recall some members, Is Mc>Sr>.
Fish and BriStow; but it was remarked,
when this plan WAS suggested, that ii
was not all certain whom the President
would recall nor whom lac would APP
point, and "a general resignation might
result in leaving oUt the very Eneu whom
for the public interest il is necessary TO
keep in.
Meantime. nobody here suppOScs that
/ the discoveries of corruption and malad
miniS,-atiOu are AT an end. The iaveSti
I CATION committees are greatly encOurag-
/ ed. Their work has been bcset with diff
/ ficultieS. Most of the members of the
/ Democratic side are new TO their work;
/ they have found il extremely difficult To
/ know where to take hold. and leading
members of their OWN party have impa-
/ ticutly discouraged their labOrS, prOphe-
/ swing that nothing would result from
/ them. All this is now changed, and
/ there i a fair prospect of developments
/ within a month which may SSUonish the
public. Ii is not impossible that the
main business of the House for some
months TO come may be the thorough i'll
veSJi-atiOn and discovery of fraud and
corruption, and that many minor ques-
tiOu- and matters will be dropped for
/ this.
/ ThH misfortune of the Republicans i
they have timidly chung 10 a President IN
WHOM they had no confidence. and have
perm. tied measures and men TO prevail
which they heartily disliked, because
they cared TO break with Gen. Grant.
''II5t way lies DEATH said a prOmi-
men. Republican last winter, when du-
ring he Louisiana and Arkansas troubles
il w. suggested TO him that he aad 9TH
er> should organize and open q vigorous
opposition 10 the Presidents policy
The have now to follow in reforms
where last year they might have led.
a for the Democrats they have been
greatly demqralized by internal feuds,