The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1876-05-06
WASHINGTON LETTER.


NNffhNNiNff " tiAt llcINpffuit AuFNchIesN
wAsuSeToS D, G.. May ID, 1876.
The National Executive Committee of tho
Liberal Republican party has been summon
ed by Ethan Allen, its chairman, to convene
/ in New FORK City, on the 9TH inst, seven day,
before the conference Of dissatisfied Republi
cans invited by Carl Schuz, VIM. Cullen Bry
aut and Others Mr. Aliens object is to as.
certain from the representatives ofthe organ
ization that nominated Horace Greeley fol
President, at Cincinnati, in 1872, whether
they intend to coll national convention thi.
| year, or not; and, as Carl Schurz is also q
member ofthe Liberal Republican organiza.
ton, It is probable that some understanding
will be had between the Executive Commit.
tee OF that party and the dissatisfied Republi
cans who are sick Of Grantism and intend Ia
bolt the nomination Of their party, should II
prove to be unacceptable. II may be sci
down for fact that the gentlemen invited to
the conference on the 18th will not be satisfied
with any OF the men now prominently before
the country rs candidates for the Cincinnati
nomination. They have become convinced
that the whole machinery Of the party is rot
ten, and that the Capitol needs cleaning out
MS well as the White House and the Depart,
ments, and they do not propose to submit to
the dictation of an irresponsible convention
in selecting their candidate for President.
The Liberals will probably call a National
Convention to assemble in Philadelphia on
July 4, after both the old parties shall have
placed their candidates before the country
and It is thought that they will endorse the
one whose character gives the best promise
of reform in Administration, Of the total OBJ
liberation of war issues and sectional hate, Of
the repeal OF unconstitutional legislation,
and of the restoration Of equality among the
States, on principles that would involve their
support Of the Democratic candidate but
they are in no humor TO go with thick and
thin supporters of any party. Should neither
candidate suit them, they will nominate .
third ticket for which they think they will
get the earnest support Of all the brains and
integrity ofthe Republican party. The indie
pendent voter represents an unknown quantity
which may prove formidable, il organized.
At present, it is the desire ofthe shrewd man.
ayers Of both parties to catch him and they
are all convinced that to do this, there must
be earnest evidence given of real reform.
U. S. Senator Francis Herman, Of New York,
has followed the example of Horatio Sey.
mour in giving expression to his views. Both
agree that the paramount issue of the coming
struggle will be reform; and while Mr.. Sey.
mour says that ''the Republican party has
lost the confidence of the country, and the
Democratic party has not gained it, Mr..
Herman says that ''the man to be selected as
a candidate must be platform in himself.
The people don't care about resolutions. The
resolutions of all parties are good enough.
For example, Governor Tilden is platform,
in the matter Of reform, better than a hun.
dred sets of resolutions The Senator
thought Tilden would be found very strong
with the people, and especially with that
great mass Of unbiased persons who care lit
tie for party lines, and only want good gov
eminent, Mr.. Herman added that he thought
Bristow had very great strength among dis
affected Republican element and, in this
remark the Senator hit off the real attitude
of the Secretary of the Treasury as candi-
date. Bristow's strength lies exclusively
among that class of Republicans who have
more objections to the personnel of Grants
administration than to its principles, who
want n new deal Of officers, and imagine that
Bristow has advertised himself sufficiently in
his war with the Whiskey Ring to win the
Presidency, and that as he appears to antag-
onize Grants wishes in that matter to GER
tain extent, he must perforce, be Grant s
tHGlblY uuu liit tntlil1 vi iIltHus anu
pointees. / apprehend that all who think
thus would fluid themselves egregriousy mis-
taken were their preferences selected For
the honor of the Senate and the people of the
United States, it is desirable that the pend
ing impeachment trial should not go off in
bubbles. An answer to the broad inquiry of
guilt or innocence is what the country aud
the world demand of the Senate. Pronounce
Belknap guilty or innocent, after fair hear.
ing, and the people may approve the verdict.
But, as the case stands, his denial Of the jur-
isdiction of the Senate, though, of course, it
does not prove him technically guilty, does
prove with sufficient concusveness TO the
world at large, whatever the Senate may
think it, that he knows his guilt to be so
palpable, and the evidence of it so abundant
and ncontrovertible, that he is afraid to
stand trial, even by a body of men major.
ity Of whom are his political friends and as.
sociates. BelkHap has already confessed his
guilt to House Committee, and begged
them to ''let up on him. He has also reaf
irmed his confession of guilt by attempting,
with the connivance of his friend, Grant, to
avoid impeachment by resignation. All that
the people now want is that the Senate shall
pronounce him technically guilty, or not guilty
of the crime he has, himself, confessed to
have committed-that of taking a bribe,
while Secretary of War.
The question Of the punishment or escape
of Belknap, is of small account but the de-
cision of the Senate on the principal involved
in his case is of the highest importance. For
if the Senate shall decide that that they can
not legally try him, they will affirm, virtually,
that any public officer may commit high
crime, boldly acknowledge his guilt, and
then escape all punishment by promptly ten.
dering his resignation to a drunken, blunder
ing, or corrupt but friendly President only
too willing to accept ii, to shield friend
and protege from impeachment, The public
money spent by Grant, through his tool,
Davenport, to carry New York City in 1872,
is proven to have been at least s34, 900 out OF
fund appropriated for other purposes, and
even the easy conscience of an Alderman and
Williams shrank from giving legal sanction
to such palpable outrage Of law, without
the Presidents express order Even Whit.
ley, the detective, land therefore necessarily
deeeiver and liar, if not theft who had
charge of the fund for discovering frauds, and
was willing to go to any lengths to serve his
master, would not give this money to Daven.
port without the express orders, in writing,
Of the Attorney General; and they fell back
on Grant for orders.