Northern Ohio journal. [volume] (Painesville, Ohio) 1872-1896, 1880-03-06
The Old Crowd.

There is certain degree of pleasure
in looking over the mementoes and re-
membranes of the past. Often too un-
pleasant and disagreeable memories
and suggestions are uppermost. We
noticed recently in newspaper cor
respondence brief review of some of
the old set which surrounded Grant and
his Administration of the more
prominent who were tossed to the sur
face as the whirl of events rapidly and
disgracefully revolved during a very
politics. As history, they say, repeats
itself the same old crowd or
their counterparts will doubtless
be tossed to the surface again. The
Radical party is full of these same
types, and they usually get on top and
in the lead when men of the taste and
inclinations of Grant are in the White
House.
The first one that attracts our atten-
tion is large man with a puffy face
and very long whiskers. His eyes are
red and swollen, and he holds his head
in hanging position. He loafs good
deal around the Arlington-the leading
hotel of Washington City-his name is
Belknap-W. W. Belknap, at one time
Secretary of War under Grant. His
history is familiar to our readers. They
say the extravagant habits and enter
tainments of his wife brought him into
trouble.
Who have we here? Babcock. Oh,
yes! Grants old private Secretary, un-
pleasantly mixed up with the whisky
rings and other odorous combinations
come around Washington very much,
but he was there the other day when
Grant arrived to extend the right hand
of fellowship to his old chief. Babcock
is Lighthouse Inspector, with head
quarters at Baltimore. A little Incl
dent floats around Washington that
when Babcock was found .'not guilty."
at St. Louis, Grant said to him: &c You
have lost my confidence, and I desire
you never again to enter my family"
Yet Babcock was the first to welcome
Grant during his last visit. One point
in Babcock' favor is that the investi-
CATION of his affairs, made by the en-
gineer corps of the army, resulted in
finding him guiltless of the charges
made against him at St. Louis. This
much is true, however, that Babcock,
| while violating no law, did speculate in
| land on Shepherds advice. Then, at
convenient places, he built blocks OF
dwellings on contracts, the mason
taking one, the carpenter another, the
plumber another, and SO on, leaving
one for Babcock clear of all incum-
brance. This was using official inform
alton for private gain; but there is nc
law to punish such an offense.
Boss Shepherd is another of the old
crowd. His history is familiar. He is
played out to great extent, and there
will not probably be any more Boss
Shepherds for a while in the District
He is wealthy, though, having recov.
cred himself in mining speculations.
Robson comes next in review. HI
was Grants old Secretary of the Navy
and came very nearly getting away will
the entire concern. There may hav,
been an old row-boat or two left-ther'
doubtless was, and perhaps more. W.
do not want to be unfair to one who i
now one of the most distinguished lead
lower house of Congress. He is a bir,
Of gorgeous plumage, thoughts Robe
son. He steps high and lives high, ha
ga generous abdomen and purplisl
complexion He has distinguishes
air, and is said to be the best sdiner
out'' in Washington.
These are samples of the old set, an
we close our review for to-day. The
may not reach place and power again
that depends upon the amount OF chee
and brass they may have left; but on
thing is sure, that, if Grant gets bac
to the Presidency, there will cluste
around him men of similar characters
tics and general features. Grant ca
no more avoid them than he can chang
the color of his eyes. They gravitat
to him naturally, and there is in hi
composition a certain peculiar magnet
ism which attracts second and third
rate characters His entire yaree
shows it.-I7sdi0na State Sentinel.