The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1880-03-05

The Old Crowd.
There i certain degree Of pleasure
In looking over the mementoes and re-
membranes Of the past. Often too I'M
pleasant and disagreeable memories
and suggestions are uppermosl- we
noticed recently in newspaper cor
respondence a brief review ~ some Of
the old set which surrounded Grant and
his Administration Of the more
nrominept who were tossed 20 the sur
lace a. the whirl OF events rapidly and
disgracefulIy revolved during very
notorious and corrupt era Of American
politics As history, they say. repeats
itself the same old crowd or
their counterparts will doubtless
be tossed 10 the surface again lhe
Radical party Is full Of these same
types. and they usually get on top and
in the lead when men Of the taste anu
inclinations Of Grant are in the White
House.
The first one that attracts our atten-
ton i LARGE man with puffy face
and very long whiskers. His eyes are
red and swollen. and he holds bis 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 Ills
history Is familiar 10 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. I'M
pleasantly mixed up with the whisky
rinws and other odorous combinations
OF Grants time. They say he does not
come around Washington very much
hu. he was there the other day when
Grant arrived to extend the right hand
IL fellowship to his old chief. Babcock
is Lighthouse Inspector with head
ouar,ers AZ Baltimore. A little incl
dent floats around Washington tha
when Babcock was found !. not guilty
al st. Louis. Grant said 70 him: I o'
have lost my confidence, and ! desir'
YOU never again TO enter my family.
Yet Babcock was the first 10 welcom'
Grant during his last visit One poin
IN Babcock : favor is that the lnvesti
eaton OF his affairs, made BY the en-
? rineer corps Of the army. resulted y
finding him guiltless Of the charge
+. made against him al ST. Louis In
I much i true. however. that Babcock
n while violating no law, did speculate i
! land on Shepherds advice. Then, a
: convenient places. he built blocks q
g dwellings on contracts, the maso
q taking one. the carpenter another, IA
Y plumber another, and so on. leavin
y one for Babcock clear Of all incun
7 brance. This was using official inform
Y alton for private gain; but there y =
G law TO punish such an otfense-
le Boss Shepherd is another OF the o.
al crowd. His history is familiar. he
&c played out to great extent. and thel
"a will not probably be any more 30
X Shepherds for while in the Distric
Il He Is wealthy, though, having reco
p cred himself in mining speculations.
N Robson comes next In review. !
- was Grants old Secretary Of the Nay
= and came very nearly getting away WI
ga the entire conceyn. There may ma
lc- been an old row-boat or two left-the
IN doubtless was, and perhaps more.
ny 40 not want to be unfair TO one who
ot now one of the most distinguished lee
IN or on the Radical side of the prese
~ lower house Of Congress. he : y
"a Of gorgeous plumage. thoughts no
ID SON. He steps high and lives high !
~. "a generous abdomen and = purpil
o. COMPLEXION He has distinguish
pm Air. and is said to be the best "dln
TT OUT in Washington.
Try These are samples OF the old set:
ex- we close our review for to-day. Al
NAV not reach place and power aya
that depends pom the amount q en-
and brass they may have lett on,
thing IS sure, that, il Grant gets p
ing 10 the Presidency. there will c'u'
IN around him men Of similar charac'e
the tics and general features Grant
ina no more avoid themth than he can cha
gro the color Of his eyes. They gravi'
AIRY 10 him naturally. and there : IN
leir composition certain peculiar mag
or ism which attracts second ana IN
Of rate characters. His entire cal
will shows Indiana State Sentinel.
lew