Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1884-07-08
Reform Versus RascaIity.

| Republicans in the Senate are very busy
now having the Departments Investigated
and having thieves brought to justice.
| There have been frauds in the Naval Blu
reau. The hospital fund has been robbed
of $63, 900 by means of false vouchers.
| Systematic fraud has been discovered in
other Departments of the Government.
Col. Burnside stole many thousands and
oefalcations to the extent of five or ten
thousand dollars have come to light re-
Gently. All this stealing is in the Republi-
can party and under the eyes of active
Republican politicians. But these frauds
that are now being investigated are insig-
niicant as compared with the Star-route
robbery and the big thefts in the Navy De-
partments, in which Mr.. Roach and other
wealthy Republicans are supposed to have
derived large profits. These are the scan
dals that have made the Republican party
a by-word and reprOach. Under Grants
Administration the Government was robbed
of millions of dollars, and the thieves,
though evidence was not lacking, went
unpublished. Under Hayes's Administra-
| ton robbery in high places still went on.
| Under President Arthur's Administration
the Star-route thieves have had their way,
and Brady, Dorsey, Kellogg and others
have grown rich off their connection with
| the gigantic swindle.
| And if the Republican party has been
responsible for wholesale robbery Blaine,
should he be elected President, would be
mixed with rascals to a greater extent than
any of his predecessors, though such a
thing would be hard to imagine when we
remember Grant. But such is Bl4ine's
record, and such are his intimate friends
~ hut
debauched state of affairs during his ad-
ministration. Chafee, Elkins, Dorsey, and
other friends equally as dishonest, though
less notorious, would be ''hale fellow"
with the chief Executive. They would plan
and execute jobs more gigantic than any
on record, and it would not be year after
Blaine took his seat before every decent
Republican who voted for him would rue
his action.
! Every day honest Republicans are leaving
Blaine and joining the Independent move
ment. And if the Democrats but display
proper Judgment and work earnestly,
Blaine will surely be defeated, AS Hayes
was beat in 1876, though seated, it will be
still easier to beat Blaine in November
next. The campaign word in 1876 was
Reform. Mr.. Tilden represented reform.
Mr.. Hayes represented the old party Of
corruption. So it will be this year. Blaine
represents the worst elements in the Re-
publican party. He represents the Star
| route thieves, the bloody shirt waivers, and
the monopolists. He is himself a man of
very bad record-the Mulligan letters, the
Little Rock railroad, the war contracts,
and dozen other dark scandals stick to
him. The Democratic candidate, on the
other hand, will represent an honest party.
He will represent reform, and will be him
self a man Of personal integrity, and one
commanding the respect of the entire coun-
try.
, The partisan Senators may continue to
investigate the epartments-they may
affect great virtue now, but it is too late.
The Republican party must give way to
the genuine RefUrmers.-Richmond State