The Crime Of Discovery

That a great niany Republicana are both surprised and shocked at these recent revelations at Washington, is very true. Most of them have not been in the way of seeing and studying things elosely for themselves, and they have believed their Congressmenandtlie party organs who vouchsafed the integrity of the administration, and denounced doubts of it as the inalignant invention of open enemies or disappointed friends. But it is an affeetation for Eepiiblican Congressmen or República editora, who have improved their opportunities for studying the course of affairs at the capital, to exhibit such emotions. They have known well enough the prevalence of frauds and corruptions in Congress, at the lepartments, and in nearly all the branches of public service. Probably this especial caso of Belknap's was not known to them in detail, though many of them did know, aud all of them had abundant opportunity for knowing, that Belknap was giving these sutler places to personal favorites as profitable sinecures. More still, they passed the bill that allowed him the chance to do it over the protest of Gen. Sherman and other army officers. Four years ago, even, Gen. Hazen, one of the most accomplished officers in the army, being on an inspecting tour, discovered this very Fort Bill case - that the sutler there was paying thousands of dollars a year to a man in the Eastern States, who held the appointment ovor him. He reported the facts to Gen. Garfleld, then chairman of the Military Committee of the House; he testified to them, circumstantially and under crossexamination, to that committee; bnt the committee made no investigation, Gen. Belknap was not snmmoned before them, nor Mr. Marsh, the nominal sutler, ferreted out, and the iuquiries made which have uow resnlted in this terrible explosión. Hazen's story was printed in the papers, and the President's attent ion called to it, but Gon. Grant told Mr. Belknap he did not believe it, and Gen. Hazen soon fouud himself uupopuiar in war department and high congressional ! circles, and, like the humbler Maj. Alvord, was ordered to remóte and barren poBts. These corruptious havo been for years i the current jests of Washington circles, j the air has been full of them, and, wliatever they may pretend, saoh men as Gen. Garfleld and Senator Dawes.and Senator Boutwell and Speaker Blaine are really not surprised that they have finally been forced to (he èurfaco, and the thin veil of party and personal favor stripped ruthlessly aside. These honorable Republican Congressmen are shocked, possibly, but shocked becauso the truth wliich they havo long known is at last boldly revealed, and the Republican party thrown suddenly into a demoralized and apparently irretrievably aopeless condition. The distress to the intelligent politician is that they are 'ound out. The crimo is the crime of j discovery, not the crime of perpetnation.