The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1869-04-29
Views OF Senator sprague.

Views OF Senator SpraSue.
From long account of an interview with
Senator Sprague, of Rhode Island, which
appears in the New York Herald, we make
the following extract:
"People say, Governor, that they do not
comprehend exactly what you are driving
at. Some insinuate that you are bidding
for the Presidency; others that you want to
cut loose from your party, and still more
state, In downright terms. that you are
crazy"
''Hold onl' exclaimed the Governor; 'let
me answer the last charge Yes-I am
crazy-crazy as every reformer has been
since the beginning of the world. Because
refuse to follow in the ruts of that set call
ing itself the Senate of the United States,
the cry is raised at once, oh! Sprague is
crazy. will let them know before long
exactly how crazy I am I am not bidding
for the Presidency either. If it were offered
to me tomorrow, should only take it on
conditions of being at liberty to kick out of
the White House every of1ice-seeker that
dare come into it. Not q man should be
appointed under me to Office because he was
this mans friend or that mans supporter.
would have an incorruptible board of ex-
aminers for every Office under the Govern
ment, and no man should be appointed un-
IL.
L would disregard party altogether, and put
only the best men in the nation in places
OF trust; but as 1 know such condition of
things can never be attained, the Presidency
is not my ambition. Neither am 1 about to
cut loose from my party and attach myself
to the Democratic. Both as parties are
rotten; but intend TO build up new
party, in which politics will have little to do.
My rarty will have for its one grand prin-
n <1f
derlng of money cheap, the reduction of
taxation, the elevation of the working
classes, the protection of labor, the i'm.
proyement of our cotton, agricultural, com
mercial and manufacturing interests-in
short, the making of this country really
great, strong and prosperous. All your
talk about the niger, niger suffrage,
State rights, women's rights, rebels, and SO
forth, is only fit for these old grannies in
Congress. Where is our shipping at this
moment? Who of those men pesterinp
our ears all the time about reconstruction.
rebels, niggers, and SO forth, has ever lifted
his voice in favor of the broken-down COM
merce that was once our pride and glory?
tell you, Sir, these men would drive this
country headlong to the devil in their greed
for power. This country to-day is intrin-
sically weaker than any on the face of the
globe, not excepting Mexico. Now let me
explain; but first let me enlighten you upon
the purpose of the speech, the opening one
OF the late series made in the Senate. It
was necessary should draw the attention
OF the people to Congress to invite greater
attention to the speech made upon the
finances and the bill offered in connection
Herewith. I began by skirmishing, my OBJ
lective point being the Trsasury-the great
national curse. My scheme was no hur-
riedly considered affair. For three years I
have devoted my mind exclusively to this
subject. and you will find, if am mad,
there was some method in my madness,
after all You saw how that first speech
awakened thrill of interest throughout the
nation. There is some of the evidence,
lpolntlng to the bundle of letters.) Now,
II had made my proposition alone, with
OUT any preparation of the public mind, it
might have gone the way of all like propo-
sltlons. hold that the Treasury is the
root OF our present evils. Forty millions
OF dollars, We will say, are received there
this month This money comes out of the
pockets of the people, One man whose
taxes are large has, perhaps, to borrow the
money at q high rate of interest to pay his
indebtedness to the Government. That
money. goes into the Treasury, and lies
there, boarded up for q month or six weeks.
without producing particle of benefit to
the Government or the people. Twenty
ml!ilons OF that amount, we will say, are
paid out by the Government, and twenty
millions remain. The market in New York
where the capital of the country is central
lzed, Is declared scarce. When money is
scarce, those who have the least put their
stocks on the market ats low rate to induce
purchasers and procure capital to carry on
20 al,