Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-04-06
SENATOR spRAGUE.


speech of Senator Sprague, of
Rhode Island, delivered a week or
two since, was published in this
paper, and attention directed to it
as an utterance of more than usual
significance. We have received
copy by mail, and its perusal affords
convincing proofs that our first i'm
pressions were correct. 1t did ere.
ate sensation in the highest polit-
ical circles at Washington. 1t is
remarkable speech. 1t was not an
unstudied effort. 1t had deep
purpose. 1t was an Indictment
carefully framed, and presented by
one who had hitherto held an I'M
challenged position as an orthodox
member of the Radical party, and
s profoundly significant. And
more. 1t is speech containing
sound and wholesome views, and
though as first reported, having the
SAVIOR of exaggeration, on full
reading, will be found to be an able
review of the political situation.
We will endeavor to make room for
extracts hereafter.
A New Orleans contemporary
the Times of the LIST inst.--thus re-
fers to it:
Quite sensation has been created in
the Radical party, by the presumption Of
Senator Sprague for daring to come out
of the political coventry, where he had
been confined, and claim prominent
position among political leaders They
have already, like Bombastes' army, such
surplus of captains, that it is almost
impossible to harmonize conflicting per-
sonal interests and opinions among them
Mr.. Chase's son+in-law has heretofore
been looked upon as a harmless young
man, with much more money than brains,
who stood in nobody's way. His peace
full profession as a cotton spinner, it was
generally conceded, had entirely untitled
him, both by taste and capacity, from
taking part in the big political wars
which make ambition virtue, and, of
course, he was patronised accordingly.
How great then the establishment and
indignation when the Acolyte stands out
in open rebellion, and commences pick
| Al Of
tors. The breathless indication mani
tested by lite Barnacle, when Clenman
formally requested some information "
} respecting the circumlOcutiOn Office,
could have been as nothing to
it. Independent people, and Mr..
Sprague has shown himself to be an in@
dependent man, are always troublesome.
Were he poor, he would be dropped or
swept aside summarily, but his great
wealth and high political connections
effectually forbid any such treatment OF
mis- claims The fact is, Mr.. Sprague is
one Of the coming men;" he has not sat
, ST. Paul at the feet of the Judicial
Gamaliel for nothing nor does he intend
to be stultifed under party harness, be
its trappings ever so gorgeous. He has
commenced his true career by kicking
the traces all off, and rears up before the
country to-day decidedly the most lib.
, eral politician, the most daring, and one
| of the most in harmony with the wants
of the new political era, of any now fill.
ing the public eye. 1t was Brutus stab
when he dared to tell his old compan-
ions in caucus that they were driving the
country to destruction by their narrow
| minded, partisan and selfish legislation,
and that fully one-half of them had nc
business to sit in the councils of the ma
ton. 1t was with Curtius leap when
| he arrayed himself on the side Of
| Southern people in behalf of fair
and impartial treatment. Such a
man is neither to be squelched
, nor snubbed. The very homely but very
pertinent truths he told, demand and
! must receive respect, and place must
be made for him in the temple, even il
some numbering old idol has to be pulled
, | down from its niche. We are not dis
l posed to expect too much from Nh.
3 Sprague, nor, situated as he is, do we de-
, sire to find him in entire harmony with
extreme Southern views for with the
} changing relations daily in operation,
7 involving the death of old issues and the
birth of new ones, it is only in the true,
plain patriotic path that we can hope fol
, national prosperity: Butas the Orpheu;
who has struck the key note of the poll
: tics of the day, as a man who, while
guilty of no heresy, has dared to tell the
truth-we cannot help honOring and re-
speeding Mr. Sprague.