The Portland daily press., 1869-02-06


General Hawley OF Connecticut is such an
effective moral tonic in any political assembly
that it is pity the people of his Congression-
al district have concluded that he is too good a
man to represent that State at Washington.
1t is true that he voluntarily withdrew his
name as a candidate, but he did SO, it is pretty
clear, in orderl not to imperil the cause by the
unquiet conduct of rival candidates. But he
was presiding officer o. the Republican State
Convention at New Haven, Wednesday an"
just as at Chicago last year, gave the KEY -.
to the proceedings. In his speech -
There are corrupt men besiegihs e'''
Tboso mo, o,e ,ba enemies of The country.
As Ganara1 Grant has said it will not do to
;noro,so tbo dabt 40 long as there are men who
,,,o,,,a .o,,aiote it, We must cultivate that
sa.,t;ment which would regard those men as
sconndreIs who would repudiate the national
obligations. We long for public opinion that
will brand these men with the brand of Cain,
and send them out of Office forever. 1 trust
that our declaration of opinion in our resolu-
tions will be unmistakable. 1t is very easy to
ADOPT platform which deals only in general
tiles. But let US tell the people of this State
just what we mean. We can easily do this,
and we shall command confidence and sup
port" This language commended itself to
the heads and hearts of Gen. Hawley's hearers,
and when the resolutions were reported, in
stead OF the glttering generalities which usu-
ally do duty in State conventions, they came
square up to the mark. The fifth and sixth OF
the series are as follows:
We unrcservedly denounce the wickedness
and meanness of population in all its forms
aud dis2uises and believe it to be the duty of
Congress to-hrst, formally affirm that when
the national debt is paid it must be paid in
gold, except where it is otherwise distinctly
provided in the original contract; second, in
troduce the strictest economy into every
branch OF the Government; third, refuse all
subsidies and appropriations TO railroad and 9TH
er enterprises outside of the indispensable ma
chinery Of the Government; fourth, see to it
that the taxes are impartially levied, and en-
ergetically and honestly collected and surplus
revenues applied to the reduction of the debt;
nth, make it constant aim to resume specie
payment, aud give the people a uniform and
steady currency, as soon as may be without a
violent disturbance of business; ard sixth, to
remove taxation from labor and HeceSSarieS of
life. and to impose it ,ss far as possible upon
articles of luxury.
We denounce as enemies of the people and
robbers, to be Indignantly visited with the full
penalties of public opinion and statute law, all
officials, State or national, who commit or per-
init dishonesty, partiality or negligence in the
collection or disbursement of the treasure of a
greatly burdened people, and make thieviDg
sport OF the taxes that patriotic labor cheer
fully pays. No Rebels a1efe ecer so dangerous
to the country zoe tove.
iWhoever imagines that the implied admission
in the above resolutions that there are rogues
in the Republican party,is calculated to weak
en- that organization, has yet to learn the first
elements of political wisdom Every such
Qnk da0Ia arof md
Herewith has an Immediate effect in strength
.ening the confidence of the people iu the party
that authorizes it. Besides, the people are not
likely to forget that for every syllable of self
accusation that Republicans utter, volumes of
indictments against the Democracy are fur
nished by the acts of that party. For every
charge of corruption aud extravaganza that
can be maintained against Republicans, ten
can be brought home to the Democrats in their
much more limited sphere of action
Connecticut has started right and the Re-
publicans of other States will follow. Honesty
and retrenchment will be the ralying cries of
the next campaign, and heaven is to be praised
that no one has uttered them louder than the
man whose position as President for four wears
from the fourth of March will make ID possi-
BILE for him to utter them to some purpose
However reticent the President elect may be
on ether themes in however perplexing doubt
he nay leave his associates with respect to
less important questions, the names of his
Cabinet officers, for instance, no man in Amer
ca is left to conjecture what he thinks and
what he wishes as to the preservation of the
national honor and the economicsl administra-
tion of the government. 1t is said he has al
ready become a lobbyist-for the purpose ol
fighting the lobby-and that he works as hard
for the Treasury as the rest of that fraternity
do to deplete it.
1t only remains for Congress promptly to
meet the wishes of the people and of the in
coming Executive. There are corrupt men in
the National Legislature, as Gen. Hawley has
said, but so far, during the present session they
have been kept in tolerahly coed order by the
outside pressure in favor of economy. Let
not that pressure be remitted for an instant,
but let everything that locks like corruption,
extravaganza and imbecility in any member,
be he Democrat or Republican, receive prompt
and severe rebuke. So shall the whole nation
follow the lead of Governor Hawley in the
right direction.