Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-01-20
WASHBURNE'S CONFESSION AND
PROMISES,

GU did not cOmel
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WASHBURNE'S CONFESSION ANE
PROMISES.
The recent speech of Mr.. Wash.
burne, of Illinois, in the House Of
Representatives in regard to the pol
icy heincoming administration OF
Gen. Grant, was not less remarkable
for its confession than for its pro-
misses. Promises are easily made
and not very much to be relied upon,
as the history of the Republican
- party, especially of the Radical wing
of that party, has clearly demonstra-
ted. Men seldom exaggerate the
guilt they confess. but rather palliate
it with apologies. We accept Mr..
Washburne's admissions, but in re-
gard to his promises, await their
realization. Mr.. Washburne dis
claims speaking for Grant, but many,
nevertheless, will insist that he
does. The first proposition he utter
ed was that new departure must be
taken by the Radicals, and the whole
policy of the party changed. This
caused an extraordinary opening of
eyes and pricking of ears. Schenk,
of Ohio, remarked to his colleague
(Garfeld) "That indeed sounds as
if speaking by authority" After
depicting the demoralizing effects of
a bloated paper currency, Mr.. Wash
burne ventured to state the second
proposition, viz that the plumber
ing of the public treasury by rob
bers now engaged on contracts, and
the squandering of the public lands
would have to cease. Good" eX-
claimed several Democrats. Mr..
Washburne went on, with his voice
at its highest pitch, and announced
that representatives must under
stand that they are but the
servants of the people they rep
resent, and are not to legislate for
the benefit of themselves and the
gamblers who crowd Washington.
Whether Mr.. Washburne speaks for
Grant or not, it is very certain that
he would take no grounds which he
did not know to be agreeable to his
chief. This speech, therefore, ex-
pounds what he believes to be the
policy of Gen. Grant and his be-
lief is to be accepted as approxima-
ting closely to knowledge. Whether
his chief and he will or will not re
treat, or be driven back from these
positions, is a question that must
lie over for solution, until the time
arrives for testing them. For the
present they seem to be very decided
in arranging the management of
public affairs by the Republicans and
in lecturing Congress. This was
the leading trait of Mr.. Washburne's
speech. II pronounced the old
issues to be, in many respects, OBJ
sOlete; and declared for the neces-
sity of a "new departure" in the
administration of the government.
This departure he defined to be made
by ignoring, g. as fast as possible
the eNcitements and passions Of the
war, and the bringing Of all thoughts
"to confront other and different
questions from those which have
for many. years overshadowed and
swallowed up everything else"
These questions he designated in
brieftO be those "offinances, Oftaxes,
Of economy, of decreased expendi-
ture, Of honest and enlightened
legislation questions of tariff; ques-
tons Of railroad, telegraph and ex-
press monOpolies, which are sucking
the very life blood of the people
the administration of revenue laws
and the rObberies and plunderings
of the treasury by dishonest Off
Gals" This is a sweeping pro
gramme, but it derives most signifi-
canoe by what followed Immediate
ly after Mr. Washbume, after
warning the Republican party of its
direct and exclusive responsibility
for the legislative part of the admin
istration, launched forth into bold
denunciation of their short comings
in the past, and vivid pictures of the
immoralities that have been spread
so widely all over the country, and
so prevalent among themselves dur
inc their political rule. The follow
ing is a most significant passage,
and expresses, in terms not differing
much from those which the Demo
cratic party has been maligned foI
r using so long and SO fruitlessly, the
fearful condition of decentralization
which the reign of Radicalism has
brought upon the people and tn
government: :"
The people elected Gen. Grant t.
the Presidency not only on accoun
of the great and inestimable sery ice
he has rendered the country in sub
DUNG the rebellion not only on &C
count of his devotion to the grea
principles of the Republican party
hut because they believe him to b
emphatically an honest man and a
enlightened statesman, who wOul
faithfully administer the laws With
out fear, favor, or affection. TIL
time has come when we are impera
lively called upon to take a me-
departure Added to other terribl
evils brought upon the country b
the war for the suppression of tn