The Van Buren press., 1869-04-13
Mr.. Spragues Speech.

The Senator from Rhode Island has of
late been making speeches superior to the
general run of Republican Congressional
efforts 1t is evident, from the telegraph
ie sketch of the one delivered by him on
Wednesday, that he is becoming pro
foundly Disguised with the course OF his
party. and with tie general aspect Of oar
political affairs. He told the Senate the
most wholesome truths it has listened to
in long time. What could be more true
or more just than these remarks y
He denied that Congress. had restored
harmony or prosperity TO tue 90 untry,
and asserted that the people in the South
are ratherin state Of chronic revolution,
and that there was nojustice TOT the poor
man, or protection for the rights and HIS
critics OF citizens IA this boosted land OF
freedom. Immigration had failen of I;
the ipIustry ana agrIcullare of tue eoun
try were so prostrated at the West, that
immigrants cannot find remalieraiive en-
ployment, for they Cannot sell their pro-
ducts for enough to supply themselves
with the necessarles Of life. The reason
was that the legislation and the admins.
tratIon were 50 shaped as to encourage
capital to speculate upon every industrial
occupation in the country. II this course
was to be continued, in less than i've
years there would be a clamortOr a tariff
to keep out foreign cotton, But great IS
was the mismanagement Of our affairs in
every department, the greatest abuses
were in our financial policy. That'policy
was directed aud controlled by the bank
crs. They no doubt gave as good advice
rs they could, but experience had always
shown that dealers in money knew little
or nothing about the relations Of money
to other occupations and interests. The
country was on the brink OF a precpice,
and unless the people could be reused
from their apathy, all was lost. He had
Wished for, and aided in the election Of
General Grant to the Presidency, because
lie believed that he president Grant )had
not been contaminated by the politicians.
and had the capacity required to see
through and defeat their Vaccinations.
He had listiaed to the inaugural address
with intense interest, and had enpleas
phtioss W % '",'or,N''''~'" 49, 49, -
charge of his official duties, but when lie
heard the passage asserting the sacred
ness of the public debt, he had gone away
disheartened and sorrowtul, because 1t
lad shown him the canl<er that possessed
the American body polite had got pos
session Of Tie President also. Still he
was not without hope He hoped the
President would yet discover the great
error in which bad advisers had led nini'
aud would turn away from this policy Us
from charnel house"
These remarks are the more honorable
to Mr.. Sprague from the fact that no is
one Of the largest manufactures and most
wealthy capitalists in New England, and
possesses the ability, il he chose, to be
one of the largest recipients OF the AL
vantagcs held out by tho monetary power
When gentleman of his wealth and po'
ltical antecedents takes such sensible
views in regard to the payment OF the
public debt, we may be certain that Its
monstrous niquity cannot long be per-
petuated. We invite our Republican
readers particularly TO give Senator
/ Sprague's remarks an attentive consiIera
] ton - Cincinnati Eaqg!rer. ,...