Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1870-01-25
HE STAND A RID.
TERMS:
A Bombshell in Congress.

Under our head of Congressional Intel
ligence, we give an abstract of the speech
of Mr. Dawes of Massachusetts,, delivered
in the house of representatives, Jan. 18th,
which is Just now deservedly attracting the
attention Of prominent men of all politi-
cal parties, as well it may, for it is one of
those projectiles that hurt wherever they
strike, and it behooves the republican par
ty TO heed well the advice of the honora-
bic speaker. The question of curtailing
our national expenses is one that must be
met 1t must be met quickly. We must
not procrastinate. Ii will not answer TO
tall retrenchment any longer; the people
must have the genuine article, orthere will
be such a storm of indignation that at the
end of Gen. Grants term will hurl him
from power and the party which elected
him, not soon again to be resurrected.-
That Mr.. Dawes tells the truth no one will
question He is a republican, and would
not for mere sensational reasons thus pro-
claim the growing shame and inherent rot
tenness of that party which gave him his
seat in congress When he tells Us, as he
does, that the estimates of the present adj
ministration call for over forty millions a
year more to run it than was required bv
Andrew johnson TO n eet the expenses Of
his rotten dynasty, what are We to conclude
from it? There is but one logical deduc-
ton TO be drawn, which is that the repub-
lican party under Grant in the matter of
extravaganza is not only no better than it
was under Johnson, but j, infinitely worse,
Mr.. Dawes bearing testimony. II howey-
err Mr.. Dawes ialsifes the record Of the re-
publican party, let some prominent menu
Der of it in congress or out of it, publicly
fay the slanderer and thus vindicate the
honor Of the party in power. We opine
however that no one viii have the tcmeri-
ty 10 attempt it.
Look at one or two of the items: 4 four
million post Office in New Nork-cuough
TO buy half dozen counties in Vermont
new navy yard at League Island looking
to the demolition Of that at Philadelphia,
which cost three millions, and the depletion
ofthe treasury Of nearly one million more to
complete the transfer Such prodisaity
Of the peoples money j, At any time need.
less, and in these pinching days it is sim.
ply outrageous. We see every month a
report from the secretary of the treasury
wherein he shows that the national debt i.
being decreased at an average rate of sever
millions per month. This may be so. But
what matters it how much Of the debt i,
paid by the secretary, if congress, does moi
stop the leaks? One may pump the shiT
as vigorously as he pleases, if the wate
comes in faster than it goes out the yesse
viii sink in spite of rudder, anchor or com
pass. Retrenchment and lighter taxes
will be the battle cry to startle the guilt,
and the sleepy politicians of 1872. De
pend upon it. Let our party then be wis
in time and stop the leaks. Cut down tn,
salaries Of those who have pay beyond tn,
amount of labor they perform, includin,
the salaries of congressman. Discharg
the thieves from every branch Of govern
ment service, including those who PROV
along the whole length Of our northern
border from Maine to Minnesota, in wha
is styled the "revenue service" aud whic
i'll a great degree is a system of black mail
ing that any government should be ashau
ed of. Turn out at least one half of tn
clerical force in the various departments
Washington, and hundreds Of thousand
can be saved in stopping that leak, Will
the service would suffer no Inconvenience
from reduction of the force. This is tn
way to pay the debt, to tighten the take
10 perpetuate the party and save the n,
tion--stop the leaks.
Will our patrons read the remarks Of VI
Dawes 1t is not copperhead tcstimon.
but concentrated republican milk.
Since the above was put in type We 81
that Messrs. Dickey and Kelley have r,
piled to Mr.. Dawes, but we do not see
they attempt to relute his charges of e1
travagance, but merely seek to shift the re
sponsibility Of it to other shoulders. \
matter, the fact exists all the same