Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-06-27

whose hands shall 90 the control of the
Republic in March 1977-whether into the
hands of those who once sought its des-
tructon or were Indifferent to its fate, or
shall be continued in charge Of those who
saved it in its years of terrible peril.
TIE CHAIRMAN or THE WAYS AND
MEANS.
The fact that HENRY l.. DAWES has
served for nearly a fifth of century the
honored Representative in Congress OF
one of the most intelligent and reliable
Districts OF Massachusetts, on its face car
ries the strong implication that he must
possess sterling characteristics as man
and strong qualities as statesman. As
Chairman of the Committee of Ways and
Means he has walked with firm step and
maintained consistent and undertaking
devotion to principles of justice, integrity
aud common sense. Not claiming all the
wisdom and virtue in the world, he is not
unwilling to think others may be as sin
cere as himself, who chance to differ from
him on some measure of finance or nation
al policy.
While loyal to his convictions and firm
in the defense of his matured conclusions,
he does not forget that he is a Representa-
tive of the interests of the United States as
well as of his own District. When he
cannot obtain all that his best judgment
leads him to think the highest welfare OF
the country require, he usually adopts the
maxim of practical craftsmanship, to ac
cept what is surely attainable rather than
accomplish nothing in striving for that
which promises no positive success None
more faithfully than he during the recent
session of Congress resisted measures of
extravaganza, all schemes of initiation, or
maintained more inhexibly the opinion
that the welfare Of the people and the
honor of the Government require a return
to specie payment But when the final
measure of compromise was about to pass
the House by a vote of more than five to
one, fixing the amount of the legal tend
ers beyond any future contingencies of
increase and awarding to the West and
South their proportion of the capital Of the
National Banks, the bill which has re-
ceived the signature of the President, Mr..
Dawes supported it, and the following
passage from his remarks on the occasion
clearly reveals his character as states
man and why he has so strong hold on
the average practical sense of Western
Massachusetts:
81 commend the bill particularly to the
section of the country that has steadily re-
fused two things-to increase the volume
of the currency and free banking-and
which has at the same time got $50, 000,-
600 more than its share OF the currency.
say to that section of the country, you
cannot afford to stand before the people
in the attitude of hesitating whether You
will do justice in the distribution of what
currency there is, if you refuse to make
any more. | desire to suggest to them
that they are entirely in the power of the
other section of the country. which now
only demands this equitable distribution
and nothing more. | suggest to them that
to do equity is the surest way to secure
equity"
Whether or not Mr. Dawes was correct
in his decision on this subject, there is no
doubt that his views are shared by large
number of the most intelligent friends and
advocates OF prompt return to specie
payment, who yet have no faith in the
long since exploded idea that a gold-and-
silyer-secured paper currency is sin.