New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-07-14
CURRENT DLSCUSSiON
Mr.. DAWES AND HIS CRITICS.

The prevailing tone of TIE comment called
forth by the announcement OF Mr. Dawes palposs 10
80 prominent part Of Just aud kindly apprccid
ton But. II kindness and clndor are the ruie' mere
some noteworthy exception Ihu., certain on me
Democratic organs which still cling to the traditions OF
an oDs0lcscent partisan journalism, improve the occa
non partisan journals which Mr. Dawes has hal Tie mis-
fortune 20 dispease ana which have long followed ms
100 strong resisted treat themselves
luxury OF parting Wna.h. Conspicuous Instances
are The Nation and TRIBUNE of New-GOrk City.
We dare say these Journals ind themselves some
what the better for thi' escape OF De ana MI Dawes
does not find himself the worse. Not t!idt there
Is Mt something what they say. We do MOI choose 70
he nisuuder-tood or misrepreseuted upon this head
There Il "A good deal Nj. Dawes Is not lhidlllbti ne
does not claim 70 De judicous friend OF his Will
make the claim Tor Hl' A. pup'ic u" ~ '' ~,
faults aud has made serious mistakes lhe seNere
CatOs 81 the press quiie night there On more tha
one Of their indictment, the verdict OF even the
most partial and enent ldry would nave 10 b, Tdy,
with extenuatlng clrcunstinces But before MI Dawes
is ordered OF political execution. these same cX,eh
ang CIRCUMSTANCES should DE fully presented dnd aIry
mons man bv nature aud habit HIS caution is some
tunes excessive 10 have the look oi umidltl,
timdity II YOU please of the most marked aud
striking characteristics OF the times th1t 10 perVades
our whole political life; ana that, in Mr.. Dawes case
there wnicA but Few Of MS cOiehp oIies
IN the public career Justly plead Here aud there
II is true "A -cIurz nds preserved Ms niue
peIdence Of conviction and action at the expense o III
party relations. But these nave been thc IAe -
mons almost universal rule. GDod men, abe uth
patriotic men, men, Rave Yielded 10 the Ten
@,c, of the Tines ad sacrificed Individuality couyIc-
tion, aspiration, Sci-fcspect even, upon the dltar o
party. They nave preferred the comforts OF con tol
fOrInIy. wnIteycr cost, % the nara i>"''lou
OF q ,sent. II Mr. Dawes mas uot at al tlmrs ie,
sisted this tendency a. his best hleuds couai ~
lave wished 10 MIN, there are "A number Oh
things TO be said for hlm. Cautious ana c0nscrV'tNe
Dy temperumrnJ the Surroundings ann WLcI nc n'a
found himself ae conditions under which he mas done
his WORK the nature the work itself, his position IN
the party. tine responsibilities loaded on ms 7hOuues,
the confidence reOsed him, the necessity aid upon
Inn think and fora great political OrSthl.t.on.
well a. for himself-lll these things nave lheNItIDg
coOperaed with the natural Dent 70 mae nl 'I t
dcut and wary public whom the country hnoMs
and the NewYOrk critics dsapprove o. Iheh too We
theory OF punHc ne mus ~ ldhcI NV INC ~
my fair augment is 10 bc reached Ihs theory s' I,
the practical statesman IS bound 10 Try i1I tIe tn
result attaintblo q, the ZINC unu , u,m IA
actual conditions, without wasting strength 10
no purpose IN attempting Tue A1 t ,isf Of
For the "tmid!tY" Of Nj DIVES, rs lor tld mt ",
many another public man. the people az Houe
largely responsible II me constlt ,n ,,rce
not encourage their representatives 10 - g.
what ugnt have they Ia expect IL leI a. tuo " ~
election after Mr. DIVES ntst Ouispoheh "a.
the IGpuDlcan ADMINISTRATOR ~, @ H., s"a.st
Mas: cAusets district actually tel on was the
Indeed nc mad ever received. with all Mr.. Dave
faults lnd shortcomings he does not leave M eqa' a.
public servant behind him in the body which he = dI-
ting AFT 10 years OF continuous service. There II nor
Of them VINO can maFh reeOidH WIN hl'n' X
respect uscui public service or political cOinSt o
a man OF them worked 50 hard or accomplished 80
much not man VI helh Hh- sPoAch on ,i 10 II
taken such risks in the performance OF pnDnc aut!
ne IL naturally unl,' II risks are not az all IN Ms inc
40 unch the more him. Setting of what he ~ ana
has against what ne Is not and mas ielt uuioir
t7e BALANCE heavily IN his favor We dOn Dee'e 'Ho
people going 10 forget or Fepudlate the cent
A DIsGR ACEFUL EXHIBITION.
from Sal-H Mass Gaz.t>, Jah g. . , .
On Tuesday of last week we copied, WIN que
credit. a paragraph from TIE NEW YORK Iklbehb' in
winch Gen. Buffers last speech IA Congress Wa Guar
actorzed "a dsgTacefui eIhibtion. The tteheial
SENDS n note with printed copy of ms speech
duesting 10 publish such portions VI tAt sptcSn
which will Justify that Characterization OF ~
faults justified that epithet are not on me pa
tvpe Of any printed page. They were parity W tio
caiutnny Of his attacks private character thr
mood Of which has since been demonstrated ~ fneP,
Dodge &CO.; dis ventilation of Tie SANDER Win fcgsru
10 the conduct OF of the first women OF rev
York. with the younger members Of tbat nrn' was
worse than dsgracefu,' IL was absolutely nhltruV
ahipl plifly defense OF the asctlltlcr 81
clients the partly III his Of private ct
tere which could not possibly nave como 70 nun " uVu
oraD means; partly frem h1s ytoiatiors OF tHc
pr1pretios and decenees OF DEBATE whch elll lts
even through the solid ntfaud which disnteresteu
spectators and auditors Will agree we're scauuAUss
while those aud audtors were never
therss ready 70 JOIN the laughter which W.T. ana III
IaIdence ana quick retort never fail 10 provoke.
ELASTIC WAGES.
Prom n. BasEo Courier.
THE TRIBUNE's Washington correspondent
has investigating the transactions oi the Treasury
Department with reference 10 the compensation oi "a"
lec' Internal revenue aud appears 20 have deoN
erru facts Illustrative Of tire general ~ stem O eA
traVaga am fayOrlflsm which has cnuracefiLrh tc
Nntluui Administration since the close u the war IL
Impossible thai there could have existed shadow
fO the procedure ia the cases rteTItu to
On their they bear the uIos; conclusive eE
dence Of fraudulent cOlusl0n between the claimants
aud the TIE Department As ln the case OF 0hrI
exposed abuses the discovery and exposure OF lI.s
due The vigilance of OH Gals but 10 the enter
prise OF press Had 10 not been Tor that enter
prise IN the Instance u mas De doubted whether
the sweets. the Mcrrian and the Doaaasses III I'M ~
would have been cnren Of their III
yeterate baDlt of wing their venerable accounts ~
oP9ed 'rVn time To a stindi4s 70 their oJ A.V
aud ZsaL