Year: 1869

seuafor SpPngue, Of Rhode Aslnn d


on the Situation.


The following is the speech of Mr.
sPRAGUE, Radical Senator from Rhode
Island, which was delivered in the SEN
ate few days ago, and about which
the "loyap newspapers are in such a
fearfal hutter:


Mr.. Sprague, He had felt
deeply interested in the success of the
Republican party in the past, apd had
contributed to it, he thought, as much
in character, and good deal more in
money, than other Senators; indeed, he
believed that his contributions of the
latter kiXd had been greater than those
of all other Senators combined. When
the war broke upon the people without
warning, and found them unprepared he
had been among the first to rush to the
support of the Government; but now
there was great danger pending, and
he felt it his duty to warn the people
of it. Four years ago this country
had come out of great civil war.
Since then the great work Of Congress
had been, or should have been, to restore
harmony and prosperity to the country.
How has that work been carried on !
Is there, he asked, peace at the South
Is there prosperity or csntentment
among the people there : Are they not
rather in a state of chronic revolution
Is there Justice in the land? Who that
is q poor man dare attack one that is
rich in any court in this land Is there
protection for the rights or liberties of
the citizen in this boasted land of free.
dom7 The immigration of this country
had fallen off 10000 during the last
year, and would continue to fall off,
because the industry and agriculture of
the country were so Frustrated at the
West that immigrants could not find
remunerative employment, and if they
went to farm in the West they could
not sell their produce for enough TO sup
ply them with the necessaries of life.
Whenever any one in the Senate or
elsewhere asked the reason of the de
preston of our commerce and manufac-
lures, he was sure to be met with the
answer that it was owing to the fact
that we are not paying specie; but the
real reason was that the legislation and
administration of the government were
so shaped as to encourage capital to
speculate upon every industrial occupa-
tion in the country. If this course was
to be continued, in less than five years
there would be clamOr for tariff to
keep out foreign cotton; but great as
was the mismanagement of our national
affairs in every department, the great
est abuses were in our financial policy.
That policy was directed and controlled
10y the bankers. The rich were striving
to be richer; and the poor were strug-
CLING TO initiate the rich; and in this
struggle virtue was lost. He knew some
thing of the character of the people of
other countries, and he firmly stated
that there iCGs less Uirtue and morality in
.Imericdn society to-day than any other cir
iH:ed SOcietyOR the face Of The earth. The
prevailing Generalization was trightful.
What mother could send her son out in
the world with any confidence that he
weuld be able to resist the temptations
that would surround him! What hus-
band could close his door3 The country
was on the brink of precipice, 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
he believed that he president Grant,
had not been contaminated by the poll.
ticians and had the capacity required
to see through and defeat their machin-
ations. He had listened to the inaugu-
raj address with intense interest, and
had been pleased by the Presidents X
preston of his purpose to be independ-
ent in the discharge of his official du-
ties; bit chca he heard the passage assert
ing the sacredneS8 Of the public debt he had
gone Uray diSRcartened and sororful, be-
cause 1t had ShOwR him that the cdnker
that possessed the american body polite
hat got possession Of the President also
Still he was not without hope. He
hoped that the President would yet dis
cover the great error into which bad ad-
visers had led him, and would turn
away from this policy as from a charnel
hnuZp