Rensselaer Union, Volume 6, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 February 1874 — Dawes’ Speech. [ARTICLE]

Dawes’ Speech.

A few days since Mr. Dawes, Chairman of the Committee of Ways and Means, made a vigorous speech in favor of retrenchment and in censure of certain expenditures which seemed to him unwarrantable. Certain Washington correspondents are trying to make it appear that this speech is received in a very’ hostile manner by the Republican party and that an effort wil 1 be made to refute its statements, contradict its figures, and in general “show it up.” The object of these correspondents is, manifestly, to make the people believe that the Republican party is committed to extravagance and thoroughly opposed to any sweeping system of reform. While this may be true of certain men, who, if called as they would choose to be, mav be termed party leaders, it is utterly false when urged against the party as such, or against the large majority of its prominent men. The bulk of the Republican party is the People, who have during more than a decade supported it by their influence and by their votes. In close sympathy with them are the purest and best men’ wito have come to notice as party leaders. It is true that, in the Republican party, as in any other, there are men who are nothing if not politicians—men corrupt and wholly on the make. They will oppose any plan which looks toward economy or purity in administration, but they have no more right to speak for the party than “ Tweed ” would have to represent whatever honesty there may be in the opposing party. The Republican press, with no important exception, is outspoken in behalf of retrenchment and reform. So is President Grant ; so are his most trusted advisers. So the majority in Congress will prove to be. What more can be expected* That there should be some scoundrels in a party so large and so long in power as the Republican partv is not at all. remarkable.— Chicago Post and Mail.