The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1867-04-13
A Counterpart to the Chicago Barbarian
Twin Brothers on Inhumanity--Another
Beast of the Butler Breed.
Correspondence of the St. Louis Republican.

u.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill, April 8, 1867.
For the good name of humanity it was
hoped that Chicago only could boast of
things in the likeness of men who refuse to
give bread to starving people. One of her
citizens. member of the board of trade,
proposed, when called upon for donation to
the starving women and children In the
south, to send them arsenic instead OF Hour.
The name of that monster should be known,
that he might be avoided and execrated by
all honest people.
Unhappily, Springfield has one apology of
human being of the same kidney. In this
city noble emulation has been exhibited to
excel in charity. The several church de-
nominations have taken up collections, or
have proposed doing so. The contributions
for this cause at St. Paurs church (Episco-
pail in Springfield, though the day was I'M
commonly inclement, and the congregation
small, amounted to two hundred dollars
Our benevolent citizens, Jealous In good
works, sent COMMITTEES through each ward,
with subscription papers, and the product
will amount to several thousand dollars
Near the head of one of these subscription
lists appears the following, we give 1t IN
full: - -.-
az viii give the amount set opposite my nan,e
to purchase powder and lead to be used In the
south, provided the same is used by loyal
ooent aWuIaAM BUTLER-$5OoO
The nubIc will be disposed to ask, who Is
William Butler, who thus, in company with
the .sarsenic man. of Chicago, would respond
IN the cries of little furnishing children II
the south. and despairing, defenseless, and
breadless women, with powder ana nal =
For the credit of our common humanity ONT
would hone that no man lived, who, being
;nbuman and brutal, would yet glory IN !
and shauelessly publish it to the communlt.
With his own hand. The ''arsenic man, o
CHICAGO. appears not to have been anxlou
To invite attention to himself by 1nscrlbin
his own name at the bottom OF his diaboilca
nroposition. But if there Is such man
William Butler, he seems to have had NOR
audacity and less common sense ana resPet
for the opinions of undegraded mankind
since he proclaims his depravity and couple
his name with it. Can it be that this is til
William Butler who enjoyed distinguish
bonors from the radical party in H., BEN
e,acted state treasurer in the contest tor TIL
Office with that valuable and competent OF
cor Alexander Starnef Is he the mann
That William Butler was conspicuo
member of one of the "cotton rings" who
natriotism was rewarded by permits to 6
ont cotton from confederate districts durll
the war. He enjoys the reputation Oh Nd
NO been connected with the celebrated c.
ton expedition under General Banks, the
tai history of which was duly recorded int
columns of the Republicans. How much
realized" in that expedition we are not {
curately advised but the "eotton ring
made such good thing out of their opee'
lions generally that it is not unlikely that !
Rntler and his associates would find reaso
for personal rejoicing in another civil
and would periodically contribute genera
donations of powder and lead" with the
cidental hope of rioting again in hinge SD
ments ofcotton gotten by purchase or by
arts of the experienced plunderer. There
at least one member of the Butler fam
who has acquired a reputation for acts VIII
shocked the sense of the civilized world.
there Springfield Butler who seeks to ri
in infamy the "Beast? 2" viii not SO
friend of the former State Treasurer But
shield him from the obloquy which must
ever attach to the name OF one who ole
"powder and ball" to the starving