The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1869-06-02
POLITICAL CRAB.
Gen. Butler in Washington.
From the Cincinnati Commercial

WAsHINGToN, May "a,
Ben. BnIler is come to town. like the
famous Picayuue of yore. This ire
preSSibie genius is IKE nfe among dry
boues aud dust in whatever place he
sets foot, He is II centre of explosive
forces, and three days OF Butler in any
CITY is sufficient for an eruption. No.
body knows ut what football he will set
ofr under somebody torpedo.
Leaving out of consideration all
divine standards OF measurement,
have for Ben. Butler inexhaustible
admiration. The mistake of the public
aud press in estimating Butler isG their
attempt 10 measure him by the doc
trinPs of the New Testament. He Ia
not TO be admired in this way. Butler
is worldly, the worldiest man in
America, and is to be computed wholly
by the laws of physical dynamics. You
can not put him down with spoons or
sermons. He will live in spite of and,
II you choose, upon abuse, and flourish
vigorously, and make hguae IN the
country for twenty years yet. Danton,
Mirabeau, Commodus and the devil
leave out some OF his qualities. He is
tremendous force by his knowledge
of good and evil, acting without refer
enCe to either. He is crab that keeps
close down to the grit and gravel of the
earth, holding on with a hundred
prongs and feelers. He is successful
evil forces in human nature, mighty
fulCrum to lay lever On-a kind OF
knowledge well used always bringing
worldly success. He keeps hold on the
country by keeping wide connec-
ton with affairs, by thoroughly I'M
Outstanding them.
Next 10 his house here he has built
him an office, with an ante-rOOm. In
the antc-room, dOys and nights, Sun
days not excepted, there are usually a
dozen or more people waiting. In the
office he holds audience, first with an
| expert of mythical Mexican claims,
then with Il Nassau street broker, next
with detective, then with Chinese adj
| ventures, Abyssinian soldiers, cArpet-
| b@ggers, divines, politicians, caves
troopers, Boston lawyers, British
bankers, Alaska hunters, and person
ages Gd i7ljfnitlIns from the world, known
and unknown, transacting more bus1-
ness. picking up more learning than all
the Representatives besides. and wading
into his seat in Congress with mental
tabulation of the secret peccadilloes and
weak uesses OF all his fellows, with re-
sources TO meet every contingency OF
debate, or, that falling, to make an ex-
plOaiOn IS conclusive as his Fort Fisher
powder ship. Butler. i'll the face of
whatever opposition, will remain a
force in politics so long as he knows
how to handle its weapons better than
any other man.
The modern Hercules is the ma who
can use the most facts. With Butler
knowledge is power. BE won't be put
down unless by some politician with
equal force and cunning, and grander
purpose than himself, and it is doubt
tul whether such u man now exists in
ChriStendOm. Butler is the most exec.
utiVe mind i'll the United States, simply
| from the fact that he allows no cOnsid-
| eratiOns to come between his purpose
| and its executions. He tolerates a re-
public, but believes at heart in autos
crucy and NapOleOnism, because that
looks like the swiftest way OF reaching
things. He believes in capital punish
Inent, and admlres Chinese civilization,
asserting that government is known
by the facts it produces, and that China
supports more people and has support
ed them longer than any other nation.
He reasons acuiely, and only about
what is demOnstratable, always leav-
ing out of his theorizing the indeterni-
nate factor of human nature, which, in
The loug run, defeats the Richelieus and
Macchiauellis, and the cunniugist pol~
lticiAns of them all.
Over aud above his worldly success,
aud hard grain theories, Butler has not
bad heart, is amiable and generously
hOspitable, and in the heart of one of
the most attractive domestic circles
cultiVates the amenities of life like the
most orthodox of Christians. Butler is
accused of ''spOns" and pecuniarY dis
honesty. The accusation appears to me
dishonest. Sidney Smith said of the
maxim Honesty is the best policy"
that an honest man was always abe ad
OF It, and knave always behind it,
Butler, he were moved by no higher
purpose To integrity, is calculating
enough to be- even with it.