The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-01-29
General Rutler,

We think that the personal history VI
General BUTLER since the war will illus
trate the fate of that spirit of rsncor and
revenrefulness which manifested itself in
the imposition Of pains, penalties, and dis
Embellishments of the southern people. 1t
has, like General BUTLER, gradually lost
strength, until now it has become so unpopu-
lar that it can no more control the action
of the Federal Legislature, in which body it
fingered longer than anywhere else. See how
General BUTLER has steadily lost ground in
the House of Representatives. He kept alive
the embers of hate, and whipped in the
lukewarm partisans upon the question OF
reconstruction. Hefcll heir to THAD. STE
vESs's rod, but not sound and strong as
when in THAD.'s hands. It was broken and
frazzled, and Ineffective. Yet his invec-
tives for time, seconded by fear of the
popular sentiment, % fear of that sentiment
because it was misunderstanding drive
members. But a little light from the
masses, the unmistakable disgust for the
excuses of Radicalism, haverobbed BUTLER
of his accessories, and his WORKOUT whip
now but excites derision.
A deserter from the Democratic party
and the "strict construction principles,
naturally he must be over-zealous in his
new alliance, and commend himself by sur
passing the most thorough of those who
even built up the Republican party. AS
Mr.. FARSswoRTH says, he "swears." lie
rushed to the front and boldly attempted to
take the lead, and thus invoked the ami
mostly of many older and better soldiers
than himself. He only answered their sar-
cssms with the lash, with imputations upon
their consistency aud party loyalty Thus
he has nursed the wrath of his adversaries,
and at last brought down upon himself their
united fire. Unsustained by public opinion
he waivers, and halts, and blunders, and is
so seriously damaged by all of his assail-
ants, is so utterly unable to maintain him
self, that, like bewildered OrHELLo, when
ealamities crowded upon him, he may ex-
claim,
lam not valiant neither.
But every puuy whipstcr gets my sword"
General BUTLER indeed has been sustain
ed by the reconstruction measures. Recon-
struction has been his breath, his meat and
drink. The moment that was ended he
seemed to have foreseen his fate, and he has
struggled to agitate and to prolong it. Like
a negro overseer on q southern plantation,
he was overbearing, abusive, and cruel.
He believed that in no other way could he
stand superior over those subjected to his
ferocous tyranny.
And now reconstruction may be consld-
cred as ended, and General BUTLER is
about ended with it. During the week the
general detestation of the House of Repre-
sentatiyes for the man has been 80 manifest
that he must have suffered intensely.
When Mr.. Dawes SO handsomely replied to
the Generals personalities both Republi-
cans and Democrats surrounded him and
shook him most cordially by the hand.
General BUTLER is on the "faciliS des-
census" along with the monstrous passions
upon which he has subsisted for years. The
country is, thank God, to be delivered
from them and, we trust with all possible
speed, of the trains upon the downward
way.