The New York herald., 1870-11-24


.Asdress Of General Butler ON tho Politics
Situation and Our Relations wish Eng
land.
The redonbtable General Benjamin F. But
ler delivered an address at the Music Hall
Boston, yesterday, on the present relations 0
parties In this country, the Alabama claims
fhe American fisheries, and the policy to b.
pursued by the republican party on thes
questions. The address will be found pub
1iahed In another part Of this paper. What
ever may be thought Of the logic Of Genera
Buffers argument every one must admit tina
the address covers ground enough. 1t look
very much like a newly constructed platform
for the republican party. Looking, too, a
the prominence and ambition OF General But.
ler, and at the fact that he has lately been "a
Washington to confer with the President, II
may be inferred that this platform has the
endorsement Of General Grant, and that II
win be brought before the republican party in
Congress- early IN the coming session. Cen
eral Buffers visit to Washington and the pub.
lication of this address on the heel Of the
democratic gains at the late elections lead us
TO believe that it embodies the political pro-
gramme to be submitted to the republican
party this winter.
General Butler commences by showing that
the war abrogated old party distinctions and
issues, except, as he assumes, that the demo-
cratic party still adheres to the dogma ''of the
rights Of the States as corporations In CONTRA
distinction to the rights Of the federal Union
Hs 9 national government" Without disputing
this assumption we may say that we think the
General draws the argument too strongly
against the democrats. AS we understand 1t
the democrats now accept the results Of the
war and the consequent strengthening of the
federal powers of the government as an accom-
plished fect not to be reversed. He shows that
the mission Of the republican party at home is
ended, that it has exhausted the old slavery
and war issues, that its record is Of the past
alone, and that there is nothing left save to
garner the gleanings of the harvest that is
over. General Butler is a careful reader Of
the HERALD, evidently, for that is precisely
what we have been telling the republicans all
along.
The democratic party, he maintains, on the
sother hand has dwindled into an opposition
party merely. This is partly true. But q
good opposition, when there is something tan
,gible to oppose, may make great deal of
political capital. Although the democrats
have not yet adopted comprehensive and
progressive platform of policy looking to the
future, they are showing vigor and are gaining
ground through their opposition and the weak
ness and divisions of the republicans. He says,
truly, that carping criticisms upon the admin
1stration and party in power are not a snffi-
cient foundation upon which great party can
sustain itself and acquire control Of the gov
ernment. This is good hint for the demo-
Gratis, if they know how to profit by it.
General Butler then discusses the various
measures of national finance, taxation, pay
jment of the debt, free trade, and 80 forth, and
in doing this he pays the administration left
handed compliment, by showing that the re-
publicans in Congress, largely assisted by
the democrats, opposed the policy of paying
or the debt so rapidly by keeping up burden
some taxation. Mr.. Boutwell, will certainly
not thank him for this part of his address, no,
win the President, perhaps; for both lay great
stress on the enormous income of the Treasury
and the great reduction of the debt. Genera
Butler does not favor the policy Of taxing 81
heavily the present generation, and in this, al
he clail:s, he has the support Of the democrats
against the administration.
But the main feature of the whole of his ar
pument is that the republicans must have new
issues to sustain themselves in power, ant
here he advocates annexation as a capita
blank in the new platform of the party. II
begins with st. Domingo, and in this chime
in with the course General Grant has taken
He claims that st. Domingo is the ''priceles
Jewel Of the sea" in the Antilles. He is, i
fact, for Americans ruling all the West Indies
But what of Cuba, an island in wealth
in production, in population, In all til
great railroad and other Improvement
Df modern progress, in the anes
harbors, and of the first importanc
I'm geographical position right at our door
hnd the gates of our commerce2 What of th
magnificent island, worth all the other island
lof the West Indies put together, which ha
been over two years in the throes Of revolutic
Sor republican freedom? What has the az
ministration and republican party done f'
Cuba2 Here is practical and live que
Hon, involving progress, annexation an
American destiny.
The settlement of our difficulties with En-,
land relative to the Alabama claims, Il
fisheries, intercourse with the bordering coll
mics and boundary disputes, are the princip
kheme Of General Buffers discourse. He
mot satisfied with mere money compensate
9or the Alabama depredations, and, Jumping a