Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-11-26
GEyERsL BUTLERS IDEAS.

GENERAL BULLETS IDEAS.
In 1861, General Butler, who had sus-
tanned Breckenridge for President, wheel
ed into line with the defenders OF the
Union, and gave his voice tor war ana
earned the gratitude of his countrymeh
by his prompt service in the field All the
popularity which he has achieved gre"
ont of the course he then took. Inc gov
eminent was in peril Its enemies were
in arms against it. The choice lay only
between war and the destruction OF the
Union. 1t was a time when every patriotic
heart felt that the life of the nation was at
stake, and at once recognized the neees-
sity and justifableness of war to preserve
it. The war was popular because it was
lust, and unavoidable unless the govern
mcnt consented to its own destruction.
II General Butler achieved popularity
then by stepping to the front sword in
hand. it was because he was clearly right
and the act approved itself to the judg-
ment of his countrymen. Now, while the
country is suffering the effects OF that
war in a burdensome debt, a deranged
currency, and all the other evils that fol-
lowed the bloody struggle with the South
to overcome which the people have been
taxed heavily and the government has
been tried severely, so that it is only now,
after five years of peace, we begin to feel
the solid ground beneath us, it is at this
time, and under these circumstances, that
General Butler again comes forward and
declares for war, with England. What
forp To save the republican party "Oh
most lame and impotent conclusion = TO
suppose the republican party is in the
strait he assumes it to be, or that it could
or would be saved by the desperate and
unnecessary means which he proposes.
If the party is indeed in the melancholy
predicament Of demanding this unneces-
sary blood-letting to keep it alive, 1t had
better die at once and forever. 1t is
sorry enough sight to see the crippled SOL
diers in our midst, made SO in the cause
of national preservation and humanity,
but to add thousands more to them, and
millions of dollars more to the public debt
just to preserve the republican party,
would be sight to make men and gods
weep. War in self defence, to beat down
the assassin's hand upon the throat of the
nation, is very different affair from war
wantonly, unnecessarily entered into, and
80 General Butler will find the people think
when he compares the plaudits he received
in 1861 with the reception which his late
war pronunciamento in Boston will have
in the country. We fear he has made the
mistake of calculating that advocacy Of
war is always popular, because it was
popular when he marched to Baltimore.
Let him wait and listen to the response to
his speech. Let him even ask the fisher
men of Massachusetts and Maine if they
desire war with England, ostensibly to
settle the Alabama claims, but really to
keep the republican party alive, and we
venture to say they will not be induced by
the brilliant prospect he opens to them in
the fisheries through annexation ofCanada
to endorse his scheme.
The truth is, General Butler has fallen
into grievous error. The nation now de-
mands peace. 1t has had its day of war
and needs rest. War was popular when
necessary, but peace is as popular to-day
as war was in 1861, because peace answers
best to our present circumstances. If the
same need existed now as in 1861 the ma
ton would respond with alacrity to the
call to arms, but to perpetuate, the repub-
lcan party, not even the fishermen of
Gloucester would answer aye. Neither is
the republican party in want of such des-
perate service. There is no fear that it
will die for lack of something to tdo Be-
cause it has achieved great work is no
reason that it should bury itself and leave
that work in the hands Of its enemies;
but rather reason why it should stand by
that work, perfect it, add to it, WELD the
government which it saved from destruc-
ton, and in doing this it will have enough
to attend to without seeking war. IT, as
General Butler says, it is cowardly not to
fight for our rights, We suggest that it is
not only eowardly but criminal to make
war to keep the republican party alive;
the mere statement of the proposition is
enough to leave it without an endorser.
There is better way to settle the Alabama
claims than to hasten into war, and that
way will probably be tried whether the re-
publican party dies or lives on account of
it.
POLITICAL.