The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-08-26

The way in which General Butler manages
to secure the attention Of the country is more
| curious than important. 1t is free at once
from the vulgar seekings after notoriety which
distinguish the doings of nobodies like the
whole crowd which Butler attacked in his
Springfield speech and the empty vaporings of
a mere demagogue; and yet we doubt if 1t lie
much higher style of art. But we confess
there Is genius in it, else the movements of the
Essex statesman would not have national
interest or his words on all occasions receive
q metropolitan hearing. There is nothing In
Massachusetts, politics, nothing in the canvass
for Governor in that State, to provoke outside
discussion or to warrant outside interference.
1t is only when Butler is in some way identi-
fed with its politics that anybody takes the
trouble TO think what Massachusetts, is doing,
and then only because Buffers skill challenges
general attention. Like the Snowman in one
of Spielhagen's novels, who was always the
hero of his own stories and the object of inter-
est to the multitude, Butler succeeds in making
himself the central figure on every stage, and
much in the showman's way.
We doubt if General Buffers speech will do
him much good, though it is pretty certain it
must have eased his mind considerably. More
than any public man in this country he has
been goaded to fury by the press, and it is not
to be wondered at that he should strike back
at the gadffies which have been annoying him.
If he succeeded In showing malice in the New
England journals which constantly assail him,
he failed in concealing the malice in his own
heart. He shot poisoned arrows at his assail-
ants rather than dealt them telling and crush
ing blows, if we except the case Of General
Hawley, whom he certainly touched on the
raw. OF what avail, it will be asked naturally
enough, was this assault on few provincial
journals? And even Buffers best friends will
question whether he can afford to make new
enemies or to further embitter his old foes.
General Butler himself heeds none of these
to do brave battle when he fights at all.
However much the Massachusetts, politicians
may have been disposed to ignore him,
they cannot now easily compel him to
stand aside, because he has made him
self heard over the whole State. In
single night he called a new element to
his support, and not only put himself at the
head of the labor party in Massachusetts, but
distanced General Geary and the other aspir-
ants for the leadership of the movement in the
summate art of the man as politician. In
spite of what his enemies say his speech was
neither tedious nor insipid. Indeed, its per-
sonalities, however indefensible they were in
themselves, gave it plquancy which was
invaluable to him in gaining the ear Of the
country and in thrusting himself forward as
the Moses Of our laboring population. If he
does not succeed in his gubernatorial canvass
it will not be for want of skill In his manner of
conducting it.
General Buffers views on any question can
not be disposed of by mere ridicule, and we
doubt if the obloquy heaped upon the man
materially weakens him with the people.
Even when he is wrong he is too strong and
too plausible to be effectively met with such
weapons. His enemies may laugh at his
SCucuc iOT TcuuCiuS VIC AouVb VI tOll
to the minimum, so that labor as
well as capital may reap some Of the adj
vantages Of machinery, but the workingmen
will not thereby be deferred from striking
hands with him in the effort to secure mitiga-
ton of drudgery. He is not logical, but he is
generally acute, his acuteness showing itself
in his calling the masses to his side. And he
may be Governor of Massachusetts, yet, in
spite of his old enemies and his new enmi-
ties.
Even on his own showing General Butler is
not to our liking. He always rides high
horse. When he says the least he appears to
say the most. In all that he says there is
vein of unfairness, and, like Spielhagen's
he often assumes the credit Of other
mems achievements. His Springfield speech
was full of these faults, and many Of his sccu-
sations will not bear the test Of q very close
scrutiny But that General Butler came to
time nobody will deny. Whether he will con-
tinue the battle after having struck one fierce
blow is another matter. II he does he will act
contrary to his past record, and no one is
truer to his own ways than Butler to Buffers