New-York tribune., 1871-09-09
THE GREAT AMERICAN GOBBLER

after ueatn. ue beenS IO Dc Hduo loh wan
but he has chicken heart. In appearance,
when he spreads his tail, ruffles bis feathers
and infames his wattles, there is no animal 30
fierce; his aspect is grandly martial; but at
the first prick, he collapses like bladder; q
shot will make him drop his tail and sneak
away with blanched visage. He is cruel and
overbearing; he has been known to kill his
young, and he attacks the weak with rapacity;
he delights to pursue timid women and little
children but he is an arrant coward, and in
stantly abates his swelling pomposity at
the sight of stick in the hands
of resolute man-until he is out
of the reach of it. One of the most char
acteristic acts of the gobbler is his pecu-
liar strut up and down the platform, swelling
up and lifting his legs in sort OF jerking
consonance with the pride within, when he
has attracted the attention of spectators by
an uncommon gobble. At such moments he
is simply magnificent. He is the most cour-
ageous bird living when there is no danger.
If we could imagine him going to war, he
would lead a regiment with the most striking
pomposity and martial bearing, until he heard
gun, when he would instantly turn tail and
seek his camp, where his followers would find
him vaporing before his tent as large as ever,
daring the enemy to come on. Physical cour-
age is not prominent in the gobbler, notwith-
standing his warlike aspect. For these rea-
sons, and because he Is the most ludicrous OF
the feathered tribe, we are thankful that the
country did not adopt Franklin's suggestion
and make the gobbler our national emblem.
1t would be as ridiculous as it would to have
the face Of Gen. Benjamin Franklin Butler on
our escutcheon and coin.
And Gen. Butler wants to march at the head
of the people of Massachusetts, as a spectacle
for the rest of the Union. That would be
procession for the entertainment of gods and
men; and it is not our business if the ancient
and honorable Commonwealth chooses to place
itself in that humiliating position. Every
State has right to put forward its represent
ative man. he who combines those high quail
tiles which the people most prize-integrity,
modesty, courage, truthfulness, honor. Can
any one who has known Gen. Butler in the
army, or in Congress, or in the Police Court,
deny that he claims to have all these quail
tiesf If Massachusetts,, therefore, takes him
at his word, they will have both swelling
and martial leader, who displays all their
virtues in his own person.
But If we understand the campaign speeches
of Gen. Butler, it is not for any Of these quail
tiles that he offers himself for the Office of
Governor of Massachusetts,. BE seems TO- aspire
| to be thought great rather than good, in which
we take leave to tell him nat he makes
a sad mistake. Now the character of great
and successful liar is one of the most difficult
to establish. A good liar must have first
rate memory. Gen. Butler was unfortunate in
| his very first speech, and exhibited the most
deplorable want of judgment. In his second
he complicated his embarrassment. Having,
upon reflection, fixed upon the time when he
displaced Gen. Hawley from the Army of the
James, it turned out that he himself had been
relieved and sent to the important post of
Lowell two weeks before Gen. Hawley was
displaced" by promotion to higher posi-.
ton in the army The people of Massachu
setts do MT want such q liar as that. man
must have talent in every walk in life in order
to be acceptable to that proud State. We ap-
peal to Gen. Butler himself If he does not
think it was clumsily done, for man who has
had 80 much practice-in the criminal courts
But Gen. Butler offers himself as great
martyr also. 1t is because he is so prosecuted
| and has 80 many enemies that he wants to be
Governor. This was the burden of his open
ing speech. ALI the newspapers abused him.
He consumed long time in naming several
prominent ones, and attempting to account for
their ill opinion. It is Gen. Buffers habit
when any newspaper criticises any public act
| or declaration of hist may be his dangerous
financial notions, his appeal to the prejudices
| of the Crispins by an attack upon Chinese
labor, or his efforts to court popularity by
h,ustor;no wortalk about the Treaty-tO i'm
pute some personal motive to the editor, and
always mean motive. How can any one thlnK
differently from Gen. Butler and not be mean
and scoundrelly person How any one can
oppose him and not be villain, cannot enter
into his pure mind. "Demme, don't they see me
Gas walk about the stage don't they hear mef'
1t was this bundle of personal grievances that
he opened at Springfield, and continued to dis
play at Worcester, and IN more lately re-
! ported speeches. 1t was upon TINS snow
ing these kickings and beatings, rs if he had
been at the bar of q police court, that he asked
| O verdict. And at Springfield, with the chiv-
airy which usually accompanies such manly
character, he dragged a lady's letter into one
of bis personal sauabbles, and endeayOred to
conceal his big person behind it. 1t was solely
on the lady's account, says the manly Butler,
that got into trouble with the Boston paper.
You see how it is Everybody hits me lick
And look at my character! Did you ever see
character that more needed the covering OF
the governors robesf Why, gentlemen, they
say that am liar and thief. Have ever
injured themi l am a martyr to public opln-
ion. and l want to be Governor on account Of
| the unfortunate impression that has got abroad