Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-08-11
GENERAL BUTLER


The idea that General Butler is bent
upon cutting loose from the republican
party if he shall fail to obtain its nomina-
ton for Governor OF the Commonwealth
of Massachusetts is prevailing quite ex-
tensively. There are various reasons
which lead TO such a conclusion. Rumor
for some time has credited him with such
project, but after the report of his inter-
viewing, in which he is represented as re-
fusing to say whether he would sustain
the republican nomination in case he were
defeated, the impression that he would
take an Independent nomination has gain
ed strength. From the Boston correspond
ent of the Tribune we take the following
extract, which sets forth his prospects, his
new party scheme, and the effect of his
course upon the politics of the State:
All this smoke is not without some fire.
Gen. b. +. Buffers self-nomnation for the
Gubernatorial Chair has exploded nearly all
the political magazines in the State, and is
producing the same uprOar which, like an
echo, follows most of his proclamations. He
the party as an extremely dangerous man at
any time. But just now his actions are look
ed upon with more than usual distrust, on
account Of his absurd ideas upon some impor-
tant matters of public policy. If there is any
one thing Of which the people of this State
are proud, it is the financial policy, under
which the interest on the State debt has been
paid in gold, and all contracts kept in good
faith. Consequently, the plan of placing in
the Executive Office a man whose ideas of
public faith in financial matters are well
known to be in direct opposition to the past
policy of the State, is one which wounds their
pride and shocks their sense of right. In
view Of this fact Gen. Buffers support in
the republican party Of the State would be
ridiculously small were it not for a dangerous
and characteristic scheme which he has APP
parentIy formed for the qualification of his
personal ambition. He desires the formation
Of a''New Party" He has long entertained
the idea of such an organization, and all his
acts for a few months past have been in ac-
cordance with this plan. All of the severe
castigations which he has publicly and pri-
vately received at the hands of prominent
men, have been sufficient to prevent his kick
ing clear of the party traces at most absurd
times and unpleasant places. He has plat
form of his own, conglomerated of Labor
theories, partial reputation, and war with
somebody, which he believes will be the foun-
dation of the New Party. To this belief he
has made few converts among the Office
holders, and the remark is now often made;
''If you would keep your bread and butter
you must be in advance Of the old parties and
in van of the new" Buffers own declar-
alton, that the possibility of his rejection by
the Republican Convention was contingency
not worth considering, shows full well that
he is basing his hopes of success upon the
support of the New Party, whether he is
nominated by the Republicans or not. In
this he will have some assistance from the
officials already referred to, the Labor faction,
and from portion (by no means the whole,)
of the Prohibitionists.
This attempt to break up the Republican
party, in case he cannot win without it, has
had the amusing effect of frightening few
politicians, who act now as if it might be
wiser to give Butler the Republican nomina-
ton freely and openly, and preserve the
party intact, than to run the risk of a flight
with that noted iconoclast. They claim that
Massachusetts has ever been the leader in all
party reforms and Republican victories and
that rupture of the organization here would
be the signal for general breaking up all
over the country. They consequently feel in
measure responsible to the whole nation for
their behavior here, and between this anxiety |
ehu osh butier tney are somewhat ssmixed. " |
They act as il they had a serpent in bed. and |
the best way to prevent his biting them was
to keep still and let him crawl his own way. |
But the number Of the frightened is very
sman; and counting every scrap which could
p0se1oiy be Cleaned, it is still wonder where
the hero Of Fort Fisher expects TO get his
Tone hundred thousand votes" independent
Of the Republican party. The action Of Gen
Butler has served to concentrate all the yari-
Gus branches Of the party upon DIR. George
b. Loring, to the almost entire exclusion of
every other candidate mentioned. Indeed. A
State official said yesterday, ut is Loring.
Butler, or nobody" This appears to make
Dr. Lorings nomination tolerably certain.
cannot tell how DIR. Loring himself regards
the political situation, nor what Gen. Butler
thinks, except as shown by the current OF
public opinion and by the declarations Of their
friends.
While We do not as yet fully believe
that General Butler purposes TO abandon
the republican party, it would be absurd
to deny that his course subjects him to
reasonable suspicion. His conduct can be
accounted for only on the supposition
that he intends to leave the party or that