New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-08-17
BENJAMIN ASKING FOR MORE.

We have seen no better Illustration OF the
utter lack of principle which distinguishes the
Grant theory of politics than the spectacle of
Gen. Benjamin f. Butler clamOring for " four
years more of Grants rule.n There are not
two public men in the country who have ex-
pressed q heartier contempt for each other
than the President Of the United States and
the distinguished member from the Fifth Dis
trict of Massachusetts. There are not two po-
litical opponents who have done more to injure
each other, or who have apparently regarded
each other as more dangerous to the public
veal. Their mutual adherence began in the
army and grew after the war; When Butler
was candidate for the MOI nation for Congress
in 1868, Gen. Grant through his friends
Washburne and Rawlins, left no means untrled
to defeat him, and when Butler succeeded,
the Grant Republicans ran Richard Ii. Dana
as a boiling candidate, so that the battle be-
tween Butler and Grant became perfectly open
to the world The General of the army sent
sneakers to canvass Buffers district for
Mr. Dana; official records damaging to the
hero of Fort Fisher were freely supplied
from the War Department; Grant declared
that Buffers military career had been series
"
a Ring of relatives and personal friends, who
furnished the Southern army with supplies,
and whose dishonest practices ne (Grant) had
officially exposed. Gen. George H. Gordon,
protesting to speak as Grants personal friend,
denounced Butler on the stump as thief ana
q traitor. Fitzpatrick, as another friend oil
Grant, was one of the most effective speakers
on the Dana side. And after the 4th of March,
Butler having been returned to Congress by
an increased majority, the new President re-
warded both Gordon and Fitzpatrick with
offices. and offered several important positions
to Mr.. Dana.
In the mean time Gen. Butler had net spared
his tongue either. He had written to Mr.. w.
Jones of Necnah, Wis, Aug. %, 1867:
Grants election VIII be a misfortune, be-
"cause it will put in man without head
cor heart Indifferent to human suffering, and
"impotent to govern" and though he could
not, during the canvass, make much OF night
against the chief candidate of the party to
which be professed 10 belong, his sentiments
toward Grant we're well understood, and every
body looked for curious conflict as soon as
the XLIst Congress got well to work. The
amazement with which the speedy alliance OF
these two venOmOus enemies was received has
not yet entirely died away. and even now
men raise their eyes in wonder when they
hear Butler call for four years more of mis-
fortune" four years more of the man who
is indifferent to human suffering, and impo-
"tent to govern"
For in this case there are no dead issues
that have been cast away, no new professions
of principles upon which former enemies could
honoraby agree. If Grant was heartless and
incompetent in 1867 he is heartless and in
competent now; nay more, his worst defects
may have been only suspected before he be-
came President, but now they have been
proved So, too, if Gen. Butler proved himself
in the army a traitor, thief, and military
humbug, what has he done since then to re-
trieve his reputation, except to work for the
denomination of the man who officially ex-
posed his dishonesty OF course, if Grant and
Butler, thinking as they do of each other,
take pleasure in each others company, it is
not for us to quarrel with their taste. But,
under the circumstances, Gen. Butler must ex-
cuse us if we decline to accept him as an au-
thorty respecting the tastes of anybody else.