New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-07-16
vB. CODFREYS COMMODITIES.

h.
A philanthropist and political philosopher OF
an inquiring turn OF mind who has what
worldly people call CHS eye teeth cut" ana
does not propose to be "humbugged" IL ask
inc questions will hinder it, is Mr.. Godfrey
Mr.. b. d. Godfrey of Milford, Mass. Mr.
Godfrey is the gentleman who on the late
anniversary of our country's birth thrust him.
self spectral interrogation point against the
horizon of the Essex statesman as he harangued
his felloy-men at birmingham. Hardly had
the Essex statesman explained to MIR. j. IL.
Roberts-who invented the entertainment
at an expense to himself OF lat least
$5OO-and the other people around the stand,
his plan for giving every man railroad and
closing the Parker House bar, when Mr.. Cod
frey doomed up larger than human In the
audience, and began in the most rapid and
satisfactory way to evolve cOnundrums. In the
reprehensible but expressive phrase of the gen.
tlemen who earn precariOus subsistence by
illustrating the doctrine of chances in the ex-
IRENE Occident, Godfrey just held a nine spot
to the orators eight. The Essex statesman
flung his hands forth wildly and retreated'
leaving Godfrey in possession of the field. ~
The occasion was one of such interest that
lished his account of the proceeding. He says
that when he was informed that of all the
distinguished speakers who have been an
nounced Gen. Butler was the only one
expected to be present, he made up his
mind that "the whole thing was fraud, got
Cup in the interest of Gen. B. f. Butler to
"assist him in an attempt to gull the
"people.n (Manifestly, Godfrey was not born
Yesterday Thereupon he got together a
"pencil, a scrap of paper, and little piece of
aboard for q rest,n and wrote out a declara-
ton of sentiments, having made up his mind
that he should not be humbugged if all
the rest were. Upon tho announcement
being made before Mr.. Buffers arrival
that &c the meeting was now open and in the
Glands of the people," Dir. Godfrey says: In
"the absence of any other person then 10 talk
cor converse with the people as friend, face
"to face, as Moses talked with God, took
the stand, not as speech-maker, for every
"body who knows me knows that 1 am en-
"tirely incapable Of making speech, least OF
"all sensible one and appropriate to the oc-
"casion, any more than Gen. Grant" lie said
to the people that he was there as a friend OF
Gen. Butler, and did not ask for any political
honors, but that he did not propose to be
| "humbugged.n That he had very high opin-
ion of that PERSONS talents-it is worthy OF re-
mark that good people almost invariably con-
! found audacity and wickedness with immense
learning and capacity-is sufficiently shown by
this statement of his to the reporter
stated that had that confidence in Gen. Buffers
talents and ranscendent abtesh used In the interest
OF his God for the good OF his country and the welfare
Of his feowmen that believed him capable OF trans
forming human society throughout the world. But as
natural man. could not look upon him in the cult
walton of the spirit Of education OF the inner man, and
didn't think that he ranked in the sight OF God and
the angels OF heaven, above Capt Jack, the Modoc
chief Spiritually converted, he might come TO be the
st. Paul or Bismarck OF his country and possibly might
confer greater blessings upon mankind than Christ and
His disciples "For he who beheveth IN me shall not
only do the works that do but greater works" The
peope wanted leader and felt that possibly, in The
providence Of God B. F. Butler might become that
leader who should deliver the world from the curse OF
human solfishness.
Upon the conclusion Of Mr.. Buffers re-
marks Mr.. Godfrey-although Gas natural
"man he could not look upon him In the
"cultiyation of the spirit of education of the
elmer man. yet believing that he might
become "the leader who should deliver the
/" world from the curse of human selfshness"
exploded upon the audience, 10 use figure
anpropriate To the day and the occasion, like
very large double-header, and began
running fire of conundrnms. Under it the
Essex statesman went down, and the flaming
interrogation point, having nobody to inter-
rpgate, fixed laway into darkness till the
reporter rekindled him.
And Godfrey seems from this conversation
to be good sort of man. He has no particu-
lar plan about railroads, but he expresses with
! great vigor the average popular notion when
he says we ought "by one general sweep to
"get rid OF the present race of scheming poll
"ticians and put in their places a new lot of
"just and honest men" But when he proposes
! TO make it eternal damnation for every man
q who comes out and seeks an office,n he shows
signs of Impotence, mixed with very earnest
sort Of Calvinis@. Upon the whole we fear