, 1873-09-09

elcotod as MI oppouent 10 Dutlor will daro bctray
tho truat.. = ...,
Tho people Of MaBsachusotts, md Of tho whole
country, nrc to 10 congratulated on Dutlors do
feat. Dutlor came bofore tho people in this oon-
test as Ito hoaldovil OF American politics. Ho
did not como in diag,dBo. 1Io wont into
It with lis pitch aud his pitoia-fork
at hand. IIo had just returned from
Oougrcas, wlloro he had successfully engineered
tho sa1ary-grab. With brazon oifrontory ho pro-
coded to dcfond and Justify sohomo which has
,on mora universally oxeoratod than any mons-
urc ever adopted by nm American Congrosa. In
doing this, he act himaeH up against tho popular
will not only Of Massachusetts but Of tho whole
country, clearly expressed ovorywhoro without
regard to party attachments. This action WAS o
declaration on hia part that Ae trusted
to the support Of tho Administration
and tho pllablo machinery Of corrupt party
politics to dofoat tho poople on thoir own
ground. Wo assume that this defiance Of pop
ular will Is altogether unparalleled in tho annals
Of our Government. It was essential to tho
character Of our inatitutions that such man
should DO dofoated and humiliatod. Massaohu-
setts holds, perhaps, tho foremost place among
al tho statos Of tho Union In tho consideration
Of foreign countries. It ia certainly ono
Of the oldest, largest, wea1thiest, and most
Intelligent. Tho nomination and election
Of Con. Butler would havo boen an
advertisement to all tho world TINT tho peo-
plo Of Massachusetts wore hopelessly mired in
political corruption. Tho American syatem Is too
vulnerable just now to sustain such an imputa-
ton upon what ia regarded abroad as tho most
be bad enough. The actual rosults OF Buffers
election would bo worse. It could not have OCCUR
rod without disturbing tho financial interests Of
Massachusetts. Tho whole country would
have boon forced to sharo tho disasters that
would have followed, both financially and politi-
cally. Any financial depression in Massachr-
aettH would have been oven moro burdonsome
On communities that look to Massachusetts for
capital and tho product of her largo enterprises
than on tho Massachusetts people themselves.
Politically, Butler'a election would have been
accepsed as victory for the gucrrillaa and bau-
dts Of politics everywhere.
For these reasons, and to this extent Dutler'a
probable defeat is a matter for general rejoic-
Ing. II 1t bo cited, however, a. m
evidence Of the purity Of the Ropub-
lcan party, tho claim is not q good ono.
Tho defeat Of Butler is the defoat Of tho Ad-
miniatration, which hss loaned It's influence and
employed it's minionH In his interest over sinco
tho adjournment Of Congross. This fact is we'll
known in Massachusetts. Tho Boston Adver-
fiser has alroady posted the infamy Of this pro-
cooding on tho part OF tho Administration, and
1t is likely that other Republican Journals in tho
State will dcnounce the interference on But
lera behalf in very plain terms aa soon
as tho Convention aoparates. Tho truth Of
tho matter is, that 1t has required all
tho alertneaB which tho respectable citi-
zens Of Massachusetts could summon,
and all tho pressure which tho vigorous protest
Of respectable poople everywhere could bring
to bear, to defoat an acknowledged political
mountehank and OUTLAW who had tho euppors
Of the Administration and its patronage at bis
back. The result ia another giudlcation of tho
forco Of Public Opinion, which must always be
tho saving elcment of American politics. But
1t remains fur subject for inquiry, whether
this result rel}evos tho Administration Of
any Of the fearful responsibility which it
assumed when It undertook to force Butler
upon tho people Of Massachusetts against
their will. What assurance is there that tho
snme Outrage will not bo ropeated wLenovor and
whereYer IN opportunity is offered Dr.. Grant
has not succeeded in forcing the Butler pill down
tho throat Of tho old lady OF Beacon atreot, but
will this induce him to change his praotice7