Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-07-30
Gbe fteeman
MONTPELIER, VT,
WEDNESDAY, JULY 80, 1873.
ButleTiSm.

Benjamin F. Butler has fully inaugurate
his second campaign for the governorship c
Massachusetts,, and the contest will exceed i
bitterness the one of two years ago. In 49,
the general began his speech-making the las
of August and for the next three or fou
weeks made speeches almost nightly through
out the State. This year he has gone rattle
more cautiously to work and his operation
are more in the nature of siege than of
raid.
If this man were to be judged by the gooC
things alone which he has done it might b,
said that be deserves well of his country
Whatever his motives, when the war cam,
he was found on the right side with hi:
whole influence. His prompt action is wit
messed by his presence in Maryla In thu
first days of the war when that State was un.
wholesome for Union man. His admins
tration in New Orleans was characterized b,
good executive ability and perhaps was the
first thing to absolutely convince the retel,
that they were contending with a govern
needed. His subsequent career, though q
failure on the James and at Fort Fisher, wa
no worse than that of other we'll meaning
civilian generals.
But be is the representative of the specu
latiye money-making and constituencies ele.
ment in American politics. He is master o
both the theory and practice of politica
manipulation. Beyond this be does not 60
His attempts at great things have been fail
uros. At one time he, more than any utht T
man, stood forth as the advocate of impeach-
ment-a sensational remedy for a sensation
al evil. His disgust for Andrew Johnson
never could have been real Even mpeaeh
ment died under his fJstering care. Repu
diatiOn found in him an earnest advocate
and that no doubt was scheme after his ow
heart, but he Overestimated the dishonesty
of the country and no more is heard of that.
This desire to be governor of his State has
led him of late to an observance of those
him to the people, SO far as his blunted no.
tion of things seemly would allow him to GO
Yet at the very last moment of the last SEES
sion he committed, with stupidity that a
school-boy would be ashamed of, the thing
which men of his stamp consider worse than
a crime, blunder. He engineered the Sal
airy grab and then insuted his constituent,
BY offering to refund 10 postage stamps.
1t Is yet too early to predict with certainty
the result OF his present effort. Upon that
result depends largely the hold of the regular
Republican organization upon the better class
of the people who have heretofore attached
themselves to the party. The great body Of
the honest men who have called themselves
Republicans, believe yet that the surest way
to reform abuses is to do 1t by controlling
that organization in the interest of pure
government. They will look at this contes
as test question of the possibility of 50
doing. They hope to reform abuses and
corruption that have crept into the party.
The nomination of the great s ilary grab5er.
the apostle of the unclean things that are
sought to be cast out. would indIcite the
hopelessness of the task
IL follows that this struggle IS to be one o.
national Importance, and evidently large
body of the best men of Massachusetts 50
regard it. meeting of the leading Retub-
licaus opposed to the Generals nomination.
was held in Hamilton II Ill, Boston on Friday.
Among those present were Henry l.. Dawes,
Z. Redwood Hoar, George F. Hoar, Speaker
Sanford and Ex-> peaker Jewell.
The meeting was called to order by Judge
Hoar, who made short speech. in which be
dHelt upon the importance of the coming
campaign, not only to the State but to the
Republican party. lie denounced in unq1al-
ih'd terms the salary grab, and pronounced
himself as being willing to do all in bis
power to prevent the State from being carried
for the author Of that measure
Ii. Ii. Coolidge of B,ston was called to the
chair, and said be had come to consult with
true Republicans as to the best means OF
preventing such scenes as were witnessed in
the campaign OF two years ago, and to pre-
vent the State Convention from being taken
captive by General Butler.
Mr.. Dawes said he was illing to give hi
services to the cause in which they were en-
gagged, but the time could be much better
occupied than in listening to any remarks he
might make. He said there was no OCCASION
for asking where they stood, and no need OF
trying to create enthusiasm that all present
understood the importance of the work, and
all were willing to enter into it heartily, and
the only question was, no" the work should
be done. lie was somewhat indisposed, and
indeed counted himself as On the invalid
list, but was at the service of the Repu blican
party Of Massachusetts, in maintaining the
integrity and prosperity of the State
An executive committee was appointed to
consider what measures are necessary to
perpetute the integrity of the Republican
party and to promote the welf.re of the
State.
This unusual proceeding OF holding meet
ing of candidates opponents in his own
party is rev departure in American poll
tics. The gentlemen who have undertaken
it see clearly that if the intes gritty of the Re-
publican party is to be perpetuated, and the
welfare of the State promoted-if both are
10 be done-Butlerism must be cast out
CULNINATED.-A number of elaboratelv