New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-08-15
MR. RUTLERS CAMPAIGN

There is but languld interest felt IN pont-
ical affairs anywhere, but whatever there Is
seems conferred upon Massachusetts and the
slowly developing struggle for the control OF
the Republican party and the State between
Mr.. Butler and his opponents This for the
reason that the quarrel there means more
than the contests elsewhere, or than the at
tempts to organize new parties or resuscitate
dead ones. Mr. Butler represents an aggres-
siye principle in politics, an element which
thoughtful people consider mischievous and
dangerous. His OutspOken contempt Tor
the weaknesses of personal virtue and
political morality, and his unconcealed scorn
of all government methods and administration
policies that do not look simply to "the main
" chance" make him the best representative of
class of politicians who, having no faith in
public virtue, have grown tired of Stimulating
it, and are now proposing to assert boldly and
publicly the principles upon which they
have heretofore in a more cautious
way regulated their conduct. Mr.. Butler
is the representative trickster in poll
ties and pettifogger in craftsmanship.
Upon his assurance and audacity, his
verbal dexterity, his fertility of invention,
and his abundant resources in tricks, cups,
and lodges, his reputation rests. He may be
honest and sincere. If he is he is very much
belied, for he is not anywhere so reputed.
Into the face of moral and self-respecting
Massachusetts,, and especially of the party OF
moral ideas of that State, he filings his taunt
that he is good enough to represent the party,
and demands that he be made Governor
This is a little too much. There is revolt.
ho 10
administration which his opponents do not
dare peep against, are wondering now IL VIII
come out. They have seen the respectable
gentlemen who are opposing MIR. Buffers
nomination on the ground that it would dis
grace the State-they have seen these very
men supporting a party which whitewashed
Custom house frauds, bought and sold seats
in the Senate, carried elections by fraud and re-
leased convicted repeaters from prison, dabbled
in Credit MobiIier and grabbed back-pay, and
in a hundred ways did dishonest and dis
graceful things and now that represent
alive man who is not Christian statesman
figure head comes to the front, they look on
with interest to note the result There are
plenty such men as Butler In the party,
though few have bis audacity and determine
ton. and the question with a great many
ouiet lookers-on is simply whether or not this
sort shall carry the flag as well as bag the
plumber.
Our Boston letter this morning, in which
reference is made to President Grants
passage through Boston, may perhaps throw
some light upon the question which side the
Administration is on in the controversy. The
same correspondent relates some suggestive
facts in the progress of the anti-Butler cam
naign. as, for instance, the removal OF the
deputy State constables, who were known to
have exercised a large influence over the
saloon-keepers in the last election, and were
suspected of a disposition to use In
the interest of the bad man, Butler
the same means which were 80 ef-
fectiye and so praiseworthy when used
for the benefit of party of moral ideas. A
great many strange things are developed in
family ouarrels like this, and we shall not be
surprised to find that many of the gentlemen
who have done yeoman's service for the
| causen heretofore are entirely untrustworthy
and bad. Even Mr.. Butler is not so good and
true statesman as he was year ago, when
he and Gen. Hawley were on the stump to-
oetber in the West for the reelection OF Pres
| ident Grant.
The political movements in other States
attract very little notice. They are only OF
consequence in Massachusetts, as settling the
the question whether the Administration party
proposes to give up the Christian statesman
| business and hang out its own proper sign.