New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-09-09

TIE MASSACHUSETTS, GOVERNORSHIP.
Mr.. Butlers campaign, now drawing to
close. has not been quite so lively and enter
tanning as that of two years ago. lie has
made fewer speeches, been less often inter-
rupted, and shown less of his brilliance at re-
partee, and his style and manner have lost
somewhat of their novelty and freshness.
For people tire of blackguardism, even though
it be as well done as Mr.. Buffers is; and the
most lively and successful mOuntebank gets
wearisome at last. But we must thank Mr..
Butler for enliyening a dull Summer and
keeping politics bubbling in an "ofl year."
Still more we have to thank him for the rude
awakening he has given to the political COM
placency of the staid old Puritan State,
and the quickening, if not OF its con-
science, at least of its sense of self-respect,
which his aggressive candidacy has OccasiOned.
Mr.. Butler is not without his uses He has
been the means, unwittingly, we grieve to
say, of accomplishing much good during the
past two months. Massachusetts is better for
the effort her respectable citizens have been
spurred to make to defeat the designs OF
political adventurer; the country is better for
the example set; great many people are
wiser for the light that has been thrown upon
the policy and designs of the Federal Admin
istraton, and the whole atmosphere of poll
tics is purer for the courageous action of
such men as George L. Hoar, and the recent
manly and patriotic utterances Of The Boston
Advertiser.
When three months ago THE TRIBUNE
sounded the first note of warning that
awakened the responsibility of Massachusetts
TO very languid sense of danger, and was
not over-courteOusly treated by some of the
shallow organs which are so quick to misjudge
motives, we stated that we should be quite
content to see Mr.. Butler nominated; that the
logic of events pointed to him as the flower
and fruit of the time; that this thing had bet
ter be done and over with, than always threat
ening, and that it would bring about a calling
off for God and Baal in the Republican Israel
for which it seemed high time. The respecta-
BILE portion of the Administration party were
somewhat slow in waking, but they did get
alive to the situation finally, and we have had
the calling of over the nomination instead
of the election. If on the heels of such a ses-
sion of Congress as the last. with all its inves-
LEGATIONS and damaging disclosures fresh in
the public mind, with the knowledge that
Mr.. Butler having appeared as counsel for the
Credit MObilier Congressman and engineer of
the Salary Grab was still in the confidence of
the President and the cOunsels of the party,
no one protesting-if in view of this THE
TRIBUNE overestmated the popular indffer
ence TO considerations of honesty, morality,
and decency, it is not to be wondered at We
trusted the ultimate good sense and conscience
of the people, but believed they needed the
shock which such candidacy would give to
rouse them from their apathy and indifference.
If 1t was q mistake we are glad to have so
erred and to find the popular conscience more
sensitive than we thought.
Mr.. Buffers chances for the GOvernOTship
are now understood to be- even in the i'm
probable event of his nomination, very insig-
niicant. Notwithstanding the humilating
confession of Mr.. Dawes gratuitously offered
in his North Adams speech that he should
support Butler if nominated, it is confidently
believed that, under the lead of such men as
Geo. F. Hoar and the gentlemen concerned
in the Hamilton Hall movement, bolt would
be organized that would be fatal to Mr.. But
ler's ambition. But the situation has a much
more hopeful aspect than even that. The
letter OF our Boston correspondent this
morning fairly portrays the field and shows
the hopelessness of the Butler canvass. Indeed
it is not certain that that gentleman himself.
foreseeing defeat, will not Withdraw before a
ballot is taken. Whether or not he will bolt
the nomination of Washburn is an open ques-
ton. There will be without doubt plenty of
pretexts upon which he can do it in the action
of the Convention upon contested seats, of
which there will be an unusually large numbeS.