National Republican., 1873-06-25
RENIANuN ". nurIER-


To look through the columns Of the Oppo-
sitiou press Of the country and observe the
violence Of the language used In speaking of
prominent public men, ono would suppose
that billingsgate and blackguardlsm were
essential elements Of American politics, and
that infamy Of character had come to be the
criterion of political preferment. True, as
general fact, there Is no instance In which IL
has been more fully Illustrated than In the
case OF Benjamin +. Batter, Of Massachu-
setts, alike in his public and In his private
career. The object Of attack from all politl-
cal quarters, there has been no limit to the
denunclatious which partisan malice and
hatred have heaped upon him. Nor has il
been merely from vague gcnerallties OF parti-
san detractlou that Gen. Butler has suffered
In his good name and fame We readily recall
Instances OF specific accusation, rejecting
dishonorably upon his public conduct, but
only TO have their falsehood and mendaclty
exhibited whenever he has been fortunate
enough TO confront his accusers In the Judi
clal tribunals Of the country. A standing
target indeed for the shafts and arrows Of
the most unaccountable and malignant
political enmity, 1t Is no OK xaggeratlon to say
Of General Butler that with tho single ex-
csptlon Of Andrew Jackson, no public man
of America has endured a more fierce and re-
lcntless persecution.
Notwithstanding all this, despite all that
IL has been possible for enemies active, un-
scrupulous aud powerful as his have been to
say or do to his injury, there can be no more
certain or satisfactory yindication for General
Butler than the contemplation of his career
n ri oil vi thn tgNH Ill
since elapsed, Of those circumstances which
show the Importance Of his public services
and the extent Of his influence, aud Of the
statuesquc position in which he stands at the
present time, Us an lllustrlOus statesman-one
among the greatest of the great men OF the
republic.
There Is something uuaccountlble, we re-
peat, something phenomenal In the asslduous
and obstinate yindictyeness of Gen. Buffers
political opponents. In the calms and inter-
hGdes Of political excitement In the United
States there comes to other not less conspIcu-
Gus and even aggressive leaders au occasional
immunity from the bitterness Of party strife.
They are permitted, now and then, to lay
aside the weapons OF the contest and to pos
sess their souls iu peace aud quletness under
the egls OF the common citizenship. No one
follows them beyond the limits OF tho pollti-
cal arena with the jayellns Of an embttercd
personal hostility no one ventures upon the
privacy Of their professional or domestic
lives, seeking opportunity for revenge or to
do them premedltatod wrong. Even In the
whirl and tempest OF the campaign itself
that is not q common nor a frequent expo
risnce In which the discussion OF great issues,
involving the welfare Of parties or Of the
State, degenerate into the ran ,or and lll-blood
Of Q personal quarrel.
But not so, not such the limitations Of po-
lltical controversy 30 far as respects General
ButleT and the campaigns in which he has
had prominence. We all know, the entire
country knows how contrary TO this has
been his experience; how different II Is at
the present time. Whatever is dlshonorlng
In our politics, In disregard OF the ordinary
deccneles OF political discussions; whatever
In the demeanor OF the press or Of tho stump
has denoted prevailing indifference 10 the
sanetlty Of private life and character; what
ever, In word, Ia the history Of American
politics has worked their degradation from
The sphere Of clear aud lofty 5cicuee into