New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-09-06
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
IN RE BENJAMIN.
THE LOGIC OF THE CRIMINAL COURT.

TO the Edftor Of The Tribune.
SIR: Has Benjamin. the Illustrious. been 80 long
in the habit of making the worse appear the better
reason, while defending very slippery criminals,
that he forgets that different manner of address
nav be required to serve him when he pleads at the
bar Of the average common sense and intellect Of
Massachusetts, IL could forgive him." said one of
the clear-headed, solid men of Boston, yesterday.
"for his reoklessness and good many OF his other
SINS far more easily than for the insult he puts upon
the people by his audacious sophstry, which Is III
only to be addressed to q packed jury, IN
lower criminal court" lie votes himself iarIn'
does this righteous lawgiver out of the funds III
trusted to him. and then appeals to his constituents
for justification because certain clerks ana otneI
officers of government who are VIGOROUSLY illpaid
had consented to receive adequate compensation
from those who had right to give it to Them 1t is
simply the very perceptible difference between the
case of trustee helping himself to an extrayagant
slice out of the funds placed in his keeping. and the
same trustee paying to the clerks. and others whom
he employs fair wages for their services. Such
want of logic may pass on the Stump, drowned IN
the cheap cheers claptrap orator knows so wen
how to call OUTPUT it will not permanently mysty
or satisfy the sober, thinking people Aof Massa-
chusetts.
Buffers military tactics were of the same fashy
character. He believed in ambuscades and surprises
he had touching faith IN powder boats If mill
tary surprises serve, why not ciyilI so, the day
after the call for the State Convention is published
his friends spring upon the Republican party their
ward caucuses in the cities where rum and rowdy-
ism give them fictitious strength. They had SAID,
In advance that they should streep Boston Clean and
now they claim their partial success as great and
glorious victory, and it to influence and alright
x;.,,J o,tt fha
Benjamin and his friends are alike leaving out OF
their count the quiet force Of the quiet voters oil
Massachusetts,, who al. read and think.
In short, b. B. is playing big game of Drag, which
might succeed on Mississippi steamboat, OF with
the bloody Sixth of New York; but for which Massa-
chusetts is not the place. the present the OCCASION
Our lawyer-soldier thinks any argument, however
fimsy, any statement, however loose, even though
sure TO be contradicted within the next "a hours,
good enough for sop TO the people OF Massachu-
setts Just here lies the grand mistake of his career
No man ever succeeds with an audience for whom
he himself has q contempt. Gen. Butler underes-
Inmates the intelligence and self-respect of the
people Of Massachusetts, and we think he makes
similar mistake as regards the whole country OF
which it is evidently his modest ambition to become
the Chief Magistrate. But who else is there for
Presdentr asked newspaper correspondent yes
terday with praisewOrthy soictude. Who, indeed
Can it be that we have only to choose between a
third term Of Ulysses or a first term of Benjamin.
AIooEEp-ON IN ROSTON.