The Portland daily press., 1873-09-11
The Massachusetts, Goyernorship.

The Massachusetts GOvernOrship.
Wehave no harsh epithets to apply to Gen.
Butler. He played useful role at the be-
ginning of the war, and displayed marvellous
capacity to deal with rebels in conquered cit
les. He acquired, a strong claim to the good
will of loyal Americans, because of the I'M
measured abuse he received from disIoyal
Southrons and their northern sympathizers.
His courage and energy have inspired the ad-
miration of a numerous class Of voters, even
in so staid and respectable Commonwealth
as Massachusetts.
But his candidacy for Governor was mop
perfume and unwise. If he had been ordi-
narily prudent, If his audacity had not degen-
Grated into recklessness, he would not have
ventnred to enter upon race in which he
was too heavily weighted to feel justified in
reasonable hopes of success.
His conspicuous identification with the
"back pay feature OF the appropriation bill
was in itself sufficient explanation of his
failure. That odious measure finds no favor
in New England. There is an element OF
meanness in it, which no cunning sophistry
can hide. The representative who impers
the welfare of his party by supporting meas
ures which subject it to attack, deserves re-
Duke and censure. 1t is the glory of the Re-
publican party that it has never had occasion
to stand on the defensive. 1t wisely refuses
to take this equivocal position by open coun-
tenance of, or silent acquiescence in a scheme
to divide certain portion of the national treas
ure among public servants, whose accounts
had already been presented and discharged
Every congressman must meet the response
bility of his action in this matter with his
constituents. 1t is an individual concern,
and cannot be covered up by any yicarious
process. The people are sagacious enough to
see that neither party can be held account
able for measure enacted by members OF
both, for their own personal advantage. The
people in their several districts are to pass
judgment upon the conduct of the men who
availed themselves of the opportunity to tack
OH to an appropriation bill, in the last hours
of the session, a rider, which pit consider
able sum of money in their pockets.
Gen. Butler indiscreetly exposed himself
to the hostile verdict of the Republicans of
the whole State. instead of taking the bene-
ency of his immediate constituency. 1t was
rash experiment for him, but its effect upon
the country will be salutary. Massachusetts,
5 joins with other Republican States in setting
her seal of reprobation upon the back pay de-
vice, by refusing to accept as candidate for
Governor, the alder, abettor and ap0logist OF
the scheme. In counting this chastisement,
Gen. Butler has evinced less discretion than
he is popularity supposed to possess. But
this is by no means the first instance in which
he has proved deficient in political foresight.
He signalized his last hours of leadership in
the Democratic ranks, by steadily voting for
jeff. Davis as a Presidential nominee, at a
period when northern subserviency to the
slave power had so Disguised and sickened the
people of the free states, that the only hope
of averting the impending disruption of that
once powerful organization lay in complete
abandonment of the cringing attitude of SER
Witty towards the South, which had fastened
upon every advocate of that party the appro-
pirate epithet OF dough-face. He opposed
The nomination of Gen. Grant in 1868, with
all the vehemence Of his nature, and did not
give a cordial support 20 his administration
till it had acquired such inherent popular
strength that no political combination could
overthrow or endanger it. The preteuce that
the authorities at Washington encouraged OF
promoted Gen. Buffers canvass for the nom
ination, is not sustained by any evidence, and
is not entitled to the slightest credence, TIL
fable has served its purpose, and may as well
take its place among the exploded fictions
which lie entombed among the records Of the
late coalition campaign. That certain federal
officials in Massachusetts, who entertain a
lively sense Of the Generals restless activity,
and wholesome fear of mourning his host-
ity, have rendered him assistance is very
true. But the administration per Sc has
Maintained passive neutrality, throughout
this memorable campaign. ''We know that
whereof we affirm"
We have no disposition to underrate the
services which the Massachusetts congress-
man has rendered to the Republican cause.
But we regret that his usefulness is impaired
by the narrow view he is apt to take of ques-
tons in which public morality is involved.
The back pay appropriation strikes at the
principle of common honesty, without which
the Republican party cannot maintain its
ascendency. There has never been time in
the history Of the Republic when there was
so universal demand for perfect recttude in
the conduct of public affairs, as at present.
Derelictions so venial that they would hardly
have elected comment in former epochs, are
now visited with unsparing denuDciaton.
We are proud of this improved tone in public
sentiment. We attribute its growth to the
straight forward honesty of which President
Grant is so noble an exemplar. While he re-
mains at the head of affairs, we may look
with confidence to continuance of the
healthful standard of virtue which has char
acterized his excellent administration and
commended It to such general favor that for
the first time since the days of Washington,
we hear talk of third term-talk to which
no other significance eau be attached, than
that 1t indicates very clearly to what height
of popularity Gen. Grant has attained
If the perpetuation of this era of integrity
requires the sacrifice of the representatives
who have brought reproach upon Republi-
canism by voting themselves extra salaries,
they must be inundated. The general puri-
fication must not be hindered by injudicious
clemency. The Republican party must be
kept pure, that it may live to be the saviour
of the Republic and hope of the world.
The Returns.
The latest reports indicate that there will
be at least forty, and perhaps more, Demo
Gratis in the House China elects a Damn