New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-08-02
THE ANTI-BUTLER CAMPAIGN
THE SITUATION REVIEWED.

lists AND LABOR REFoRMERs-HoPEs OF HIS DE-
FRAT.
trRoN An OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRBUNB.l
BOSTON, july 29.--With the conference of
anti-Butler Republicans held in this city last Friday the
preiimnaries Of coming campaign to be settled
and now before the noise of the captains and the shout
ing fairly begins II may be worth while TO speculate
little as TO the chances Of the grim soldier OF Essex"
as Mr. wendell Phillips used to call him. this second
campaign, in which he has far manifested but
little OF the impudence and noisy audacty
which he displayed two years ago. Gen. But
der Is very skllful in creating Fictitious APP
pearance Of strength and the result OF his manpula
tons is already manifest In the predictions which have
been SC current of late outside the State that no is to
walk the course this time almost without oppos
ton. These prophecies are based upon the undouOteo
fact that the influence Of the Boston Custom-house
ring, and result the tacit support OF the Admins
traoD will be thrown into the Butler SCALE But in my
opinion this influence has much less weight than lie gen
orally supposed outside the State. The better portion OF
the Republican party in Massachusetts,, by which is
that majority unaffected by the immediate
personal interest engendered by the hope or the actual
possession Of Federal Office has very little enthusiasm
for the Administration and very little respect for It's
opinions wishes regards the management of State
affairs. II may seem paradoUeal TO say this
of the strongest Republican State in the Union;
but It seems 20 me iBdisputable that the In
grained fear and hatred Of Demoagahc ascendsncy
Is the principal power which keeps the State at
the head Of the Republican column and that President
Grant accepted in the last Presidential campaign,
not as the best man absolutely but the best man avail
ahle for tho need OF the hour So while the Republican
party will do all that is necessary to support the Ma
uonal Administration as such. predict that-as was
the case years ago-the influence Of the Custom
house the Cabinet in the coming contest is to be very
sght.
CUTTERS WEAKNESS WITH THE PRoHBrTIoNIsTs AND
LABOR REFoRMERs.
Buffers standing and prospects with the small and
discordant bands OF voters who march under the ban
ners Of their different causes" cannot be considered
good He consented against his own judgment to meet
the ultra Prohbitionists Framin CHAM the Fourth
ofJuly, and the public knows how he was entrapped
there by the brethren in council, aud how he
failed either meet their questions directly, or, which
he probably considers more Notifying to evade them
without his customary wit and impudence His perform
ance there has apparently rendered his nomination by
the Prohibition party impossible. But II he should re-
ceve it, it Is to be borne in mind that the majority OF
that party consists of original Republicans and that
heretofore whenever danger has menaeed the parent
party this majority has left the Reform organization to
take of itself for the time being, and returned
10 its old allegiance There is doubt that two
three months ago. Buter-then hoping for strict en-
fercement of the and stringent provisions OF the
liquor law-was disposed to cOQuette with the rum
Interest fact that the threatened enforcement
has yet proved serious hardship TO the trade and
that The Herald Of this city ercey repudated the Of
tered alliance, has destroyed the candidates hopes in
this direction.
The Crispin organization once powerful, is now
angushing and labor reform generally the last cleo
ton showed. has rapidly lost ground a political
power What has been said OF the effect Of divided
allegiance upon the Prohbitioniss is gener
ally true OF the advocates Of female suffrage IL being
probable that not half thousand voters in the State
would make the suffrage Issue paramount one, when
doing would iHjure the prospects of the dominant
party.
Thus very evident that the battle is again to
be fought within the Republican party ITSELF and that
Butler have hope of leading successful bolt"
in he loses the nomination in the Conventions; and
n succeed In keeping primary meetings
free from corrnpt influences, that they truly repre-
sent the feeling OF the Republican major
Atty, there Will be good to antici-
pate Gov. Washburn's denomination at Worcester.
Butler enters the present campaign as once beaten
candidate Moreover there is not now, there
two years ago. break in the guberatoria succession
Gov. Washburn, whose personal administration has
been very prudent and satisfactory, and against whom
A. win be almost impossibility for Butler to make
capital having according 10 the custom which
has obtained In the State Of late years,
20 serve another term before he can be asked
10 retire The obvious question which presents itself TO
plain peopleis Why should Butler ask TO dsplsce in
ms favor, magistrate with whom We have no partc-
uiar fault to find; and why, indeed, should We give
office to whom we have once repudiated, merely
because asks for a second times But the capt
ta error which Butler committed-in originating
snd pushing through Congress what is known as
the SALARY Grab"-win go further TO defeat
him than all the efforts OF all his enemies. With the
Thousands who unable to understand realize the
general badness Of bad mans character until IT shows
itself In some specific act that comes home to their
minds and pockets and be estimated in dollars the
elass which has heretofore said Butler Gid well in
EewOrleans and we don't what he has done very
bad since Ibis connection with this gross and papa0le
awinde was able do what argument and reason had
failed TO do before.
HIS FOLLOWERS DETERMINED AND DESPERATE.
30 much FOR the chances against Butler. On the other
hand there are in his favor. His followers IN the
Custom and abont the United States courts work
tangible rewards Of place and patronage and Of
course, work desperately. Their candidate stands by
his friends and inspires them with portion OF his
energy, not 20 say Of his unscrupulousness.
Much Of the personal influence which was go
potent against HIM two years ago. is now neu-
lralized or poweress Senator Sumner cannot speak,
n then e1eahedru. Senator Wilson is VioePres-
dent not enemy at least, Of But
er The influence OF Mr. Dawes is potent only IN
the western part the State. and this years battle to
be fought in eastern GEOGRAPHICALLY in Boston and
the manufacturing counties OF Mddlesex and Essex
The home OF Crspin lodges and Labor Reform clubs.
here the sharpest fight TO be made and the result in
effect decided
The absurd rumors which have gained wide currency
that Judge boar TO whose efforts than any others
theresult OF two years ago duel would remain
trail for certain In tho present campaign,
sufficiently answered by his appearance chair
msn OF the anti-Butler meeting Friday. IL
Will be under mis- leadership that all that