Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1874-03-07
SIGNS OF THE TIMES
An Indictment Of Butlerism aud the Present
Political Management BY a staunoh Rspnbh-
can Payer,

Political Management BY staunoh Rspubh-
can Payer.
The current number OF HIrpsr's Weekly
opens with cartoon by Mast, ILLUSTRATING
the mlsruie Of negro government IN tne
" Reconstructed" States, and It's editorlal
page manlfests a spirit which leaders OF
the party in power would show them
selves Wise politicians as we'll as good
citizens in needing. The leading editorial
bsars the title with which we have headed
this article, and we make the following
extracts;
"The question of the Boston Collector
ship involves much more than mere per
sonal considerations. III not who shall
be Collector at Boston, hut what shall be
the character Of the Republican party,
and the tendency OF our politics. There
10 now no great issue upon which parties
are divided. The important point Is the
Of the government upon
principles conceded by both parties. The
threatening danger to the country and 70
the dominant party Is mereenary politics.
The last year has been full Of Illustrations
Of II. The Credit Mobilier revelations
showed an alarming decentralization OF
sentiment even among those who could
not be charged with deliberate fraud.
The "salary grab" the startling facts In
regard to seizures and moietles, the Wash
ington Ring, the sanborn contracts, the
recklessness In appropriation described In
the speech of Mr.. Dawes, the Congress
sionai arguments and demands for iuna-
ton, the prevalent doctrine that office Is
a mere means Of pushing personal ambl-
lions and of making money out OF the
public, the acrid partisan hostility to a
reform Of the civil servlce-are all signs
of tendency and danger not to be de-
MED, and to be resolutely opposed by the
united efforts of all good citizens.
Snow, as there Is no National Issue TO
divide parties, the control Of the orgSni-
zailon OF the dominant party Is OF. the last
Importance TO clever political gamblers,
because II promises to secure them their
plumber aud their purposes. But their
game can be played out only at the cost
or the existence of the party. General
Butler, the chiefof the "saiarY crabbers,"
an original regulator, an inlatiOnlst Of
the EXTREMIST school, and The most
truculent defender Of a corrupt system of
the civil service, Is the most conspicuous
representative of that laughing seOrn Of
public honor, which Is the most mis-
chieyuus tendency of the time. lie Is a
man of indlsputable political ability, Of
great adroltuess, of unblushiug etfrontery.
and of that profound contempt for the
people and servile tlattery Of them which
are essential TO the accomplished dema-
gogue. He Is withal a strict observer OF
party forms and precedents and being
earnest In nothing but his personal ad-
vancement, and Of cOnsummaie GOODNESS,
he never submits TO being " bottled up,
and even In the midst OF cOnlemptuous
defeat, and what to a man Of doe honor
would be. shameful humiliation, he gaily
turns the laugh upon his adversaries, aud
for the moment seems to make public
deceuey, honor, purity, patriotism and
sincerity Ridiculous"
"General Butler is, we say, the repre-
sentative Of the Immoral tendency Of oui
politics. Aud IL the Administration, al
seems TO b. now plainly evident, proposes
to sustain him against be representatives.
of political decency and morality, ii will
ruin the party. The Republicans o.
Massachusetts, will not accept Genera
Benjamin +. Butler as their leader ant
if BY sustaining him he Administration
pierces the lise Of the marty ir that State
It will be broken every where. Whether
Mr.. Simmons be Collector at Boston OF
not is comparatively Of little importance
his nomination Is the serious thing, for 1
shows that the Administration either doe
not zee the signs of the time, or es no
care for them. We have no fear, indeed
that this bqser tendency 10 our polite
will prevail The public disgust apS
wrath with corruption OF every kind ar,
quite as kable at this moment al
tho corruption itself. =. The country 4
dividing Into those who believe in pollt
ical honesty and who mean to secure II
and those who laugh II to scorn Ms i'm
practice be sentlmenlality. What SINGER
Republicans ask, and do not receive, j
some uumlstakable sign from Washing
ton that their Administration Is with tn
former and not with the latter. They d
not see that sign in tue appointment O
Governor Shepherd, In the sanborn con
tracts, In the nomination to the B0sto'
Collectorship, as they did rot see II In IN
approval Of the "sslary grab" In IN
retention Of Mr.. Casey, In the tendenc
to initiate the currency, and In the hcsitu
lion TO retrench. Thai demand, however
will not be relaxed. An attempt IN IN
White House TO Johnsonizs the Republ
can party failed, and an effort to Butlerlz
it will be equally useless"
IN another editorial article, under ID
rcai of Broken Pledges" II discusst
t'e 'Chil Service Reform" question, AN
ef'ee s'Nirg with much clearness VIII
8oad ~ pro?ily entitled under III
rule 'oi.cd ty lie President, himfcl
t1 p'ouulion IN case Of vacancies, pr,
vided they were properly qualified,
says;-
"Blt II such were not found, Il
President might nominate al discretion
being, " course, honorably bound 10 e,
eicise his discretion In the spirit Of b
rules, namely, 10 take the cffice out
politics. In the nomination OF Mr.. Sln
mons, az Ia many similar nomination
the President has SO wholly dlsregardt
both the form and the purpose of b
rules that proper eslf-rospect would see
to require their formal and efici
revocation. As they are now observed
they are the scOrn and laughing.stock
all who know the facts, aud mere
strengthen the mlschief3 and ahus
/ which they were designed to correct.
persuading the President to a cOur
which brings his own reform Of the ci,
service into contempt, General Butler h
, taken an exquisite revenge Upon Il
General, who, as he has hot fOrgotle
y described him as "boitlod up the enemy