New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-03-22
Communicated.
BUTLER AND BEACON STREET.

/
Is Beacon street, Boston, the Tooley
| street of America? The three English
tailors-a composite third Of man-fat-
tered themselves as being the little English
isle, but even that timid assumption was
modest compared with that Of al element
in Boston, that conceives itself to be
scarcely less than the republic, and that
Bunker monument is mere exclamation
point to that elements massive self-esteem.
Benjamin F. Butler having refused to
smirk Difference to this element has been
visited with its solemn repro bation. 1t has
shambled into two Massachusetts, State
! conventions, brought down its staff in
most dogmatic manner, and forbidden his
| nomination as Governor despite the mani
fest will of Republican majority in that
State. It has not scrupled to improvise
hostile delegations at the convention doors
even, or to resort to any ezpedient, no mat
| ter how devious, that might conduce to his
discontinue. And because General Butler
chose to adjourn his pronounced claims
| rather than permit rheums in the party as
to himself Beacon street returned to its
snuff with greater JUNCTION and was the
more satisfied that the State was still a
convenient backyard to Beacon street.
During the last four weeks Beacon street
has been ivid with wrath. A worthy
young citizen, Mr.. Simmons, was nomi-
mated for the Boston collectorship.
Beacon street mounted its spectacles,
packed its rutfies, fabricated its kree-pans,
braced its calves in silk stockings,
clencheo its staff and visited Washington
to rebuke the President for his temerity.
1--WE, sir, have not blessed this Simmons
with that local recognition without which
American citizenship is but stone, not
bread. To only such as We anoint must
be apportioned the federal inches in Bos-
ton. We consent that the government
shall have honest stewardsthere, but their
especial service must be to glorify Beacon
street in every impressive creak Of their
shoes. We assert social presumption to
every federal Office there as boudoirs for
our stately languor. Beware-there shall
be many Presidents, there can be but ore
Beacon street. We have said"
Sumner, too anxious, we fear, to contra
vene the President, said robust amen,
and Boutwell, followed with an acquiescent
lisp. The latter had first urged Simmons
claims, had known him as an honest and
efficient revenue officer under his own APP
pointment when Secretary of the Treas
ury-could not upon challenge in the
Senate. present an exception to him, and
yet consented to strike him down at
Beacon street whim. In the lower house two
members only besides General Bntler, out
of the entire delegation, dared to espouse
Simmons claim. At this juncture, Gen
eral Butler determined to take issue with
Beacon street. In his own case he had
twice forborne lest irreparable discord
might befall the party; il Simmons case
he relucted not moment. 1t was mouldy
''propriety' challenging sterling worth;a
young man, on the one hand, of the peo-
pie, whose quick loyalty had impelled him
to stand in the war van of that people, a
faithful servant of the government, named |
by the executive for promotion, and fatu-
lent Podsnappery on the other, impotent |
to cite single manly reason against |
him. The issue was one so thoroughly |
Americsn-one wherein the aspira-
tons OF wholesome man were an
tagonized only by the prejudices
Of social martinets, one, where man as
man should not be smitten down without
due reason, that we are not surprised at
General Buffers course in the premises.
The pluck within linn was revealed anew.
In defiance of the rule, renting the fate
of an aspirant for confirmation to the
Judgment Of the Senators Of the State
whence the aspirant halls, Simmons con-
frmation was achieved by General Butler
in the teeth OF Sumner and Boutwells oppo-
sition. Even the Democrats of the Senate
seemed to regard the pretensions of
Beacon street as vapid and impertinent,
and with but two exceptions voted with
the large Republican majority for Sim
mons. For General Butler thus to have
the purpose of the Massachu-
sets delegation in each house waaEa
marvel Of pluck, generous zeal "a
astuteness and but another token OF Is
signal capacity for leadership. But
Beacon street meditates revenge-means
mischief in the next State convention,
where Massachusetts Republicans propose
to nominate General Butler as Governor.
The General laments to have them
abandon the Republican party, to which
be himself Loyalty adheres, rain or shine,
but those who don the jackets OF enemies
need not marvel if, next fall, he imprints
welts under them, and Beacon street will
prove no sanctuary in such an event.
No man in this country possesses
greater influence than he upon the ma
.ional mind; staunch and affirmative, he
,ompels attention and faith. There is a
splendid candor in him that excites ad-
miration even in his adversaries, and, as
he Simmons case denotes, such adver-
,aries can not always forbear to reinforce
him. What other public man in the
Union could have rallied the McCreerys
md Gordons beside the Conklings and
carpenters? The average Southern Demo-