New-York tribune., 1874-11-03
THE SECRET OF BUTLER.
NOT THE CRE,.'roR BUT THE PRODUCT OF
BJJTLERISM.


NOT THE CRE>,roR BUT THE PRODUCT OF
BUTLERISM.
HIS INPLr eNCE DUE TO THE FACT THAT THERE ARE
MY BpTLERs--PECULIAR CHARACTERISTICS of
THE ESSEX pJsrRrcT-soURCEs OF MS POWER
THE Ola, ApoIaTIoNIsTs, THE INFLATIoNIsT SHOE
MAKERS AND THE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. STILL
powrsyII AND The DEATH OF BUTLEEdsM
LONG WAY OFF.
To the Bditor of The Trso"ne
SIR: Yhe man. Butler, may not be proft-
able steet for discussion Butlerism Is psycho
lorica, theme which will repay investigation iae pop
nar criticism personal characteristics of,en ne'p
~bscpre the important fact that every man OF cohSu
able notoriety is probably representative o' ~ ooi'
o,rrhtes which are to be found In the people arouno
hrn In him a common ideal obtains some KIM Vi ic"i
.sstlon The OF pOiorety need NOT pe 'no io po'
vsssor of all the qualities admired Ii ne seem 10 nave
,&nem IL ia enough; Imagination Will make vivid
avery indstioct line. Barring Gould has shown us
that william Tel is partly mythical, and certainly the
Washington Of birthday celebrations is not the man
who was once surveyor in Virginia. But these two
men persoofy the most admired qualities OF their
umee. and probably came Dearest in reality 70 the
admired ideals so 1 believe that Butler is the most
nearest perfect person1c cation OF qualities admired py
his electors In other words Butler Is notbe creator
but the product Of Butlerism Undoubtedly be reacts
upon his community, and ButlerIsm Is more o'snhctp
felt because the lives and scts but nevertheess'
his influence would be nothing 1t not for the prior
existence OF that which is all ready TO respond 70 DIS
touch These for such they may be regarded'
prompt the inqury What the elements OF Buteris
which exist the Essex District OF Massachusetts ana
which are so well represented IN Congress by the man
Butlerf
The Essex District long been noted for its politi-
cal radIcasm. giving to this word the meaning WIN
which used by the antiSavery agita'ors' IL was
spe OF the sumpng grounds OF GARRISON Fh-
nd A
sure of an enthusiastic attendance almost every where
within limits OF the county. About the time OF the
sose OF the war; before coored nan had been sent
10 Congress- Mr.. Phillips In conversation expressed 10
me his regret Mr. Frederick Douglass had removed
10 New.York. Were he living in Essex County, Mr.
Phillips felt assured that would be sent TO Washing
ton immediately and the country would have one
eolored the right place Essex County was re-
garded by him the banner territory OF radical anu
avery sentiment this sentiment, let it not be for
rotten Butler has mnIstered In delightfully."- appe-
fzing panner. He has incurred the deadly hatred OF
the bitter enemies OF the old abohtioDiss. His
march through Baltimore his inventon er approprs-
the "contraband" dodge. his administration at
New-orleans. his prominence the Impeachment trial
nf Jobnson-these things are remembered and although
he into the vineyard at the eleventh hour. yet
there Ss hardly an old Aboonst who would refuse to
give HIN even than the welearned penny OF the
earlier workers
TIE LEGACY OF ABOLITION FAVOR.
Against these merits his financial heresies are less
than dust in the balance Indeed question II they may
not add his weight with Of his adherents. For
1t is well TO remember. and distinctly remember that
OF this generation almest wholly destitute
Of any genuine political education Our young men,
and many older men, have lste ned to the discus
only three public questions three phases OF
one question Slavery-the Civil INSTRUMENTATION.
These abnormal questions; they are questions that
~ of national disease, not the normal questions OF
hnfy NJ
s who have entered political life within the last
years other great questions at
The polls and the education of the ballot. much
wanted by certain refOrmers has been confined ~
very narrow line. Newspapers. magazines. sermons.
lyceun debates village store talks have all considered
the absorbing theme. 1t was not possible to have
anything different national life was al stake, and had
10 be saved.
But although the Slavery question and its attendant
matters gone by and left to face ques-
tious OF which the great majority Of voters know
absolutely nothing at all, yet the worst feature
OF is not much this universal ignorance
the fact that previous training has to great extent
unified many for the profitable discussion OF the
new issues All remember the ex-cathedra manner In
Winch the anti-Sayery speakers pronounced Judgment
persons and things The style OF political debate for
the past decades has been the opposite OF Judicial
and 6tted have been for the moral ques-
of this period is precisely the style OF argument
now most greatly be dreaded But to frame a high
toned moral argument for paper money may be easier
Than frame sound In favor OF contraction and
specie payments. The former be made positively
luminous with rhetorical pausbillty, while the latter Is
apt to dulled with historical facts aud the dry state
nent of financial principles. Mere sentimentasts. in
cuding many OF those who make philanthropy profes
mon captured at by the phOsphoreseent
schemes OF Wendell Phillips and E. NJ Davis. People
who proud of calling themselves old Ahotonsts,"
among whom are OF course, some Of the best inten-
ha An tha xrorld how
toned themselves TO follow the leadership Of few we'll
known men, that they do not stop to question the
validity OF their conclusions. Reform papers call the
attention OF their readers to the financial projects Of these
men, and elderly merchants and manufacturers.
not ape away from old associations, actually
sommend their currency gyratons worthy OF attention
WENDELL PHILLIPS AS HE WAS AND is.
During in the Massachusetts Legs-
iaure which resulted the election OF Mr.. Wasbburn
United States Senator, leading official Of one OF the
prominent railroads of Massachusetts actually ex-
pressed deep regret that there seemed prospect
whatever OF the choice of Mr. Phillips Mr.. Summers
This mans deep admiration for the work
Mr Phillips during the antislavery struggle entirely
blinded him 10 the fact that the issues have wholly
changed and that with regard TO the mcst important
question of politics to-day, the Of Mr. Phil
nps would do good in unac asylum than in the
halls OF Congress. One element Of Buffers success
therefore is the prestige OF the Abolition sentiment
Not few Essex County voters still believe that the
freedman is not pet 10 be trusted with the Southern
white Butler is the man whom the Jexelavehold-
hate and for that very reason notwithstand-
,ng all that has been said against him. probably
good stay Washington until the colored man
secured In the possession OF all his rights All poit-
seal sllngs may be ignored In parison with the one
great vlrlue.
REVOLUTIONARY sHoEMAEERs BACK THE GREAT IN