The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1874-03-20
THE NEW YORK TIMES ON BUTLER.

This is an editorial from the New
York Times:
BUrI.ERlSM.
1t is a question which we commend
! to the careful consideration OF the Re
publican party ut Washington, whcthe,
our party has not had enough of tha,
element in the conduct OF its affairs
| popularity known It's Butlerism? We
think it would be we'll for those who
are responsible for the infringement OF
the party and for the conspicuous pub
lie acts by which it is judged, to ask
themselves if the country is ready. to
follow through thick and thin the lead
OF the Essex Congressman. There
seems to be a strong disposition at the
national capital to award to that :el-
tleman Il remarkable degree OF inttu-
cncc and prominence i'll matters for
which nature and training have not
conspicuously fitted him. 1t might be
as we'll to reflect what may be the re-
suits upon the fortunes of the party
and upon the welfare of the country if
this disposition is allowed to go on un-
checked. Those who are in daily ia
tercourse with Gen. Butler, and who
enjoy, without interruptions, the pecu-
liar charm OF his mind and character,
may perhaps be excused for falling into
an excessive sUbserIiency which is
quite inexplicablc to the impartial
observer at distance. But as the
time has hardly yet come when those
whom the party has trusted can be
absolved from all responsibility, it is
fair to ask wchthcr an otherwise en-
cusablc alteration of Mr.. Butler cannot
be carried too far for the interests of
Rcpublicanism. There IS very little
doubt in our minds that the country
at large, and especially that portion of
it most Immediately concerned, is Il
trific sick of Mr.. Butler. We do not
believe that the famous simmons mat
ter and the conduct of the National
Administration with reference to il has
the Republican party
We DO not suppose anyone
will pretend that it has helped the
party in New Hampshire or Connccti-
cut, and VIC do not see how, in any
portion Of the community,
it could help us. WehlHc not ourselves
taken any part in the Simmo&s fight,
in the first place, because the facts were
stoutly disputed on either side, and, in
the second place, because it seemed to
us Il matter that ought to be settled
with reference to the better public
opinion of Massachusetts and New
England. What we rcgre; to perceive,
is that it has not been so settled; that,
on the contrary, the better public opin-
ion from one end to the other of New
England is expressing itself as disap-
pointed and outraged by the result and
origin of this better feeling, is not so
much any special interest in the office
of Collector at Boston, rs in the con-
J,., l,r
whole thing. SO far as we can judge
from the published statements of the
Senators and Rcprcscn
tatives, the conviction is not without
Butler himself seems to
be doing all in his power to strengthen
it. lie regards himself, and he is gen
orally regarded as the most influential
politician in Washington, and tho inn
preston that he is IS is all the While
doing the party harm. 1t is not very
singular that it should do us harm.
C&.n. Butler is not Il fit lnan to be
party leader. We need not go into any
extended analysis of his character to
show why he is not. His political his
tory, only too familiar to the country,
shows it. He has hardly Quality Of n
successful leader, if We except persis-
tcncc and boldncss. These, however,
are auxiliary qualities. IhcSc arc not
of tho essence of craftsmanship; they
arc needed in a good party leader, but
they are not in themselves sufficient to
constitute one. In the absence Of other
and better pualitic', they may wei!
ruin a leader or a party that will follow
him. 1t is little to say of II man that
he is bold even to impudcncc if he
rejects the principles Of Il party, vio-
latcs its pledges, breeds faction and
division in its ranks, inaligns its
trusted mon, loads it with detcstahlc
measures and subordinate aii it, in
tercsts to insane ambition. This is III
substance what Butler has done and it
is what the party cannot tolerate with
out sustaining injury, perhaps irrctricv-
able injury. Certainly the party Is
passing through difficulties; We thinll
the most sanguine believe in the cilica-
cy of fixing Things viii not deny that
amongst the causes Of discomfort now
manifcsting hcmsc!vcs is the convjc-
ton that our finances are in Il very bad
way, for want of decisive congrcSSi iOnal
action. Is it quite safe, considering
this fact, to give up the management
of the party to a man whose kuoWl-