The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-06-28
OLD COCK.EYE.

Mr.. Butler made good point on Friday
when he adopted so promptly the unparlia-
mentary nickname bestowed upon him by Mr..
Foster. 1t was a reprehensible designation,
and the General did not pretend that he liked
it. But he held it up to view and turned it all
around for the inspection of the House, and
gave it bitter accent and vicious emphasis,
and whenever he used it of course the mob
laughed-for there are mobs in the Capitol
sometimes and that was iust what he wanted.
He is not the first actor who has turned his
defects to profit In this case, no doubt, he
felt himself well repaid for the modification.
For the serious work Of craftsmanship he has
never shown any qualification.
Even for the policy involved in the Moiety
bill he has not exhibited much concern, nor
will his name hereafter be connected with any
measure of wise or even cunning legislation,
any scheme which benefits the country or
even promotes the interests OF party. When
he presents himself the representative OF a
political faction his colleagues are sure to fall
upon him and try to drive him ont His adrolt
attempt on Friday to persuade the House that
the Committee ON Ways and Means when it
ran after his coat tails was prosecuting the he
publican party aroused only feeling of anger
and Indignation In the soberer business Of
| politics Mr. Butler is dull and inefficient.
1t is when he presents himself, however, in
the character Of Old Cock-Eye that We under
stand his real power. man who is not
ashamed of his own defects has an immense
advantage over the rest of u.s. Mr.. Butler
knows his own moral obliquity, and he is
rather proud Of it. He has SO long eliminated
conscience from his calculation OF political
forces that he can laugh at the pretense Of it
in others and even mock at the reality
When he ridicules an old merchant who says
xtba, ba ot a Christian life
when he fouts honor, reputation, truth, fair
dealing, he has the huge satisfaction OF reflect
ing that nobody can reproach him with the
inconsistency of single virtuous profession
in his whole public career. We may suppose
that he looks upon the religious works Of Mr..
William E. Dodge, for instance, with feelings
akin to those which must have tickled the late
Col James Fisk, Jr., as he contemplated the
theological foundations of Mr.. Daniel Drew.
Butler is fond Of proclaiming that he does not
believe in any sort OF pious nonsense, and Col.
Fisk was equally free in his life and opinions.
There is always something attractive to the
vulgar mind in the spectacle Of BLACKBOARD
Dragging of his own rascality. AFTER ALL :"
men say, ''we can't help liking the old
fellow he's so frank 1t is quite as great
relief to the average spectator it is
to the performer himself when the stump
statesman throws off all pretense and does
openly what we suspect half his rivals lido in
secret as often as they dare. So Butler, hav
ing wit enough to give a flavor Of nauseous
piquances to his cOarseness and scurrlEty, Is
always sure Of an attentive and rather benevo-
lent audience. When he gets down into the
mire and besmears himself and every one
within reach when he hurls brickbats, decay
ing vegetables and dead cats, when he calls
out to the mob, "Come boys and see Old
Cock-Eye throw mud" the boys come tumb-
ling around him, hooting with delight A
smart man who can keep the boys amused,
and does not mind soiling his hands, is
power in politics not to be despised. IN Z.
TriI,pe