National Republican., 1876-09-21
GENERAL BUTLER.

GENERAL BUTLER.
The war now being wsged upon General
Butler by the so-called Conservative"
Republican press of New England and
New York is not only unwise and impOli-
tic, if any of its authors desire Republican
success, but i! is, in its utter unfairness, its
wiilGul falsifcations, its unfounded asper-
sions and its base malignancy, one of the
most infamous exhibitions made to-day in
American politics. While the diguified
attitude and statesmsulike utterances OF
General Butler mark his appreciation OF
the gravity of the political situation. and
his comprehension of the real issues in
volved in the present conflict and their
momentous bearing upon the future OF
the nation, his opponents within the lines
of the party organization seem TO have
turned all their guns away from the com
mon foe and given up their energies to the
despicable work of hurting stink-pots at
the man who mere nearly than any other
touches the hearts and moves the enthusi
asm of the people.
Few men within the Republican party
have, since 1861, taken so advanced po-
sition or maintained it so unfinchingly as
General Butler. Neither Charles Sumner
nor Thaddeus Stevens surpassed him in
adhersnce to Republican principles. while,
in his party fidelity, General Butler has
withstood the shock of continuous battles,
any one of which would have driven thou
sands of his detractors into enmity or OBJ
scurity had they been the subjects OF as
sault. Volcanoes of lies have been spe wed
from the bottomless pit of rebel hate to
affect the judgments or prejudices OF men
in respect to his personal character and
official conduct, but through all the fire OF
fifteen years of rebel and pro-rebel Vituper-
alton that man is yet to be found who is
able to point 10 the first fact which i'm
peaches General Buffers private integrity
or impugns the probity of his public c.
reer. Nay, few there are among the most
honored names in his own or any other
party so unscathed, except by lies, as that
of Benjamin F. Butler. Democratic Gin
vestigations" even, no less than Republi-
can, have failed to show his presence at
any point of official misdemeanor. Other
men, bright and shining lights in the Con-
servative armament, have had their lustre
dimmed-not Butler.
You are q Northern man," said the
proprietor of New Orleans hotel; "you
"are Northern man, and / can say to you
privately what it is not policy for US
"here in New Orleans to say outside.
General Buffers administration in New
"Orleans was a just one." This rebel
tribute, thus confidentially given, was but
the counterpart of the verdict which fol-
lows every inquiry made into Gen. But
ler's acts, civil or military, in Congress or
in the field. And yet, with his public
character unsuccessfully sssailed, with his
record of party devotion, which shsmes his
adversaries; with his public services, which
will live in his country's history long after
the names of his traducers have faded from
human recollection; with the Tidely-ex-
pressed hope and demand from genuine
Republicans everywhere for his return to
Congress, and the recognized need of the
courage, sagacity and ability of his leader
ship in tie critical Congressional struggles
which, before another election, may usher
in the second war Of the rebellion; with
these facts and reasons why every true Re
publican should rejoice at his nomination;
and, notwithstanding these, war more
bitter and vindictive than that made upon
the enemies of the country is waged upon
Gen. Butler as the representative of the
radical element Of the Republican party.
1t is this radical element which gives to
the Republican party its vitality, and which
alone enables it to live or makes it worthy
of existence. If this element is to be
counted out the whole election might as
well go by default l. will not do to urge,
as do some OF the diIettGntc editors of New
York, that Gen. Butler is not in favor oftheir
pet hobby of ''civil service reform" Gen.
Butler is not fool, and he is far too busy
man to waste lis breath in mouthing silly
platitudes. Neither will it do to advise his
rejection, because of his personal views
upon questions of finance and currency.
The one great question before the country,
and the only one which gives national or
party significance to the approaching cleo
tions, is whether the Confederate Democ-
racy shall succeed to the control Of the
Government, or whether the results of the
war shall be maintained, and the power of
the nation to protect its citizens be pre-
served.
General Buffers position upon this ques-
tion is neither unknown nor equivocal. 1t
is because he represents the underlying
purpose of the loyal American people, be-
cause they know him and know they can
trust him, because growing experience
proves every day more clearly that he was
right and the Conservative superfcialists
altogether wrong, that his name is every
where met with an ovation Of applause
which greets no other public man in
America, and that the country looks to the
loyal men and true Republicans of the
Lowell district to return General Butler to
Congress, in spite Of the opposition of that
faction of the Republican party which,
obtaining control of the party organization
and management in Massachusetts, has
reduced its seventy thousand majority to
zero.