New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-09-15
MR.. BUTLER IN THE FIELD.


for Congress; the "regular" nominee of the
Republicans of his district. There are many
excellent reasons why he should be defeated:
none that we know of for his election. Upon
at least two of the issues involved in the can
vass, and those of the highest importance, he
is not in accord with his party. Upon the
questions of finance and civil service reform
he is no more a Republican than Samuel j. Til
den--indeed, not half so much. The position
held by him upon the currency question is
totally at variance with that occupied by the
party, as he has repeatedly indicated in his
public utterances and his official acts. He and
his party are as far apart as the poles upon
this issue of overshadowing importance.
Toward reform in the civil service of the
Government, which his party has taken a
decided position in favor of, in its platforms
of principles and IN the letters of
acceptance of its candidates, MIR. But
Ter Is openly and avOwedly hostile. Not
only is he opposed to it in practice, but he
openly scouts the idea of reform; denies that
there is any need of it, and upon all occasions
ridcules and derides the whole business as
visionary silly and impracticable. And yet
Mr. Butler is the candidate of the Republicans
of his district, so far as the action of regular
convention can make him their candidate. Is
there any question in the minds of cOnscienti-
Ous Republicans as to their duty under such
circumstances 1t does not seem to us there
can be any. Mr.. Butler, besides being out
of relations and ont of accord with his
party upon the most vital issues of the
canvass, is a man who ought not upon general
principles to be in public life. He certainly
L Yofi If tha
publican party of Massachusetts,. No one has
done more than he to debase the public
service, and demOralize the whole system OF
politics For years his name has been
synonym for whatever is degrading and cor
rupt in political management and official con-
duct No one more than he has brought
the Republican party into disfavOr and
disrepute with the better class of voters
throughout the country. His very presence in
the party has been damage, and his prOmi-
nence and apparent influence in ITS councils
have driven away thousands of honest voters.
His nomination is an insult to respectable men
in the party his election will be n stain and
a disgrace; his recognition as party leader, 1t
he should I've elected, will put the party back
two years from now to the place such leader
ship as his brought it down to two years ago.
and from which it has now a fair prospect OF
recovery.
What wisdom the Democrats may show in
selecting an opposing candidate is yet to be
seen. 1t is possible for them to nominate
against him some one of their own party for
whom conscientious and independent Republic
cans NAV vote. They have been on their
good behavior lately, and especially so III
Massachusetts, and many of their nominations
have been exceedingly creditabe. They are
offered now further opportunity to earn the
respect of the community, and make sure of a
representative in Congress. No decent Demo
crat in the next Congress can do half the
damage to the Republican party that Mr. Butler
will, if elected. The election of Democrat
and the defeat of Mr.. Butler would be OF
more permanent advantage to the party than
any one thing in the power of Massachusetts
voters to accomplish. 1t would go far to
prove the sincerity and earnestness OF the
party in that State, and would convey
practical lesson to Mr.. Butler and such
as he, that though they may pack
conventions and procure regular nominations,
the people who come mp afterward to pass
upon the work of conventions have opinions
of their own and will sweep their work away
if it does not meet their ideas of what Is
honest and honorable. The Republican party
cannot afford to have Mr.. Butler for repre-
sentative 1t has reputation at stake IN the
matter which has heretofore been damaged by
Butler and his kind, and it must not permit
any more trl6ing with it, if it would regain
public confidence fully, and retain it Derma-
nently. The Republicans in Mr.. Buffers dis
trict can do their party and their country no
better service than by defeating him at the
nnllS.