Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-12-28

Gen. Butler, in speech to the Middlesex
Club of Boston, Saturday evening, explained
in part his long silence on the political issues
of the day, and gave his views on various
subjects. After predicting the passage of
the silver bill, either with the Presidents
approval or over his veto, and expressing his
approval of the measure, and announcing his
purpose to oppose any taxation of tea and
coffee, the General continued These be-
lieve, are the leading questions to be settled
BY Congress. You will notice have said
nothing about reconstruction. The news
papers, as you are aware. have wondered
why have kept still | will state to you
confidently, that it was Because | have
thought it best. Laughter. In a talk with
the President last March, found he was
imbuei with the idea that he could build up
the Republican Party in the South.
thought afterward he might know more
about it than | did, and | would not inter
fere with fair trial of the experiment. lie
still seems to have that belief, and is honest
in it. do not believe it can succeed, and
probably almost all Republicans have the
same feeling. There is, probably, not
man here VINO can understand how one can
be thoroughly imbued with that notion.
We must remember that the truth is never
spoken in the White House. The President
never has an opportunity OF hearing the
truth. When people 90 to the White House
to ask favors they naturally say to the Presi-
dent that he is all right, and that the people
are with him and are supporting han
They certainly would never think their
chance of o ltaining an Office any better if they
should saw to the President You are all wrong
in your policy. and the people are opposed
to you Mr.. Van Buren, told an intimate
friend in in 1910 that you can never hear the
truth in the White House. To illustrate,
Mr. Van Buren, said The next morning
after election | woke up with as firm con-
viction that had been reelected President
as that was to have nd breakfast. | had
been told by every body that it was all right.
and was sure OF good majority. | did
not find out that | had been beaten until
fortnight later There was probably not
another man in the United States, over q
years of age, who had not known for three
months previous to the election that Mr..
Van Buren, was beaten. have appeared in
the unusual role of paciicator. People
have come to me and demonstrated against
the Presidents course, and | have said,
Wait little while and see how it will
work That has been the attitude Of the
Republican party in Congress. Iii. strange
that the President does not see the true
state of things 1t is said that the Presi- |
dent is to be commended for withdrawing
the troops from the States of Louisiana and
South Carolina. do not see how any one
is to be commended for sending 100 men
from one barracks to another. or for not |
sending them. In one of the Fall conyen-
lions in great State, the orator said that
the President was to be praised because he |
withdrew the troops, and in another part OF
the same speech he said the President was
Obliged to do it, do not see what merit it |
is for a man to do what he is obliged to do.
If man kicks me down stairs, it cannot be
any grea. merit in me because 60 down.
" Another topic | may mention is civil
service reform. This is generally ignored |
in Washington. do not see that it has
served any other purpose than to give some
one an opportunity to deliver public lee
ture upon that topic. | hardly know what
to say about it. ! do not know what it
means. Laughter. Since | have been in
Congress this time | have never heard it
mentioned in Washington, only now and
then as a butt for joke. Since the Massa-
chusetts election even the President appears
to have abandoned that plank of his platform,
so far as it refers to the action Of Office
holders assisting in elections. | do not
think there is any man so stupid in politics
Il. l. a.. =
party is divided on this and other questions,
and the Democrats come into power, they
will remove every Republican offce-holder
in the country and put Democrat in his
place, regardless Of civil service reform or
any other reform. There are certain ideal
reforms and principles which will do for
Utopia, but in practical, everyday life we
must consider what is necessary and prac-
teal, and govern ourselves accordingly.
d" In conclusion, may say that am hope
full as to the future of the Republican
party. tell you. gentlemen, there is no
disuniOn in the Republican party in Con-
gress. The Republican majority in the
Senate, and four ffths of the Republicans
of the House consider the present South
ern policy of the President a mistaken
one, but the general feeling has been
to prevent any collision. The President
was honest in his intention, and we were
willing to see it tried. We have felt on this
subject that the least said is soonest mended.
We hope that the President will, in time.
see his mistake, and join hands with the Re-
publicans. We have kept silent on these
questions. but they must be met sooner or
later The President has had an opportuni-
ty to ascertain the truth. Of course, it
must be considered that he has Cabinet, a
majority of whom, when appointed. we're
not known as Republicans. | think that
will have to he reorganized, and that it soon
will be. The President will soon have to
elect with which of the two great parties he
will 90. By next February he will have to
decide whether he will take the Republicans
into his counsel or join the Democrats. The
pre,ent state of things cannot continue. No
man can ride two horses going in opposite
directions, however kind or wise he may be.
If he joins the Democratic party. there will
be the issues of finance, the tariff, economic
questions of government, and other matters
to divide upon. If the President decides to
Join the Republicans, the party will be as
powerful as it ever has been. The Republi-
can party North will be united, and we can
undoubtedly carry New York State, and
this would give us victory in 1880" Ap-
planse