National Republican., 1878-08-14
nIrrI.EIt,s ENnnIrs.

deserted the Republican party for reasons
sufficient with himself, and that II must
shift as well rs It can without him in future
in fighting battles and winning victories.
No doubt the redoubtable General, since
that important announcement, has strained
all his hearing faculties TO &ie utmost to
catch the wall of sorrow that he expected
would come up from the Republican camp
when the doleful news should reach il. We
anprchend that he has taken in his ears,
for not regret has yet been sounded TO
crafty his anxious listening No. General
BUTLER, there is no feeling Of regret TO he
put in phrase over your exodus from the
Republican party. No solemn dirge has
bten sounded. No display of the emblems
of mourning No sorrowing countenances.
No wall Of sorrow. None of these aspects
or tokens have come over the occasion TO
remind the faithless BENJAMIN that he is
missed or mourned
On the other hand, we rather think the
Republican party experiences sense of re-
lief at this separation. 1t feels very much,
no doubt, as person would who had n gan
creme limb that threatened corruption to
the whole system, and the surgeon had just
concluded a skillful amputation which had
removed the imminent danger. BUTLER
is man of ability-indeed, if he had been
stocked with rs much integrity of purpose
and sincerity Of motive as he has shared OF
intellectual power he would have ranked
high among Americas eminent men. But
there has always been n screw loose in his
makeup. His ccccntricities of character
have overshadowod the growth OF his more
ennobling qualities, and he has wabbled
through somewhat eventful career with
a limping, shuilling gait.
He was Democrat, and favored JEFF
DAVIS ut Charleston for the Presidency in
1850. LISCoLS's election precipitated the
rebellion, and then BUTLER had to decide
which side he would take. After some hesi-
taton he espoused the cause of the Union
and rushed in like horse to battle, ap-
preaching the National Capital by the way
of Havre-de-Grace and Annapolis. He
never rose to very marked distinction as q
warrior but as military Governor at New
Orleans where the rebel women and gam
blers who would not go to the front held
high carnival, he distinguished himself in
a manner highly satisfactory to the country
He whipped the menagerie into compliance
with stern and dextrous hand, and re.
duced the motley crowd to prompt and
effective subjugation. This was BCTLER's
only achievement in the war that planted Q
star on his military cap. Everything elst
were regarded as inconsidcrate trihes, that 6
corporal could have accomplished with equa,
honor.
Since the close of the war General But
LER has pretended to act with the Repub,
lican party, and so long as he could have an
office when he wanted one and could have
his own imperious way while in office, he
behaved tolerably and acceptably well but
when crossed, woe to those who crossed hi.
purposes. It has been discovered during
the thirteen years that he has pretended tC
be Republican that his fidelity to princi.
pie and party usage has largely depended
upon the qualification of his personal views
ends, and ambitions. In other and NOR,
homely phrase, 1t mas taken more quite
than he was worth to cook him. For som,
time BUTLER has shown signs of politica
alteration but the most bold and shame
less departure from principle ant
right was when he coalesced with tn,
Democrats and supplanted an honestl!
elected Republican member of Congress
from his own State with Democrat wh'
had not been elected and whose admission
to seat was an outrage upon every princi
pie of right. After this act Of infamy n,
true Republican regarded his connection
with that party as. at all desirable. Sine
then BUTLER has been sneaking and skulk
ing through the corridors of the Republican
temple seeking door of escape. Tha
which led to the Democracy had been close'
against him, as they had had enough O
him. He then decided to make war upol
HAYES and fight on that line, until KEAR
NEY could cross the continent and act as hi
MOSES and lead him out of the wilderness
of his own political infdelity. KEARSE,
came and BUTLER went and if that even
inspires any Republican emotion it is tina
of joy.