The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1878-07-05
Friday. July 8, 1878.
Ben. Butler of Massachusetts,.

Although it has not been formally given
out by Ben. Butler, and perhaps not by
his personal friends, that he intends to be
a candidate for governor in Massachusetts,
this fall, still it is generally understood be
has had his eye on the position for some
wears, and is only waiting the proper OPP
portunity to make bold push for the
prize. However good republican Butler
has been in times past, the gilt edged
aristocracy of the Old Bay state have never
for moment conceded that it was either
expcdient or proper that he should be
allowed to seat himself in the executive
chair and in fact have always in some
form violently protested against such an
act. The governorship of that state is
held as the summit of ambition among the
eminent respectables with whom social
standing and old family names are held 10
much higher estimation than talents, and
it would be sacrieGe in their eyes to per-
nit the long line OF succession to be broken
in the person of man like Butler, who
not only knows the pretense and sham of
their ruffle shirt responsibility, but takes
pleasure on all possible occasions to make
them feel how hollow and unreal their
pride and pretensions are.
A Worcester correspondent of the New
York Sun sets forth the situation as de-
cidedly in Buffers favor and outlines a
plan which he thinks would most undoubt-
eddy win. Whether too partial to Buffers
cause or not. there is much III what is
stated, that appears not only possible but
also as if it might become in due time an
accomplished fact Says the correspondent:
platform. and will manage his canvass in
his own way. He will probably accept any
nominations, or notifications, that may be
rendered him. But his main reliance will
be, as always, upon himself-upon the
things which he represents, and upon his
personal popularity with the plain people.
He will be sure, from the start, of the votes
of the stawart Republicans, who are dis
gusted with their fraudulent President; OF
the believers in positive (paper) money!
and plenty of it; and of the unemployed or
half employed and half-paid workingmen,
who swarm in our Massachusetts towns,
and who are looking forward to the winter
with a growing dread. But there are
reasons for believing that national Issues
will play only secondary and incidental
part in his canvass.
It's now several years since Gen. Butler
in well remembered words, warned the
governing clique who have administered
Massachusetts for two decades that he
intended to be their Judge and execution
err" 10 these years things have gone on
in much the old way; substantially the
same hands on the public purse, the same
eyes on the books, the same wasteful mis.
use OF the public tu0ds, the same deafness
to the demands of the people. If Gen
Butler takes the stump 10 his OVID behalf
one OF his chief topics will undoubtedly be
the need of a change -thorough. sweeping
revOlutlonizjng- the State House il
Boston; new eyes on the books, new hands
on the public purse, an end of gilt-edgec
commissions, no more costly public building
jobs, no more limitations on a smaller scale
of the gigantic Hoosac Tunnel folly, reform
everywhere and retrenchment everywhere
Another topic will undoubtedly be thu
lnlqulty OF Stay law that permits tht
savings bank to withhold from the poor de
pOsitor his money, while leaving the banl
at liberty to foreclose the mortgage which
it holds upon the depositors home if ever
penny of the interest is not ready on tn
day.
Gen. Butler is believed to hold that thi
is very much such time as that which
witnessed the downfall of the friled Whjy
supremacy in Massachusetts,; that now, a
then, it is the duty of men who are il
earnest about reform within the state Il
work together, regardless of their differ
ences as to national issues Probably h,
would have no more hesitation in welc0m
ing Democratic allies than Henry Wilson
and his coadjutors showed in availin
themselves of the Know-Nothng alIanc
and making their profit out of it.
If Gen. Butler runs he will he placto i
The fruit is ripe. He haassTo3rn'lv 70 stretc
out bis hand dalai - - 01'' ~ '''' ''