New-York tribune., 1878-10-05
MASSACHUSETTS, POLITICS.

IN lHT BAY SrATE-THE REPUBLICAN CANVASS
AND IT'S PROBABLE RESULT
tYkoN A sr,FF CORRESPONDENT or rHT TRTHUSE)
PrrTsPmLD, Mass, Oct 2.-The old adage that
politics makes strange bcd-toows has never been
more true than it is to-day III Massachusetts, when
General Butler and a majority of the Democratic
party OF this STATE are LODGING in the political
apartments. Almost every theory Of politics or
Government that has received General Buffers sup
port since the beginning Of the is in direct con-
tlict with D,mocratis Idcas-I will not say princi-
pies, for 1t is hard nowadays 50 discover what the
principles of the Democracy are If II has any. II
there is a man in this country who hates the doe
trine of State Rights 10 which the Democratic
party still clings, aud seeks more frequent
occasion than another 10 trdmpc 1t under
ns fcot that man is General Butler. Al
this very time his principal grievance against
President IIayes's Administration is that the latter
did not sustain Governors Packard ana Chamber
lam with the Federal Army when they conid no
longer sustain themselves He has always been IN
favor Of force bills and Ku-Kux laws, and has been
one OF the most radical of Republicans on all ques
tiOns relating to the reconstruction of the South
lie never has been distinguished as defender Of
the National treasury from the raids of fraudulent
claimants or from extravagant public expenditures
On the other hand he has been accustomed always
20 vote for the largest appropriations and was the
leader in one of the most disTaceful attacks upon
Uncle Sums strong bOx-the Salary Grab The pre-
terce that it is necessary TO elect him OF all
Others to the GovernorshIp of Massachusetts, IN
order that a policy Of economy in State expendi-
turcs may be adopted is one of the most remark
able features Of this remarkable campaign.
Speaking of this unnatural alliance between Cen
eral Butler and the Democrats of Massachusetts, III
the conversation with Senator Dawes, partially
.. 1attn | nI |
remembered nothing like it in the recent his
tory of politics. There have been political
alliances in this State before" replied the
Senator, that seemed as unnatural as this one
The Democrats and FrcesOilcrs had no mora in COM
mon in their day. than the Democrats and General
Butler have now Each party was nearer IN sentl-
ment to the Wings than it was to the other and yet
they made a combination which finally captured the
State and sent Mr.. Sumner to the Senate. BY the
way continued Mr.. Dawes, " the appearance of
Mr.. Caleb Cushing upon the Butler State ticket re-
calls 10 mind the part he took in the earlier contest
when he kept together, for month, little band OF
Democrats, and prevented them from voting for
Mr.. Sumner The 'Idomitables they were
called from bunder that one Of them made in a
speech. The Fancm Hall Democrats might be
called the Idomitables of the present day."
Some people think that the coalition of
General Butler with the Democratic party will
end I'm the destruction of the latter and that the
Republicans wIll find a new party III the field to OPP
pose them whom another contest begins is it your
opinion that the Democratic party Massachusetts,
is about to dissolve 7' asked " and do you think
that General Buffers defeat will be its death
blow p
"No do not" the Senator replied. "On the
other hand think that Buffers defeat Will bring
those Democrats who support him to their senses :;
that they will abandon the leaders whom they are
following in strange ways, and 90 back into the
old party ganizaton, which will be stronger for
the experience it has had"
" Then you look neither for the capture of the
Democratic party by the iuhationsts for the
organization of strong Greenback party in this
State r.
"No The theories of the paper money people are
in conflict with Massachusetts, ideas, and
/" do not believe that they can get a
foothold in this State The Democratic party
has always been in favor of hard-mOney and WILL |
believe, continue to be so. The effort making
to build up Greenback party will, am quite con-
fdeut. fail.
ut is impossible to say what place General But
Ter will hereafter hold in the politics OF this State
or the NatiOn' said Senator Dawes, in response to
aquestiOn by The TRIBUNE correspondent. " Ii lie
fails tins time he will probably find some other
question which he will for his own purposes.
Tie is man of great resources"
This last remark of the Senator Will be recognized
as true by every one who has watched General But
leTs recent POLITICAL career. As who knew him
Intimately once remarked, his effectiveness in po-
tica fights is due TO the possession of all sorts
Of weapons which his opponents do not have or
would scOrn to use, rather than to unusual ability.
lie can fire off a cannon when you expect only a
-.
pected quarters and in unexpected ways. These
are facts that the Republicans of Massachusetts
will do we'll not to forget during the next month.
Mr.. Dawes said that the Republican State
Committee of Massachusetts, was never in
better condition to make an effective cam
Daign than now. The chairman of II, Mr.
Adm Thayer, of Worcester is one of the most ex-
perienced and skilful political organizers in the
State, and the Republicans everywhere seem to be
aroused to the necessity Of earnest effective work
The State is already well organized, and the town
Republican committees at work. TO show how
thoroughly this very necessary labor is sometimes
done i'll Massacl& &setts, it may be SAID that after
the canvass has virtually closed in this Congress
sIOnal district 1t is customary to have every town
visited on the Saturday and Monday before ecc-
tion by agents of the district committee whose
duty il Is to SEQ that arrangements for getting out
all the voters have be perfected, and that moth
ing else has been neglected that will legitmately
contribute to Republican The town
canvass of Pittsfeld was so thorough IN 1876 that
while the canvassers found only 954 Republicans
in the town, there were 9j1 Republican votes cast
"What of the Congressional districts y
asked the Senator.
"Ihaye no doubt that we shall elect all our Re
publican candidates except one" was his reply.
" suppose the Democrats will carry MOrses dis
trict in Boston"
81 learn in Boston that there is considerable
auyiety about General Rauk.'s district aud a f.or