The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-09-01
REVENGEFUL BEN.

tanning the prize-money Of the fleet
which captured this city. These are
mostly of the same class which SO loudly
applauded Ben and his gang, who despoiled
this city and people in 1869. Ben has, how
ever, pretty good legal defense In the one
case, whilst in the other he condemned and
trampled on all laws. human and divine It
appears that the acts Of the Radical Congress
authorized his charge against his fellow
looters Of our city. Not even his re-
sources of diabolic ingenuity could
ever find any authority for his
wholesale plumber of our people. But so
great was the admiration of the very best
classes in Massachusetts for bis successful
depredations and outrages upon this commu-
nifty, that when he returned to the State after
his career OF nfamy In the South, no return
ing chieftain from fields Of the most valorous
exploits was welcomed by his fellow citizens
with grander ovation. His previous career
of disreputable demagoguery and agraran
agitation against the better classes of the
people Of Massachusetts was condoned by
the success and impunity with which he
devastated and despoiled this city, and the
insults and brutality which he heaped upon
the best classes of our people.
One OF the vices in which the brutal tiema-
goguism OF which Ben Butler is a striking
specimen has its origin and chief motive. is
the base and barbarous passion of revenge
This passion has been the handspring of all
his actions. While protesting, out Of revenge
against the capitalists and manufacturers
and cultured classes Of New England, to be a
strong sympathizer and friend of the South,
and an extreme Southern rights politician he
received no encouragement OF respect from
our political chieftains. Indeed, they dis
trusted and not unfrequentIy snubbed his eX-
cessive zeal in behalf Of the South. In all
the later Democratic national conventions
before the war Butler was member and by
his bullying and presumptuous bearing, man
aged to draw upon himself some contemptl-
GUS manifestations from Southern dele
gates. When, therefore, he rushed into the
war against the South, and through the
volor and military enterprise Of the fighting
men of the army and navy was afforded the
opportunity to retaliate upon the South their
expressions OF contempt and dstrust, there
were no limits to his deviIish and cowardly
prosecutions of defenseless people. When
radiant with the glory of these deeds he re-
turned to his Massachusetts home, his former
political foes, whose sneers had penetrated
even his pachydermal soul, pressed forward
to bestow on him the highest honors and re-
wards of the "Conquering Hero" the subiu-
gator of women, children and old men.
Ecstatic must have been the revengeful Joys
Of the Massachusetts Radical at these tributes
from his once proud and exuItng political and
social foes.
And now we have another qualification of
This ruling passion of Butler in this recent
leecing Of Farraguts officers and men. But
Ter had marked a heavy score against the
commanders and their followers Of the
squadron which captured this city in 1862 He
lad been snubbed by Farragut and Porter in !
Ill the operations against this city. "What |
lse will there be for the large army which
Butler demands to operate against New Or
cans, when you, Farragut and Porter, say
you can take 1t with the fleet asked Stanton
d these naval commanders when the plan of |
,he expedition was under discussion. "Oh
le will serve to police the city with his army
liter we have captured it, was the reply.
At this Stanton smiled grimly. "a good |
dea. Butler will make good police officer
md detective" Please, however, do not let |
lin expose himself to shot and SHE'LL Men
VI his sort are too scarce in the service to
pare"
Farragut and Porter faithfully fulfilled this
rust. When they advanced upon the forts
hoy kept the heroic and adventurous Butler
bottled up" in the swamps, far in the rear of
'ort st. Philip, whilst they were battling
With the Confederate forts and fleet. and
orcing their way through shot and shell to
he city. Then, when the city lay a helpless
aptive covered by the three hundred guns of
'arraguts squadron, Butler was sent for, was
ragged with his army out of the swamps,
nd brought to the city to do police duty.
Porter even defrauded him, as he charged.
{ his rightful share of the honors of the VIC
Dry achieved by ''the combined army and
avy" of debating the terms of capitulation
Forts Jackson and St Philip. It was true
his capitulation was the result of the mutiny
the garrison and not Of the conquest and
of the forts; but, as some Of But
RS men had succeeded in wading the
wamps and reaching the banks of the
ver above the forts, Butler claimed, and
rote powerful brief to support the
lain, that the forts should have
apitulated to him and not to Porter The
alter responded with a sarcastic smile, and
arragut winked significantly. But Butler
ever forgot or forgave this sneer and indig-
ity, and now he has his revenge, in his
SPLENDID Fleeing" of his recent clients,
[essrs. Farragut Porter, ct ais One hun
red and forty-three thousand dollars will
rove most efficacous emolient to the ex-
feelings of the ill-treated chief
lin who had been cheated of his wel-earned
urels, and reduced from military hero to
mere police officer through the jealousy of
lese prize claimants.
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