New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-08-23
MASSACHUSETTS, POLITICS.
GENERAL BUTLER's PLANS AND PROSPECTS.

Butlerf Butler is efiicaciOus as Is mother-ln-
law in keeping the concern lively; hence there Is
apparently to be no lack of liveliness III our State
politics for the two or three months before But
ler did not make up his mind TO run for Governor
so early as is generally supposed. With all his COM
bustiveness he is not a courageous man, and he Is
very apt to be undecided in his political action He
breads defeat this year worse than ever. He has
told his friends repeatedly that he will not run I'M
less sure of success. Because Of this we have his
expediont in issuing circulars of invitation To nm
self for the purpose OF obtaining signatures lie
has no political judgment, however There was never
more stupid director OF a campaign, or one less
competent to form in advance correct opinion OF
its results Butler has got committed before his
circulars have come i'm, before he knows the extent
of the dissatisfied vote that he can carry before ne
is able to form int igeu estimate of the strength
that is to come to him from the Republican and
Democratic parties respectively lie would like to
have the road still open to retreat But it Is TOO
late He must run for the Goyernorship, or lgno-
miniousy retire. He has allowed too much to be
expected of him TO admit of leaving the field With
out very damaging loss of prestige.
PROPOSE in two or three brief letters to give you
some viewsas to the effect of his canvass on the he
publican party and on the Democratic party, ana
also an estimate of its general results on the politics
of the State Let me in ibis one treat OF the kepuD
hcan prospects.
As regards the State ticket, prospects never were
better. In his ambition to be Governor OF Massa-
chusetts Butler is going to fail ANONYMOUSLY. The
Republicans are united TO their candidate for the
Governorship, and will easily nominate and elect
him. Ex-Governor Talbot has really no rival for the
| position. There is general impression. largely
shared by men who voted against him hVe years
ago that he was not fairly treated then, and there Is
| n general respect for his ability and integrity as
business man. Mr.. john ID. Long, Speaker OF the
present House of Representatives, is nOmlnalY IN
the field but is apparently more to the end OF
keeping before the people the fact That they can nave
his services as Governor when needed, than Tor any
other purpose. Dismiss all idea that there IS any
apprehension on the part Of the Republicans OF los-
ing the state ticket Batter Is shaking in his shoes
already, as the truth on this point begins TO dawn
upon him. Butler is aud always was an obtuse pol
ltician He has not made a move since he began 10
arrange for this campaign That has not aided the he
publican side.
HIS votes ia Congress began this work His action
in deriving one of his Republican colleagues IN inc
House of the seat to which he was entitled ana DIS
effort to crafty his revenges at the risk Of INJURY TO
hlsparty in the committee of Investigation, Destroyer
all bopes of reelection TO Congress. They still lett
him. however considerable Republican followngln
the State. The appearance of Dennis hearney
here, and the alliance Of Butler with him. dealt
blow TO this Butcr-Repubhcan phalanN that was
startling. Kearney was the last man oil al 70 orihg
into Massachusetts, He has proved to be- destitute
of ANYTHING that commands respect. lie has neither
intelligence education. tact or reasoning power.
No one had hardly conceived man so boldly,
bhpdlv brutally offensive to the better instincts of
tbe people assuming the position OF u public
teacher When the people found him indoIsed by
Butler there was a general disgust aud adherence
in view of the association. Anti-Butler Eepuh-
licans had the strongest incentive to opposition
they had ever felt and those inclined to follow
Butler either left him outright or were put upon
the defensive with the consciousness that they h"d
no defence to make In view Of this alliance there
has not been a Republican OF prominence IN TINS
mart Of the state that has taken the side Of But
Ter. In the midst OF il all, Bntler himself went
down into Naiue and made a speech in which he
declared his separation from the Republican party.
! This was the finishing blow TO the Butler-Repub-
licap organization Butler WILL doubtless, still
draw some votes from the Republican ranks, put 40
| prominent men viii follow him. ana several VINO
have been publicly mentioned In tins way are pr
yatGly denying that they intend 70 take hutu stop
Such Republican support as Bauer gets WIZ come
| from men who are unfortunate III business OF Az
satisfied with tine times. IL goes uhdef me name Oh
| the GrGrubaCk party here. But there Ica!lk Is no
Greenback party, except such 3s - permit by the
Democrats that Is entitled u consldeIation mere
| are a few Republican, like General Thomas Blnn'y
sargent who gone into real estate speculation
! aud lost money, which they hope 10 paruaIIy re-
treye by the creation of more paper prOmisest 10 pay
| There ;s a large class of mechanics and operators
| who arc unhappy because they are out OF work.
| There is the LABOR Reform party, as II ~ called
which paradcs under StereOtJ pea leductShlI ea'h
year and sometimes casts ascatterng vote ana some
| times doesn't. When you hear Oh me ureehDack
movement i'm tins State, IL means this aggregation
II is claimed that a large numberOi Democrats nave
Joined n this wear; such Republicans persist IN
! inc delusiOu that il Butler Is not an honest man
| a raft hp relied
| formers work, will swell the number, but that
there are enough 10 give Butler the slightest pros
| meet Of election, even with all the democratic
strength he can got, no wel-infOrmed observer be-
| licVes. =,
| Buffers standard since no has identified II with
| Kparuey OF course include eX-COlcctUr summons
| in this Inst. Mir Simmons has been home from I.u-
| rome about a month He has been careful TO steer
| clear OF Butler ali this time. They have some dis
likes III common, and there are one or Two memgefs
| of Congress whom simmons would De pleased 70
| have defeated but simmons IL young man, he u
| a very ambitious one, and ne has got il wen INTO
his head that the path OF prelerment does not lie IN
uniting forces with the leader Wno hisv DI tB
| him into prominence. MIR. SInmOnB5 ambition ~
| 10 be recognized a. a Republican OF influence ana
importance II the present state committee WOuld
invite him to take the stump inns ran nave no
doubt he would be found Of the most active ana
enthusiastic workers III the party. As that DOdy IN
Constituted 10 is not favorable for bringing him Tor
| wand but IL IS probable q at II any place asked Ior
him as speaker 10 would be grained AT any rate
Simmons will not join the forces OF Butler. -
| IA is a significant fact, TOO, that wnlle hearDey
has been in Massachusetts, Wendell Phillips has not
| been heard from on the Labor or GTeenDack side'
He delights to fly in the face OF Boston convention
alities but III tins u Is possible that hls Ell
| heated instincts are too much for HIM.
| The only active opposition to Butler that has
really taken the field thus far is that OF the young
! men known as the Young Republicans. They VIII
| have influence in the coming State Convention, aS
their iieas are thoroughly represented ON the re
nublican state Committee The quasi ENDORSEMENT oil
ex-Pr, sldcnt Grant rs the next u3leah Gahuuato
Tor the Presidency by Governor Ilce VIII nave ~
effect on their action aud course In that body ldOht
| think aside from this, that there wOnd have been
anv ESPECIAL sOlictude that the party should nave
declared itself on National topics other lhan 10 take
| teKs res