New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-08-15
TILE DEPARTED BUTLER.


public life would think of doing. And it is
quite true He does things that nobody else
can. His latest skip illustrates it. No other
man who is now ever was in public life
could abandon the party with which he had
been acting, which had given him all his
hOnOrs, and by whose suffrages he was still IN
office, and excite so little wonder or sur
prise. The man was never before In public
life who could deliberately pack up his traps
in the middle of Congressional term, BID
farewell to the party that elected him, and
go over to the opposition, and excite by his
action so little dissatisfaction in the party
he abandoned and so little enthusiasm in
the one he fell upon. This man is certainly
unique. His admirers are right in so adyer-
Using him. When exhibited he fairly fills the
bill. Other men doing the same or similar
thing would have been attacked by the or
gans of the betrayed party at once as trail
tors, renegades, Benedict ArnOlds, Judas Is
CARROTS, and all that and no mercy would have
been shown them. But it is a noticeable fact
that nobody calls Dir. Butler traitor or rene
gade; nobody seems angry because he mas
deserted the party that elected him to the
Congressional term still mexpred, nor have
we seen anywhere III our exchanges an ex-
preston of surprise. TO call Mr. Butler
hard names for following out his nature
and doing the most natural thing would
be a vain waste of time and temper over the
inevitable course of nature and the immutable
order of things. This performance of his has
long been discounted, and was only ques-
ton of time. lie goes Oyer-Or rather makes
formal ANNOUNCEMENT of his apOstasy, for he
has been virtually out of the Republican
party for a long time-at a time when he
thinks he can injure his old associates most
by Matching up a combination against them in
several Congressional districts and-he can
do what nobody else can-he can do this
without exciting IN anybody's mind the first
token of surprise. No one expected anything
else of him.
Another thing: no prominent politician on
the point of changing parties ever excited
such emotions in the parties into which he
was liable TO alight. At Mr.. Buffers swarm
ing no party came out with hand bells
and tin pans aud other musical instru-
ments TO attract him; on the contrary,
one party stood up and thanked God for
a happy deliverance while the others stood
at a distance throwing up their hands and
saying ShOOn at him. No other man could
have so affected all parties. Never in all his
public career did he bring such delight and
satisfaction to the patty he belonged to;
never was he so terrible TO the parties he
had opposed. The great party which twenty
years before had been bound down with bis
support, but which now for more than fifteen
years had enjoyed the advantage OF his active
hostility, and been both amused and edited
by his prominence in the ranks of the OppO-
stion, was almost terTOr-stricken as he
poised his wings for fight. This was
his supreme moment. They had laughed
at his defiance and Tejoiced in his hostility
when he led the attack upon them they knew
it meant for them an advanced position and
the capture of prisoners, artillery and supplies.
They could well afford to keep him under pay
so long as he continued in the opposition ranks.
But he frightened them at last. For when
he lifted up his wings no could tell
where he might alight, and it was an
even chance that he should come down
Democrat. They could stand anything
but that. Herein observe how fully he
answers the glowing eulOgy OF his admirers.
He does what no other man can. He throws
the Democratic party into a cold sweat through
fear of a convert. No man ever before fright
ened that party by threatening TO 20 over to
it. And even the party in which he seems to
have dropped-if indeed il can be called a
party-dreaded his coming and put up depre-
eating hands to warn him Off. Here is
party just forming; eager for recruits
more anxious, if possible, than the old ones
mailing and welcoming everybody, no
matter what their views or principles if only
l. NH.,r -
against the old organizations; a very sweep
net for hauling in all dissatisfied and discOn-
tented ones and even this party, through many
of its newspapers and leaders, expressed an
uncommon anxiety that Mr.. Butler should
move on and not stop with them He does
what no other man can. He offers himself to
a new party which Ostentatiously advertises
itself as an indiscriminate catch-all and polit-
ical Botany Bay, and the question is actually
raised whether upon the whole it is safe to
admit him.
Yes he is a unique and picturesque figure in
politics, and his admirers are right IN claim
ing for HIN the credit of being able to do
great number of things that nobody else could
do or dream of doing. IL is now understood
that he proposes to capture the nomination of
the National" party for Governor of Massa-
chusetts, and by bargaining with the Demo
Gratis secure their tacit open Endorsement
in exchange for his assistance in elect
ing two or three Democrats to Congress.
It seems very pretty scheme. And
we are by no means certain that it |
will not so far succeed as to make
his candidacy quite formidable, and perhaps |
give the Democrats Congressman or two.
We have not the slightest idea, however, that |
he can ever be elected Governor. He has
been tortured with that delusion for several |