Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-09-19
BEN RVTLER-

The GLOBE is not an admirer of Gen.
Butler. During long public career be has
developed only the qualities that pertain to
the demagogue and the disorganizer. He
was first conspicuous in the Charleston and
Baltimore conventions, where the peculiar
tactics which have since distinguished him
were conspicuous in leading to the disrup-
ton of the Democratic party. He was an
ardent friend of the Southern people and
their able ally in the political events that
eliminated in secession and civil war. With
bis usual facility, however, he changed his
course in the nick of time, and from being
the aPolos'st and defender of slavery he be-
came its bitterest foe, and the most i'm.
placable enemy of the men with whom he
had for years been training. His career in
Congress was remarkable for the intensity
of his passions and prejudices, and the
bitterness with which he as
sailed the Democratic party. He
was the leading prosecutor in the imbeach-
ment trial of President johnson, and left no
stone unturned to accomplish the removal
of that patriotic official. He discovered, q
few years ago, however, that a change in the
political situation was in progress, and at
once took measures to adapt himself to the
new condition of affairs. He first showed
this disposition about the time of the Potter
investigation into the electoral frauds. In
the investigation he rendered important aid
to the Democratic cause, and was at once
read out of the Republican party by his stall
wart associates.
But Butler is not man to be easily
squelched. He had other ambitions besides
seat in Congress-, and these he set about
accomplishing. He devoted his last year in
Congress to cultivating the friendship of the
laboring classes, and soon became their
chosen champion. His object was discov-
cred when 9 year ago he received
the nomination of the workingmen's party
OF Massachusetts for governor of that
State. He quickly followed this advantage bv
capturing the Greenbaok and regular Dem
ocratic conventions, and when the votes
came to be counted he was but q few thou
sands in the minority. Since the election
he has devoted his energies to securing a re-
nomination for the same Office, conscious
that ultimately he would succeed in gaining
the election. He has succeeded in not only
procuring nomination from convention
representing his own personal following, but
has just won nomination from what is
known as the Butler Democracy, said to be
the largest and most respectable gathering
of Democrats ever assembled in Massachu-
sets. His chances of election are therefore
much better than they we're year ago.
Demagogue and disorganizer though Gen.
Butler may be, he has nevertheless served q
useful purpose. He has done more to dis
rupt the Republican party in its chief strong
hold than any other dozen men in the coun-
try, and has given room to hope that even
the old Bay State may yet wheel into line in
the Democratic phalanx. The battle is halt
won when the opposing army is democrat
lied. A gallant sally by united Democracy
will result in sweeping victory Hence we
hold that the good accomplished by Butler
within the past two or three years will 90
far towards atoning for the evil wrought by
him in the past, and entities him to the graf
itude of the people generally.