Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-10-25
BEN BUTLER,s ASPIRATIONS FOB THE
PRESIDENCY.
A Curious CHAPTER.

informed politician of that state to STAR re-
porter last night. 'He'S playing for bigger
stake than that"
"What is it?n asked the reporter.
1.-the Presidency of the United States" was
the reply,
stake?"
4nsre1.:-"Yes: he evidently thinks it prob
able, or he wouldn't be eNpending Sd much time
and money laying and working his wires"
.Staa':-" How can he hope to win that high
Ans :" Well I'm not in his confidence, and
can't explain to you all the details OF his plans;
but one of his most intimate friends ana sup
porterS is the manager of the Butler campaign
In my town, and in conversation with him he
has not attempted to conceal the fact that But
ler has his eye-one of them anyhow-on tn
Presidency. This man, of whom now speak.
has been an active republican all his life, and
has been prominent man in that party. He
has held more than one office of Importance, and
ed the party which honored him and to which
he was attached. The secret of it is that he has
faith In Buffers final success and knows that II
the General should attain the high goal he is
seeking that his political fortune would be made.
He would get nothing less than Cabinet posi-
tiOn or flrSt-claSS foreign mission. In fact, he
but right He is one OF the shrewdest and ablest
OF Gen. Buffers managers. He has, may say,
national reputation, and | expect THE STAR
readers will guess whom I mean, though do
Star:-" But isn't 1t f6mJ Tor Butler to even
hope to become President?'
Ans.:-"It appears so to me, but not to him.
he Is man OF boundless ambition, and OF iron
will and fndomitable energy, too. He boasts that
he has never failed in anything he ever under
took"
star" Except to be elected governor
A7&. .:-"Ah, yeS but he doesn't admit that he
endtd."
HIS PLANS.
Star:-" But what about his plans?'
A7tS:-' Well, as l have been able to gather,
he intends to secure the nomination of a third
party. ] suppose the greenback party, indeed I'm
sure of it, because he has been manipulating and
directing that feeble and fast decaying Organiza-
tion-if it can be so dignitied-for long time.
Why he instigated and directed the movements
and votes OF the greenback members of Con-
gress during the extra session: with the excep-
tion of several whose old party ties were stronger
than their love for the new concern. Butler
brought the National Fietr. the greenback paper,
into existence, and one of his henchmen has, in
fact, had control of it from the start. He eX-
pected great things from this enterprise, but
never realized them. My impression is that he
intends to first secure the greenback nomina-
ton for the Presidency, and then endeavOr to in
duce the democrats to endorse him as their can
didate.
HE EXPECTS TO CAPTURE THE DEMOCRACY.
He thinks that by next summer the democrats
will have abandoned all hope Of electing a
straight party man, and that they will be willing
W JUL udIllS WIFI any DOuy NllO Gall OlltE any
promise of defeating the republicans. He would
promise the democrats anything, and, no doubt,
he would fulfill his promises too. He cares
cares nothing for party; if he can attain his pur-
pose by returning to his old democratic love, he
would gladly do SO, aud he would be as stalwart
a.democrat as the solid south could desire"
Sdr:-" But suppose the democrats should re-
fuse to endorse him?"
Ans 81 don't suppose he has gone that far
in his calculations yet. He is man who does
.one thing at time. His job for the present is
to roll up as big vote in Massachusetts as ncs
did last year, and on that he Wrl anneai to % the
greeeonpackers for theI1 nomination. And he will
get it. tHoG. He will have no trouble about that.
They will give it to him unanimously, and be
glad to do It: He knows that, and as soon as the
election in Massachusetts, is over he will begin
to scheme for the democratic nomination or en-
dorsement."
HIS BID FOR THE SOUTH.
!stdr:-"Doesn't he know the southern demo-
Gratis won't support him?"
Ans:-"No His idea is that they would sup
port him in preference to Grant or Sherman or
Blaine. From either OF them they could not ex-
pect anything, but by helping to elect Butler
they could could clail. and get big share of the
spoils. That's about the way he views it, and
you watch and see how he will play his game"
He WILL PLAY A SINGLE STATE.
This piece OF Information recalled an incident
that occurred during the sittings Of the Potter
committee, and which tends to confirm the
statement in regard to General Buffers ambi-
ton. He was a conspicuous member OF that
noted and now historical committee. One day
General Butler and several other members were
sitting around the table waiting for quorum;
and as they could not transact any business they
began to discuss some Of the testimony recently
taken. One of the democratic members remarked
that it was shameful on the part of his party to
have permitted the counting in of Hayes, and
added that it was all Tilden'S fault; that his
want Of nerve and management lost the Presi-
A tlflr q
manner, said: mo; you are mistaken. Nothing
could have prevented the Inauguration of Mr..
Hayes" General Butler, who was just in the act
OF relighting cigar stump, stopped as he was
about to strike the match, and jerking his head
up in that significant way of his, said: 'Now you
are both mistaken. If there had been proper
management neither Tilden nor Hayes would
have been President"
"Who would, then?" asked several, stimuli
taneously.
as he struck the match vigorously.
81 can't see how you make that out" re-
marked the chairman.
EASY enough" said the General; and he
began to smoke away.
"HOw?"
"Ill tell you," he said, removing the stump
from his mouth. III Peter Cooper had, instead
concentrated his efforts upon single state, he
could have carried it. Do you doubt that 2"
Cooking all round) "No," he continued. "Well,
with the money he spent and the backing he
had he could have carried one state. Then,
with the electoral vote of single state in his
hand, he would have had the balance Of power.
vote Of that state, and say Peter Cooper could
have. been President. would have been,
If had been in his place." and the General
more to say. Probably he calculates upon
another close election next year, and intends to
carry out the plan he thought Cooper ought to
have adopted. He might be able to carry one
state and then, should the electoral votes Of the
other states be as nearly evenly divided be-
tween the two parties as in 1876, no doubt the
General will play his one state for all it is
worth.
Not ON THE WARPATH.-A dispatch received
by Adjutant General Townsend to-day from
General Sheridan, says: The commanding OFF,
Ger at Fort Douglas telegraphs that there is no
truth, so far as he can learn, In the report that
the Uintah Utes and Snakes are on the war;
path. He will keep a lookout and report
further.