The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-10-10

! has put up Its ticket this week, ana, In the
words of Charles Lambs Mrs Battle, We
may say that there is ga clear fire and a
clean hearth" and now for 'the rigor OF
the game" Three of these conventions
those Of the greenbackers of one and by far
the most numerous faction of the democrats,
and OF the self-styled independents, who
really are q faction of tho republicans
adopted General Butler for their candidate
for Governor; the regular republicans have
nominated Nj. John d. Long, young
Boston lawyer and politician. not hereto
fore known outside of his State; the regular
democrats have selected Mr.. John Quincy
Adams upon whom to throw away their
votes and there is also temperance or
''prohibitionist" candidate. The only real
! contest, of course, is between General
Butler and Mr.. Long, with chances which
at the present stage Of the canvass seem
pretty evenly balanced. The other two
tickets are merely subsidiary.
! As soon as the Ohio election gets out of
the way this apparently complicated and
really simple Massachusetts, broil will grow
more interesting and attract more general
attention. Not because any possible result
of it is likely to make the electoral vote of
the State doubtful next year, for Massa-
chusotts is quite as sure to be republican
in the Presidential election as Kentucky is
makers in Mr.. Longs behalf addresses the
same argument to dissatisfied republicans
there which is so potent here in behalf OF
Mr.. Cornell, that it is necessary for the
party to vote solidly in 1879 in order to
show the country it's ability to carry tho
State in 1850. On General Buffers side,
by deliberate intention, the debate is
vigorously limited to local matters,
having no direct relation to national
affairs. Probably he will not hazard
public acceptance of the nominal
ton of the grecnbackers, lest he may
thereby trespass from this policy. If he is
elected his success will not justify pre-
tence that his constituents are not as sound
defenders ofspecic resumption as any COM
munity in the Union. The real interest of
the canvass arises from three sources -
First, from General Buffers peculiar per-
sonality; second, from the proof his
capacity to create a powerful personal
party for q temporary purpose affords Of
the present slackness of all political ties,
and, third, from it's demonstration Of a
great change in the character and distri-
button of the population OF Massachusetts
within the brief limit of one generation.
Mephistopheles certainly is an, interest
ing character, whether on the mimic stage
or in real life. and among all American pol
iticians, past or present, General Butler has
the best claims to that title. Like his pro-
totype he seems to keep DEVILS record of
the faults and foibles, deceits and desires,
ambitions and anxieties OF men whom he
may have occasion to encounter, cons it
frequently. indexes it carefully, and
whenever they cross his path lie has
only to ransack his memory or refer to
an unsavory pigeonhole for material to at
tack them MS enemies, win them rs associ-
ates or subvert them into instruments In
the Middle Ages persons who worked by
such means were supposed by the supersti-
tious to possess supernatural powers
deed to be embodiments OF the Evil One
himself; and perhaps there is better toun-
daton for such u belief than our age will
admit. However that may be, an analysis Of
General Buffers careerw will show how very
much methods OF this sort have contributed
to most OF its successes. VIGOROUSLY they
have been largely employed in railying his
present political following. A corre-
| spondent of the HERALD not long
ago described the Butler combination
in Massachusetts accurately as Adulamites,
comprising every one that is in distress,
every one that is in debt and every one
that il discontented." 1t In difficult to
conceive that any meritorious reform OF q
State government can result from the sue
! cess OF such n combination as this, and
| yet it would be unfair to ignore that there
are great many fair minded men among
General Buffers supporters, who think that
the experiment is worth trying as a
nauseous alterant. The rule of the repub-
licans in Massachusetts, has been uninter-
rupted tor n quarter OF century. The
year 1875 was no exception, for although
there was then democratic Governor he
was hedged about with a republican Coun-
Gil ami republican Legislature.
SO long n period of absolute power
has indurated abuses Of admins
tration very like those which are
potent arguments for dsplacing the
republican party from charge of the gov
eminent of the nation. All the avenues to
political prcicrmont are barred against
everybody save such MS u regency selects
Tor admission, aud the section of General
Butlers supporters to which we now are
referring deems it over-nice to refrain from
breaking down these barriers out OF disgust
offers itself for the purpose.
This dean seated and honest desire for IL