The New York herald., 1879-09-24
MASSACHUSETTS, POLITICS.
General Butler on His Chances
fer the Governorship
BAY STATE PECULIARITIES.
Why the Doughty Candidate Thinks He
Viii Be Elected

by representative OF the HERALD who came to OBJ
tain his views on his contest for the Governorship Of
Massachusetts,. General Butler did not appear to be
in state Of special elation exalation of spirits
over his recent triple nomination for Governor
by republicans democrats and greenbackers; but
the contrary, displayed greater placidity and re-
serve of speech than is usual with him. At the
same time the General kindly consented to answer
all the reporters questions and the following con-
versation ensued:-
General came to obtain your views on the pres
ent aspect OF your candidature for the
of Massachusetts"
"My candidaturc" General Butler replied with
elaboration. s protest against the wrongs and the
malalniinistration which crept into the govern
ment of the State from the fact that party has
been allowed to reman in possession of it for quar-
ter of u century"
FIGHTING AN EVEN RATTLE
"And do you think you will be elected General?"
II should not be in this campaign" was the Gen.
erals dry reply, 'if did not think that should
meet with success. And." he added sententiously,
81 am always willing to fghr an even battle-nevcr
q hopeless one.'
"Do you think tho state of popular sentiment in
your State is favorable 30 your prospects?"
Eyes. think the people are determined to have n
change, and this time going to take matters into
their own hands Indeed, all parties know that
change is needed" With grim smile General
Butter added:-"Its always your old. conf
DENTAL clerk, your DID, trusted bank pres-
dent or cashier who cheats you, your
new one. Look at Fall River, for instance.
and see the results of long continued trust and
fdence. It's the same with parties The long con-
tinuance i'll Office Of any party breeds corruption
however good the individual officers may be; it
creates sinecures; parasites creep in large expen
lpnx
and no one wants to change anything after it has
once grown into settled practice"
Every true," tho reporter interpolated.
TELLING ANEcDorE.
''They tell a very good anecdote in France illus
tratng this point" the General continued with q
quiet smile. "The newly appointed governor of o
certain fortress assembling his command discov-
cred sentinel posted at point where there no
earthly need OF him The point was secure beyond
to Keep q sentinel there He inquired
why he there. No could tell
the last thirty years. The thing puzzled the Gov
ernor that he determined to get at thu bottom Of it.
Governor OF the fortress who was in command
thirty years ago had some children who were wont
play on tho sraps er on ,has the sentinel
fall OIL he had railing put up, and
had the railing painted to mako it look
against the paint tho sentinel was posted at tho
place to warn visitors to keep of the railing. Well
the paint had dried and roted, the railing had been
| taken down the children had grown to manhood
| and womanhood and the Governor had died, but the
sentinel was still kept there before-he had got
once into an easy government position. and had to
| continue in his sinecure." The General laughed
| heartily as he finished the anecdote
Tho conversation turning again to his political
General Butler said that he knew very little
OF 1t, as he had been away from home for the last
milwaukee, Nil % at the annual meeting Of the managers % Of
| tho National Soldiers Home The General COM
planned Of the "bogus interviews to which, he said.
| he had been subjected by some Of the Western
| papers and notably the Chicago Tribune.
NOT A swEAREn.
The reporters had made him swear like trooper
in the reported conversation and represented him
as though he could not open his lips without vol.
| ley of oaths
| III do not care copper" he said "what others
| may say of me. but do care what they make me
say. and in putting into my mouth such bad
not possessing the instincts Of gentleman. But
| them" he added, dryly. 81 suppose ought not to
never seen good. honest bank note. think swear
| ing is a bad habit. although there occa-
| sions when there seem to be no other adJectives
| strong enough to lend sufficient force to your
| meaning; still it's bad habit"
"How many times have you already fought for tho
"I was democratic candidate in 1859 and in 1860.
and i'll 1871 candidate for the republican nomi-
nation, but was cheated out OF it-they counted
| 81 more votes than there were In the Convention
\ Last year ! ran rs an independent candidate for
Governor. and received about 10000 votes. and
|
THAT was not great hgurc.
"Well. Mr.. Curtis said OF his wound, 1t was not
as deep as well or as wide as church, but twas
enough. There were four candidates In the field. q
republican prohibition. straight democratic and in
| dependent democratic canddate.'
'You drew the bulk of your votes from the demo-
| cratic side. did you not p
Eyes; and should have undoubtedly been elected
with the aid OF the republican vote which recc we'd,
but many of the republicans who would have voted
for deluded by the claim of tho republicans
that they would mend matters II they only al
REFORMED.
"what arc the particular abuses which You would
"weIl. they are patent facts. we'll known in our
State. though. being mostly OF local character they
sevcnfold what they wero before the war
and our debt is also seveniold Our government is
both useless and expensive. and. like all
boards. are mere shields for wrong doing.
An individual who has received his power direct
from the people can always be mado to suffer- but
this.sort of government through commissions takes
the power OF government away from the people.
We had nineteen Of these commissions last year.
Since then they have abolished Ave and created three
new ones.
But would it not requires change in the consti-
tuition TO alter this?'
"No. the whole thing is unconstitutional our
constitution required every officer to be elected by
Governor, and have boards of Agriculture of
Prison Inspectors. Harbor OF Indian
Land Commissioners and of everything else. We
had some little remnants OF Indian lands to SELL aud
an Indian Eand Commission was appointed for the
purpose IL TOOK them sevon years To sell the land.
They got $4,000 for the land, aud 1t them $40
to sell it. It's merely system OF jobs for favorites" "
"JUsT TRY Mel"
"Will you and your leading opponent canvass tho
State personally side by sideg'
IL never got an opponent to do that" s(ioneral
Butler replied with grim smilo Of self-compla-
cency.
| "would you bo willing to do it?'
just try me- was the reply In tone which vul-
gar parlancc would have translated into "You bet'
Last year travelled 5000 miles. and made seventy
hve speeches IN twenty-six days. think can do
the same this year. We shall have lively times be-
| tween this and November"
''What You say about tho necessity of change in
politics; does 1t apply also to national aiyairs?"
"Undoubtedly. tho republican party would not
have remained in power long but for the fact that
Whenever any great question which q
broad issue could be made between tho ins and tho
outs, some bloody outrage riotous demonstration,
somo Kuklux Yazoo affair always occurred
to soidify the people OF the South and also that Of
the North which has been very unfortunate for tho
country"
THE GnEEEBACK PARTY.
"Do you rely much upon the Greenback voter
stirceuDnCk n