The Portland daily press., 1880-09-03
CHANGES THAT THE YEARS BRING.
What the Argus Had to Say about Ben
Butler in 1879.

In 1872, August 9th, Gen. B. F. Butler ad.
dressed Republican meeting in this city. In
its issue the next day, August 2Sth, the Argus
had the following references to him. The
Argus elegant extracts will be found very en-
tertaining reading by Buffers Democratic au-
dIence tonight:
Ben Butler says that any soldier who votes
for Greeley is a traitor. Will somebody abot-
tie up'' the abusive Ben? The soldiers do not
accept as authority in such matters the man
Charleston convention.
Ben Butler was the hardest pill the boys had
to swallow, and there were many sinister re-
marks about Big Bethel Fort Fisher and
Dutch Gap. But such little things never dis
turb Ben: He fixes that dexter eye upon his
object, whether it be the Gubernatorial chair
OF Massachusetts or dozen spoons, and moth
ing but fate can stop him. He likes Grant be-
cause ne can use him, which he never can the
next President, Horace Greeley.
Inc chairman then arose and said that he
should next introduce the hero of New Or
leans. No, h was not the hero of New Or
leans (Astonishment.) That was Command
er Farragut, but he is the hero of New York,
for he gave them an honest election. The
hero, who while Gen. Burnside had been
speaking, had been quietly chewing a cigar,
advanced to the front, Strengthened back and
displayed his fair proportions, and with cap
tivating smile received the enthusiastic cheers
given him, and looked as innocent as though
he had never seen spoon, and then, with that
persuasive tongue of his the would-be Gov
ernor of Massachusetts, began.
How delightful to the Maine soldiers must be
to have this hero of Fort Fisher come down
here and try to teach them their duty in the
present campaign How lovingly will they
the lips Of this pure patriot. How
fondlyS do those members Of the
18th, 18th, 14th and 10Th regiments cherish
his memory as they look back to the time when
he SO carefully cared for them on that "lone,
barren isle" in the Gulf of Mexico. One lit
tie incident occurs to the writer, which may be
appropriate to his present visit, inasmuch as
1t recalls some of those sweet words in which
he daily addressed his followers.
detachment from these four regiments
was unloading freight from vessel that lay
the wharf at Ship Island. A severe "norther''
was raging, pitching and rolling the ship about
so that the men were unable to work without
holding on to the rigging; not doing it to suit
Cen Butler, foaming. with rage, he called out
"You id fools, don't you know anything?
wish had powder enough to blow you to
hill"
The members of the 18th regiment may also
remember when he ordered them to disem-
bark from the steamer at Hilton Head at
night, and sleep on the beach without tent or
blanket, and when the surgeon of the ship
protested against it as a dangerous thing, he
replied. "Any soldier who can't sleep there to-
night without getting sick, the sooner he dies
the better; we don't want him." These and
thousands OF other little marks of kindness
are treasured up as sweet mementoes.
1t is gratifying to know that the pure and
saintlike Mr.. Butler produced and exhibited
live Ku-Klux upon this occasion, horns, (Mr.
Perry will please make note) tail, mask and
supposed that only stuffed specimen would
be presented, but Butler would not go back on
brother and the great South American Ku-
Klux was paraded lifesize. The only question
that arose came from innocent countrynen
X,, III,