New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-01-19

a DEMOCRATIC SENAT0RL4L NO UIN4TION.
bEngulfed! And scarce a ripple rises over the
spot where nc went down. Ore. would not
have supposed two or three years pFO that any
party could have taken Iutojts embrace Nc.
Benjamin F. Butler and so little noise DO maze
about it. even though be were obliged TO make
it himself. But yesterday morning the world
woke up and read in its mornings dispatches, in
the curt brevity of a six-liDe paragraph. the an
nouncement that the Democratic members OF
the Massachusetts Legislature had nominated
by a unanimous vote in caucus MT. Benjamin
F. Butler as their candidate for United States
Senator; and the world made no sign of aston
ishment, but went on unmoyed to the next item
in the c0lumn. And yet this is q man who for
the past dozen years has kept Massachusetts
awake nights aIel all a-shiyer with his noisy
marches up and down the State, his appeals to
the people, bis banging at the doors OF eau
cuses, his sieges OF State Conventions, his ever
lasting clamOr to be adm tilted somewhere where
no was not wanted. and his unceasiag demands
for an Office the people would not give him.
All at once, without 80 much as q shrek from a
1avisbed CAUCUS protest from discouraged re.
spectability, or a strain from q hired brass
III,
Massachusetts, Democracy swing broadly open
and they send out fOI him to give him their
nomination for the highest Office at the States
disposal. Twelve years pelting with clubs and
stones all the trees in the orchard haze brought
him little fruit. and that little green and
puckery, till now in n moment OF calm ripe
apple falls plump upon him. Ripef Well
perhaps little more than ripe.
Times are somewhat changed since this
rough-rider used to gallOp through the State on
the eve of State Conventions, Fighting the
souls OF fearful adversaries with his p. oclama-
tons that he was the choice OF the Republican
masses for Governor and that nothing could
stop his nomination. Those were the days when
Massachusetts responsibility used to gather it.
self together in solemn protest against his inn
pudent advances; rally desperately against him
in the caucuses; canvass itself dOubtfully in
the Bay State House at Worcester the night be-
forehand: 90 into the Convention with fear and
trem bling; beat the bold raider out OF his
boots draw long breath, and go home reioic-
ing that for. one year more the danger Vas
passed. In those times MIR. Buffers candidacy
meant business, and good deal Of it, for Massa-
chusetts politicians. 1t was sharp, hard fight
ing, hand to hand and foot to foot, between Mr..
Butler and his determined Republican oppo-
nents, who, without beating about the bush,
said simply that they opposed his nomination
because IN their belief it would be no Credit to
the Commonwealth to have him for Governor.
And when it was all over; when Mr. Butler.
after many assaults and failures, had raised the
siege and gone over with his scaling ladders 10
capture the other party by an entrance through
the secOnd-story windows, they boosted win a
great deal OF pride that he had never gotten
away either with the Office of Governor or the
Republican nomination for 1t. He was for q
long time q continual worriment to Massachu-
sets Republicans, but IL may at least DO said of
him that he impair ted an eleWent Of unusual In
terest 10 Conventions that might otherwise have
been dull, and for a considerable time made
the game OF Massachusetts, politics o source of
entertainment to outsiders.
There's change, too, aimee the time when BIS
forces broke into the seeond-story window of
the Democratic State Cony ention, and, having
possessed themselves of tho hall, captured the
nomination of that party tor Governor. That
foray illustrated the infinite divisibihty Of
matter Il broke in two party that had been
supposed too small 10 be divided. The respect
able Democracy fed away and organized q bolt
against him at Faneuil Hall. With his securing
the shadow OF the Office he sought his ambition
IN that direction seems to have died. Since
then he has ceased raidIng; he has suhslded
into comparative quiet and Bay State politics
have become decently and decorousIy dull