The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1882-12-06
The New England Elections.


One of the surprises of the November
elections is the triumph of Butler in
Massachusetts. 1t is many years since
the Bay State elected Democratic
Governor. In 1874, by singular and
almost unprecedented combination of
circumstances, Massachusetts, went
Democratic for the first time since the
firing on Fort Sumter. In that year
CASTOR. Democrat, was elected by a
majority of about 1000. 1t was then
charged that Butler was responsible for
Gaston's election. At that time Butler
was acting as Republican, and, in his
race for the nomination of his party, he
so far divided the Republicans that the
success of the Democratic candidate
was assured. 1t is good illustration
of the overwhelming nature of the
''tidal wave of 1882 that b. F. Butler
should ride in upon its crest Governor
of Massachusetts, after so many years of
importantly and of disappointment.
No more bitter pill than Butler could
have been commended to the old-fash-
ioned Democrats and the eminently re-
spectacle Republicans of Massachu
sets. If we can imagine college of
Cardinals entertaining the Prince of
Darkness at dinner, we may gain afaint
idea Of the loathing with which, by and
by, some of the foremost citizens of
Massachusetts will behold Benjamin (.
Butler take his place on festal occasions
among the notables of the Common
wealth. Butler will have need to be on
his good behavior. His has been an er-
ratio and variegated career. He has
been accused OF practicing every art
known to the practiced demagogue. He
has never been suspected of statesman
ship or political honesty. This is his
opportunity to show that he can be dig
nified, honest and efficient Chief Mag
istrate. 1t is not impossible that he will
make the best use of the occasion, and
that he will confound his enemies by
making good Governor. Hampered
as he will be by Republican prepon-
derance in the State Government
Executive and Legislative-he will,
nevertheless, have many chances to
fulfill some of the many promises OF
reform which he has made. In any
event. Butler. as Governor of Massa-
chusetts, suggests mu h that is pictur-
esque, unique. and even retributive.
The Republican overthrow in Massa-
chusetts is chargeable to apathy and
listlessness. But the narrowness of the
escape from de;eat in New Hampshire is
due, rather, to q revolt against tine
Secretary of the Navy, Mr.. William Z.
Chandler. This member of the Presi-
dent Cabinet is credited with a plan
to thwart the purposes of the long-ac-
knowledged leaders of the Republican
party OF New Hampshire. 1t was
natural that the dictum of the Secre-
tary of the Navy, landing in the State
in the midst of the preliminary cam
paign of his party, and coming direct
| ly from the intimate companionship OF
the President, should have great weight
with the New Hampshire Republicans.
1t is not certain how far the Secretary
of the Navy exerted his influence and
authority. But it is certain that the
nomination of Mr.. Hale was one of the
points insisted on by Secretary Chand-
Ter. And now that Mr.. Hale's nomina-
ton has put the party in great peril and
brought it within a few votes of defeat,
it is natural that many Republicans will
hold Mr.. Chandler responsible for the
Republican losses in New Hampshire.
1t will be charged that the Secretary OF
the Navy represented an irrepressible
desire on the part of the Administra-
ton to meddle with party management
in the several States. And the enemies
] OI WIN arc hOlbuCI low
nor inactive, will say that a Cabinet of
ficer who undertakes to "run" the
politics of his own State, and who
brings his party near defeat, is fit sub.
| ject for Executive discipline, to say the
least.
Connecticut, too, has been swept
away by the prevailing current. the
Democrats having carried the State by
fair majority. 1t is hardly worth
while now to attempt to analyze the
causes which have produced this unto
ward result. But it is fair to presume
that many Republicans who have had
reason to complain of the arrogance OF
their party managers are saying 1--WE
told you So" as they contemplate with
composure the political deluge. The
condition of affairs in Ohio, New York,
and Pennsylvania also demoralized Re-
| publicans and greatly encouraged their
antagonists. 1t may as well be admitted
that if Maine, Vermont and Rhode
Island were not already safely out OF
the way they would have been swept
| by the wild November food of 1882.
AS it is, these three States are the sole
survivors of Republican New England.
m Y Times.
The Australian Medical Journal tells
of. a man a portion of whose skull,
measuring three and half inches by
one-fourth inch, had been carried away
! by a circular saw. His wound healed
easily in twenty-seven days, and he put
up with bald head with much equa-
nimity. The paper describes him as be-
ing of "a placid and unexcitable TEN:
permanent" and the surgeons seem to
think he was somewhat amused by the
accident.