The Portland daily press., 1882-10-17
THB DOUBLE HEADER.
Ben Butler Addresses the Democrats and
Greenbackers of Boston.

Ben Butler Addresses the Democrats and
Greenbackers OF Boston.
Boston, Oct. 16.-Gen. Butler spoke tonigb /
at two political meetings in Faneuil Hall and
Music Hall. AT the former place he referred
70 the amusement it afforded him by reading
the criticisms of Republican papers upon his
letter OF acceptance and said There is but one
thing in which they are agreed and that is
that in that letter OF acceptance / had to do
too much with national aud too little with
state affairs. My excuse for not dealing with
state affairs more at length was therein stated
had so frequently appeared before the people
of Massachusetts and shcwR the rottenness of
their state government that they themselves
mad admitted it by taking my reconmenda-
tion after they had beaten ME. So looked 20
see what were the issues of the campaign
He found both Democratic and Republican
platforms dwelt more 6 pecialy upon national
issues and therefore confined his letter more
especially to their consideration. For this he
was branded by Republican editors.
Extravagance OF appropriations of the ma
tional government vas a subject that struck
the national heart and disgusted all good men,
and he attributed the recent Republican defeat
IN Ohio to the passage of the river and harbOr
appropriation bill, and not to the liquor vote.
Geu Butler then proceeded to read editorials .
Of varions Republican papers upon his letter
commenting briefly upon each He continued (:
II have brought before you these opinions to
eHOW you INC luSlDetFltJ Oh bne In5n VINO mau6
them. Now take the subject of civil service
reform There are opinions upon that, and
they are as diverse as they we're upon the rest
of the letter.
Now civil service reform never would have
been necessary in this country if parties chang
ed once in four wears. 1t never need to have
been because in changing officers as often as
you change presidents you give them that term
OF oHce except " here the services are needed
would have been all sufficient for reform.
There is always need of reform in the civil SER
vice whenever any party anywhere; under any
form Of government, holds power for more
than twenty years as the republican party has
held it in this State and this naSion. Good and
true men who are faithful servants and IN plac-
es that cannot be filed readily have been kent
in office under all administrations aud ever
will be. But what is the use of Office in this
country? 1t Is to educate people in the matter
and forms OF government, and the theory of
our constitution is that every man has the right
to aspire to and may be president of the United
States and so of course to fill every other Office
and your selection should be made in such
was as to insure com potency, integrity and eff
cency; and such officer, If he will let alone
politics and not run caucuses and conventions,
will stay great many years in Office under
any administration.
Passing to the subject of the tariff Gen. But
Ter said, there is an attempt to lead working
men to vote the Republican ticket upon the
ground that ii there is any change in the tariff
there will be lowering of wages, and they
justify raising more than hundred mi lions
more than IS necessary by taxation in order to
have protection. am opposed to all that and
the assumption is not true The tariff or any
other tax coming directly out of the people,
out of producers, should be no larger than the
economical expenditures of the government
strictly required, and if any man undertakes to
tax you more than that he simply robs you un-
der forms of law, and having got money badly
he spends it badly. All needed protection to
American labor can be had under such an
Gen. Butler was greeted with loud applause.
He then proceeded to Music Hall where he de-
lvered second speech.