National Republican., 1882-11-25
A Famous Dinner

Our readers are probably aware that
Immediately after the election in Massa-
chusetts Mr.. Oliver Ames gave dinner
to the candidates in the second district
who were elected to any Office by either
party, and, ms a matter of course, General
Butler, who was elected governor by all
parties, though out of the district, was in
vited and joined the festive throng. The
political bearing of the gathering is not
manifest to people outside of the State,
though some of the features may, not un-
naturally, call forth surmises of grave
character or otherwise, according to
the standpoint from which they may
emanate.
The idea was assuredly a new one in
politics. One of the speakers present
declared that the lions and the lambs
were there lying down together, but,
whether that were SO or not, the circum-
stances of the occasion effectualiy pre-
vented the slightest illusion to the lying
done separately during the weeks when
the campaign was proceeding under full
blast, and when slips of memory are not
unfrequent, unless the managers act with
extraordinary care and circumspection.
A former governor of Massachusetts
General Banks-once distinguished him
self by the declaration that "success is
a duty" and this short and striking SEN
tence has become an aphorism of wide
appreciation and vitalic force with all
candidates, before the people, for Office.
On this occasion success was the great
bond of sympathy between the parties,
and lions and lambs both felt a mighty
degree of kinship, which, to put it mildly,
was decidedly dormant while the can
yass was progressing. Indeed, it may be
questioned whether the distinction of
species announced was entirely accurate,
for the feeling and consciousness mani
tested ON the spot indicated large pre-
dominance of the kings of beasts, and
we have been unable TO detect in the ut
terances even the slightest admission
that any one present esteemed himself
In any wise a sheep. The harmony of
feeling at the dinner was hearty and sin
cere. The outgoing Governor Long con-
plimented the incoming Governor But
Ter with choice phrases, and commended
tho Democratic platform as q model in
the way of fair promises and great ex-
pectations; and Governor Butler recip-
rocated by informing those present of
his high esteem for Long, who had done
honor to the State as one of the best of
her chief magistrates, and who might
reas onably expect to render her still
further eminent service.
There WAS an element in the State dur
ing the election, which contributed
largely TO the sending of three more
Democrats to Congress from Massa-
chusetts than the party itself could
claim, which appears not to have been
represented at the dinner, and its absence
indicates that Mr.. Ames may, after all,
not like all sorts and kinds Of success
Ex-Speaker Wade, Mr.. Higginson, and
the Harvard College men were notthere
though their success in slaughtering Mr.
Gambler and Mr.. Bowman cannot be
questioned. Perhaps they were not
invited through fear that their discretion
could not be counted on to refrain from
unpariamentary language toward the
most notable representative Of success
without whose presence the dinner would
not have been specially notable and
characteristic. They should have beer
invited. Their boiling of Gambler and
Bowman was such an encouragement o
tho principle of boiling that fifteen thou
eond other Republicans bCltcd and voted
for Butler, making his success certain
and had they been present at the festiyi
ties, though they mightnot have enjoyee
80 immediate and close association witt
the principal guest, Massachusetts could
never nfterward be tainted with having
celebrated the era Of good feeling with
the political lambs turned empty away