The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-11-08

There is Lesson in politics to be drawn
from the brief career OF Butlerism in Mas
sschusetts. With no higher aim than sue
cess the Democratic party, in State which
had been we'll governed, was willing tc
take up with man who had fought 1t fol
twenty years, and for as long a time haG
abused 1t as he abuses everything ant
everybody in opposition to him.
It was not an alliance to carry into etlec
some great principle or 10 establish soot
government where bad had ruled. 1twasthl
capture OF great political organization b!
ons man, and the voluntary prostration o
that organization before that one man
The bargain at its best promised to tn
Democratic party mere. success and
sooils. Butler was no more Democra
than he was when donouncipg the Demo
attic party as a loathsome thing. TIL
De nocratic party had no more respect 70
Butler than when 1t was branding him as
thief and beast. But the two came to
gether on common ground-both wanted
to win, and in this sense both so down to
gesher.
AS chief magistrate Butler fatigued {
marvellous ingenuity to dishonor his State
II the wrongs which he held up to TIT
world had been facts instead ofinvenionl
he would have deserved the thanks OF the
people OF Massachusetts. But with him re
form waa mere pretext, q rallying cry BY
which he hoped to strengthen himself fol
reelection and a grand assault, after the
manner OF Tllden in 1915, on the Demo
cratic national convention. Finding him
self in tight place he appealed to the
worst there Is in Massachusetts to hold hin
in office for another term. For indecency
It is doubtful whether tue like OF his per
sonal campaign has ever been seen in this
country. He put upon himself no restraint
whatever. He rioted in loose conyerss'
ton, and debassd himself to reach the
most debased. II was strange sight tc
see in such commonwealth as Massachu
sets. But Massachusetts has rebuked But
Ter and all that, and handsomely redeemed
herself.
Asa political Boss Butler will long be
remembered as the prince Of political
Bosses. In his ragged battalions there was
no will but his own. BY accepting him as
a leader he had made the Democratic party
in Massachusetts confess that it was with
out conscience or sc!frespect, and he kick
ell and cuflsd it around as though 1t had
been IN ill.iavored dog. For the time the
Democratic party in Massachusetts was
swallowed mp in Butler.
What have Massachusetts, Democrats
gained by their year Of DutlelP The salts
fiction Of defeating the Republicans, and
some patronage. That is all, and soon all
that will be as tale that is told. Butler
their triumphant strength, has proven theiI
overwhelming weakness. Their party ia
beaten, disorganized and disgraced. Those
"better element" Democrats who stood out
aud helped to bring Butler to the block
will hesitate sometime before delivering
Themselves up TO the men who ale respon'
sible for the Butler business, and the Butler
men are the bulk Of the Democratic party.
The strong are not likely to bow to the
weak, and The weak are strong enough to
make infinite trouble.
About the only partisan comfort that s
Massachusetts Democrat can get out Of the
situation is that Massachusetts is Repub
lican State.