The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1883-10-18
Ben Butler Speaks.

Ben Butler Speaks.
Butler said at Worcester, about
the body-selling at Tewksbury /:
They had been selling dead bod
les for many years at sixteen to
fourteen dollars for adults, and less
for children. They produced g re
port, saying only five or six bodies
had been sold. asked for the ac-
count. Tom. j. Marsh came and
admitted he had the book in his
pocket, but refused to produce it.
l moved he be imprisoned until he
did. Applause. Think what
this book was. 1t was the account
of what he might do to some of our
fathers, mothers or sisters. For
we all may have some relative come
to Tewksbury. The house of repre-
sentatives to the eternal disgrace
of Massachusetts,, refused to force
Tom Marsh to produce the book.
Cries of ''shame. j" Don't say
shame; that's not adequate.
1 learned that quite number of
our insurance companies were rot
ten, and 1 knew they couldn't be so
unless the insurance commissioner
was thief. Governor Butler then
related about his removal of the
commissioner and the appointment
of his successor. He declared the
man whom he had turned out to be
sneak thief, but they pardoned
him, after conviction, because he
was well brought up. Well, that s
the very reason why didn't pardon
those.
For every democrat convicted of
any crime I'll show two republicans
also convicted. Loud applause.
1 have plenty of ammunition, and
I've got the advantage, for there's
been so few democrats in office.
Now, the Boston Traveller has no
word of rebuke for Mr.. Lodge, but
it says my act was brutal one.
All right to accuse poor man, but
you touch one of those hip tipped
bobtails laughter and applause
then it's outrage.
They say Pm friend of the con-
Wet. Yes 1 am friend to the con-
victs applause |, and all the more
because they haven't any other
friend. Statistics show that the
convicts work better in that prison
now than before. Tewksbury is
now recognized. All the Marshes
save one are turned out, and he will
be very soon. Laughter and APP
plause. He's got to go, for he has
the state enough. In the
matter of legislation, l tried to
have the taxes cut down, but they
wouldn't allow it. 1 vetoed the bill.
vetoed thirteen bills. On account
Of this some, not many, men have
gone back on me. There was
fellow by the name of Nichols, who
demanded not only one office, but
every office. refused him, and
he's organized an Independent par
ty, and now he's going to give a
Tote against me, he and his secreta-
~, and it will cost the republicans
a heap of money to get that vote,
too. Laughter. This is Butler
ism. This is what I've done. They
say 1 have disgraced the state by |
two prisons models and |
Tewksbury a model.
But who is to blame? |, who did |
5he correction of the disgrace, or
5he ones who allowed the disgraceg
The republicans have been starving |
oaupers and selling bodies for
,wenty years; that they don't deny, |
,hough they say they have quit it
low. Laughter 1 have shown
cancerous sore IN the body polite,
have cured it with caustic and
ron, and they say I've disgraced
he state by SO doing. Applause.
have made the state what every
nan may be proud of, and if | have
lone no more good than that, l
ave done all that may hope to do.
But 1 have done more. l have
reused the country to investiga-
ion. But they say you didn't use
Iignified language, and they add,
Well, he didn't know any better.
lie wasn't educated at Harvard
Laughter and applause. There
pom they insulted the whole COM
lonwealth; not me, for 7 didn't ask
Or anything from Harvard. In re-
using me the degree of Ii. D.,
hen they provoked to trial of
its. At the commencement they I
opposed l wasn't well bred enough
D behave properly when / got
here. I vent there and met them d
Ids. DDS Ph.D's, and all the
}. 's-and IT isn't for me to say who
anne out second. Laughter. But
l other places other language
hould be used, plain, clear Ian
uage. ! can't tell about muir
cred woman in childbirth without :
cling how the murder was done. {
erhaps had ought to know how .
, use better language. Perhaps l i
1ght to go to the newspapers to
arn-to that christian paper, the .
raveler, family paper; or to that !,
her paper, which isn't a family o
lper. except that it is devoted to n
ngle gentlemen and their wives, :,
e Herald.