The Labor enquirer., 1883-10-06
Wendell Phillips on Butler.

Wendell Philips sends the following
characteristic letter to The Advertiser:
The journals say have changed my
views in regard to Gov. Buffers re-eleC-
ton. This statement, like more than
half the journals say about me, is a mis-
take shall hail his reelection next
wear as vast stride toward relieving the
state from the republican incubus which
weighs so heavily upon it. If | could |
would try to rally a temperance party,
but the temperance men have always
betrayed us at the polls; or | would try
to. rally greenback party, since the
greenbackers have only half done their
work. True, the greenback is now
national currency, and without making
it 80 specie resumption would have been
impossible. But we must not rest with
this victory. We must make It the only
national currency and remand gold and
silver to the list Of merchandise But
have labOred with others for fifteen
years to gather labor party, a wOmans
right party, a temperance party, or
greenback party. We had our loss and
labor for our pains. In my judgment the
time has not come to rally a party on
either of those lines, and the idea loses
more than it gains by such a premature
attempt
Outside Of politics one has no reason
to complain touching the progress of
ideas. Those which interested me have
had marvellous and most unexpected
progress during the last twenty years.
The slave is a voter. The public ten
years ago was deaf as an adder to the
claim of the Indian He has fought his
way to hearing. The wOman's rights
movement touches its triumph. do
not despair Of living to see the right to
issue bills taken from the banks and the
nation furnished currency wholly of
paper. The unpledged politician may
| ignore the Temperance movement bat
| all thinking men see that universal suf-
frage is sham, while rum rules the
great cities. The labor cause, like the
helmet in Walpole's romance, almost
fills the political arena and awes men tc
listening.
But at present tn ere can be only two
political parties. The republican is one,
distrust and despise the republicans as
hypocrlts and time-servers. as double
dealers, as soulless carrion masquerading
in the grave clothes of their honOred
predecessors. They have no right tc
seek their candidate among high-minded
and honorable men. Let them choose a
| fitting leader from among the Tewksbury
marshes, the peddlers Of poor mems
| bones. Tne movement which uphOIds
Butler is the protest Of honest men
against all this. Including within it
many very evil elements, this movement
is supported by some Of the best and
most earnest men in the state. Its sue
cess will grind to powder the dead weight
that strangles and ch okes us, as the anti,
slavery rising buried the whig relics be-
yond resurrection. Such success will
give the living hearts and honest men OF
the state room and chance for a move,
ment to recognize women, protect labor
redeem the cities from rum, and give lis
a currency that will help an d serve busi,
ness, instead of cramping an d undermin,
ing it, as the bank monopoly and this
currency do now. Consequently | have
not feigned my views about Butler, but
think he ought to be reelected, and that
he may safely challenge comparison as to
careef and conduct with any prominent
political character in the state.
WEN DELL PHILLIPS.