The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-10-25
independent Democrats.


A few influential members of the Demo-
cratic party in Massachusetts, -men whose
democracy is matter of principle, not
merely an unprincipied laundering TO get of
fee and power-have had the manliness to
make public declaration of their purpose
not to support General Butler. They are
better Democrats than the. Simmonses, the
Palmers, and the Ushers, who made up the
cohort of discredited politicians to which
the time-serving leaders of the Massachu-
sets Democratic party incontinently sur
rendered without conditions. But how few
there are of theml There never was time
while Butler was seeking office in the Re-
publican party, and every organ and spokes-
man OF the Democratic party was denounc-
ing not only his politics but his character,
proclaiming his dishonesty and corruption
IS well as his wrong opinions, when ten
times as many Republicans were not in de-
faint revolt. He was never able to obtain a
nomination for Governor in that party
He reformed his badness in no particular;
but being unable, on account of it, to accom-
plish his selfish aims in the Republican par
ty he offered himself to the Democratic par
ty which straightway, almost to man,
hailed him, whom they had denouncedas in
describably base and vicious,as prophet and
apostle of their faith. There is perhaps no
clearer and more conspicuous illustra-
ton Of the difference between the two par
ties in respect of fidelity to the principles of
and ri0hf fhor1 bo fon hot holI
hearted and inscriptions politician like
Butler was rejected by the Republican party
to be embraced with all his errors, and hon
ored with abject submission, by the masses
and most of the leaders of the Democratic
party. When he went over to their camp
substantially the whole army revolted from
the honorable men who had been it's leaders
and threatened them with political death if
they did not abdicate in favor of the preten
der. They refused for little while but final
ly most of them consented to serve or be ST.
lent.
We have always had confidence that soon
OF late General Butler would provoke re-
volt even in that party, for there are men in it
TOO honorable To submit forever 60 his SUI
preme selfshness, and disregard of the pub
lie interest. Such campaign as he Is MAX
Ing Is not only disgrace to any party, but
1t is disgrace to American civilization and
public decency. 1t is simply Kearneyism
without Kearney's excuse Of having been
brought up in ignorance of what is right
and decent Stung by the shame of it,
some fifty prominent Massachusetts Demo
Gratis have found courage to speak out If
the Democratic party were not demoraliz-
ing and tyrannical influence there would be
q thousand instead of fifty; but all men
know that it is singularly destitute of that |
motive Of patriotism TO which appeals Of
unselfshness can be made.
This address, SO clear and rea-
sonable, will not influence greatly the
masses of the party, the men who
are capable of adopting for their hero
a politician, sixty years old, incrusted
in warning and offensive record of treach-
cry, incapacity, jobbery and self-seeking, but |
1t will cause some to pause and reflect, and |
it Is likely TO influence the Conscientious mi |
nority, few thousands, to withhold their |
votes from the candidate of their party.
They have done good and creditable &C.
ton, and in season to save their own honor.
But Butler was already doomed to defeat.
The Republicans who last year voted for |
him, thinking he had learned wisdom and |
would have motive to do well, are cared |
of that hallucination, and the other Repub
licans who indifferently stayed away from
the polls and allowed their own candidate to
be defeated are repentant and earnest to un-
do the evil they permitted. Governor But
Ter will retire from office as he retired from
the war, and from the representation ct two
districts in Congress, in disgrace. BE has
had his last chance to redeem his fame, and
be had not virtue enough to take advantage
Of II.