The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-09-27

developed therein, approve the energy and per-
severance shown by the Governor to prevent
waste and secure economy in State institutions.
ihe NTH commends Butler TO the people of
the State as the only volunteer soldier ever
elected Governor of Massachusetts, and urges
his reelection, and the sixth oOmmends the
nominees for State offices.
While the resolutions were heing read, the
presence of Governor Butler was announced,
ana the convention rose and cheered him as he
was escorted to the platform. After the APP
plause had subsidized, he addressed the oonven-
tion He SAID that the people of the Common
wealth, and all who were in favor OF reform
ana good government, had ratified the nOmina-
ton last year. 1t now remained for him to give
an account of his stewardship. He had made
recommendation, but not one of those recon-
nendations passed the Legislature, which sat
longer than any Legislature ever sat before,
ana much longer than he hoped any Legislature
would ever sit again.
one OF his recommendations was to protect pas
sengers on railway trains from murderous OBJ
structions. AS 1t was q recommendation of the
executive, of course it did not pass. Another no.
table case was the refusal to remove a constitu-
Iona restriction upon free suffrage the poll tax.
he asserted that the great Republican party,
with which he had acted in good faith In giving
free suffrage to negroes at the South refused the
same boon to white men at the North. Many
measures passed by the Legislature were so de-
feotive in form that they did not even
press, and ten times over it was neces-
sary to send to the chairman of the COM
mittee which prepared them in order to have
them put In proper form. which was done iR-
stead of vetOing them. This happened no less
than ten times Thirteen bills were vetoed, one
OF which was so bad that only four Republicans
could be found to vote for its passage over the
veto. Among the rest, one only, that to pay in
creased salaries to clerks and the Sergeant-at-
arms, was passed over the veto. The Legislature
passed in all its sessions no single measure OF
puDllc Importance except the annual tax
bill and the annual appropriations
Governor Butler. protesting to feel
no anxiety for his own election, begged his
hearers to send him legislators this time who
nave minds of their own, and not have to run TO
the Republican State central committee before
making up their minds any topic. There
were, he said, eight of his cOunselIors who
agreed with him in private conversation, but
disagreed after having gotten their instructions.
In questions of a financial and economic nature
tween them. He asked that he might now have
somebody to back him. When he came into
once 6H thu ne bo4nd the Governor ued down own
liver among the Liiliputians. He could
not then appoint a colored messenger. He re-
viewed, approvlngly, all his acts as Governor,
and continued: "The Republican party says
General Butler must go; but he is satisfied to
risk his chances of going to heaven on this is
sue, and is willing to risk his with the right
feeling men and women Of this Common wealth."
If the people of the Common wealth would show
him man who honoraby and with energy car
ried out the work of reform in State institutions,
diminishing the tax, standing up for the poor
who have no other friends; and, being always
true to himself, GOD and the Common wealth, he
would step down and yield him room with
more pleasure than had ever attended any other
act of his life. Next year will attend to mat
tiers outside, and If we faithful over few
things, The Bible tells us.we shall be placed over
many. If we do our duty can show that
this country is what our fathers made 1.-THE
model commonwealth of the world. We will
make her what she was when Webster said,
there stands Massachusetts look at her. II
anybody should say that to-day, fear somebody
would reply, 'and there stands Tewksbury, look
at her. L want 10 wipe out all that, and all
other disgraces."
The Governors speech closed with the remark
that he had left his reputation with the plain
people OF Massachusetts. Fifteen members of
the State committee were appointed, and the
convention adjourned