Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1884-08-19
BUTLEk'S LETTER

Benz. +. Butler has issued his letter 'to
his constituents which is divided into two
parts first, an allrcss to his constituents
"giving account Of his stewardship OF the
political interests with which he was
charged" as Il delegate to the national demo
cratic convention, and second, Il letter of
acceptance to the composite organization OF
grecnbackers, workinsmen and an;i-mono-
poliSts, with farewell 10 everybody who
differs with him, and an invitation TO every
body to join what he terms Il ''lrcop!e's
party" Tie tirurrai undertakes to eX plain
how il WAS thai, cnnticluniny strongly the
records Of both the Democratic and tac re
publican parties, he attended the drmocra.
ii" convention n Chicago, and yc; declines
now. To support the democratic Nominee.
He went 10 Chicago 10 ''pcrmit his unlnc TO
he presented To lie convention for the snf-
fr:lgcs Of the people IL Chief Executive"
provided the platforms Of the grrcEback.
anti-mouopoliSt and labor party. "a vo.crn
hy Gen Butler, shoIIlii he cordially rrceiv
ed and earnestly and honestly adopted ny
that convention - She political chart of the
democratic party" In view OF the fact that
:. better platform than the General carried
with him was preferred by the convention,
| and II better man was easily found than he
lar its choice rs Il candidate, the General
! took umhra2r III its action and decided 10
/ oll. In his address he states ti.al amy
| Candidulurc Of his III that convention be-
came mpusSiaIc' from The moment that he
sub committee on platforms refused To ac-
crpt his wording of the tariff plank, while
| in hi~ letter 10 the Massachusetts democracy
| he states that his refusal Ia IN i candidate
| was in order ITO Withdraw IL much rs posi-.
| bic all persona! considerations from lnterer-
ing with his duties Is their representative.
| Neither OF The two great parties receives
Gen. Buffers approval, and he casllSatcs
both severely, the republicans seemingly
more than the democrats. which is probably
device of the General to help the former
hv taking votes from the latter. The
"principles'' for which lie declares are a.
follows: An increase Of legal tender cur.
rcncy: woman suiliage; opposition TO mo-
uopoics, TO the sale of large bodies Of land
and TO civil service reform n tending TO
create II class OF aristocralic' officials any
| canal across the lSthmuS 10 be within the
control OF the United States finally, the
| formation of a ''pcople's party" which will
solve the hitherto insolublc problem OF Sc
curing to employees high wages by heavily
taxing imported goods, and at The same
time preventing the monopolics which it is
the function of all high tariffs to produce.
The present depressed state OF business j.
attributed in one place exclusively TO ''rc
publican legislation :" in another place eX
clusively to fear of the action Of the dem
orracy in Congress- He says: Il have is
sued this address at ali earlier day thar
had intended, ut the desire Of many trusted
and valued friends but somewhat against
my own Judgment hecausc think that the
peoples campaign should De short, sharp
and decisive one and should not be begun.
in fact, except perhaps skirmish or two,
until some thirty days later; and | had
hoped to have had the advantage of a dis
tinct statement of principles by the demo.
cratic candidate for the Presidency, and as
cerained from his own declarations wheth-
err rccanting some Of his public opinions,
he might not show himself better Than the
ollicia! action of his party has shown itself
by lis platform"