The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-08-22
A POLITICAL STORMY PETREL,
Gen. BENZ. F. Butler Put in the Field
bya Republican Qaartette.

Boston. Aug 15.-The formal retire
ment of Gen. Benjamin F. Butler from
the Democratic party has cleared the po>
litical atmosphere in Massachusetts con-
siderably. Many of the old war horses
maintain that he never came into the or
ganization at all, but merely used its
quarters as temporary recruiting station
for the formation OF the new parties
whose alleged principles he is to cham
pion during the coming campaign
Others, who suffered socially and polite
ally by their advocacy of his claims and
ambitions, feel relieved now that he has
taken up his bed and walked toward the
setting sun of political oblivion, The old
man has been the stormy petrol Of Bay
state politics for number of years. He
remained with the Republican party as
long as it would give him anything To
say that he left because it had become
corrupt or dishonest would be to deny
the theory of natural selection. To say
that he Joined the Democratic party from
sense of public duty or under the i'm
pulse of strong patriotic instinct would
be as absurd as to say that burglar en-
tered a dwelling house to prevent its being
robbed. He simply vibrated between
both parties for his own personal advan-
tage, and abandoned both when they
failed to serve his purpose.
REPUBLICANS TO PAY HIS EXPENSES.
But Gen. Butler is very prudent man,
with all his vagaries and eccentricities He
has amassed large fortune by taking
big fees wherever he could get them, and
never parting with any cash except on a
sort of moral or legal compulsion. TIC
conduct a campaign over the United
States, and for the benefit of a class OF
our population not gifted with large
means. suggested a heavy drain on his
personal bank account. Has he grown
liberal of later In the canvass of 1888
in this state, his contributions to the fl
nance committee, am reliably informed
did not exceed 81 5000, if they reached
that sum. There are thirtyeight state
in the Union, and to organize campaign
and 'enthuse" the boys in each would. al
the lowest calculation cost $40, 900, max
ing total of $390,000 Who is to pa,
this sum? Will Gen. Butler2 Will the la
DNAiHto mi "a ehC SouullJJ VIM Sidihi u
be starving for want of work and NOR
protection? Who will pay the bills? 4
gentleman who has made careful inqui
ry, under the direction of interested par
ties, whispers in my ear-the nationa
Republican committee
And why?" is asked.
Because" he replied, ''Gen. Butler
candidacy will help Blaine
Many are led to credit his theory b
reason of the following little occurrences
the truth of which is vouched for by re
liable gentleman of Boston, and as prom
inent man in social, commercial and pc
litical circles as can be found here:
CONFERENCE ON THE TALLAPoosA.
On Saturday, July 20, Gen. Butler wa
in Portsmouth. The Tallapoosa an alleg
ed man. of~war. belonging to the Unite
States navy, lay at the anchor in the rive
harbor near the navy yard landing. 0
board was the nimble secretary of tn
navy Mr.. William E. Chandler By som
strange combination of circumstances
perhaps. these twosworth les met. Sub
sequently they went on board the ITALIA
poosa and sought the seclusion which til
gorgeous cabin of that excuse for war
ship grants. They were closeted thel