The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-08-19
eENBRAL BUTLgR,s ADDRESS.

lished in this issue of the Journal is charac-
teristic of the man. His supreme but
apparently unconscious egotism is visible
throughout, and Benjamin F. Butler is the
State polity revolye as satellites. Were the
writer any other than the bizarre Butler, the
whole thing would be laughed atlas absurd; but
the eccentricities have all been discounted in
advance, so that the letter will be read with
considerable interest. 1t is not here intended
to cast ridicule on. the honorable gentleman,
nor to underrate him, but simply to accord
him his proper estimate in acknowledging his
abilities as public man and his still greater
shrewdness in manipulating those about him
and in keeping himself prominently before
the public eye. Ben Butler as the Democratic
nominee would have been formidable candi-
date; as the irregular nominee of unorganized
dreamers in the field of politics, he is so much
more prominent than the 'parties" behind
him that he overshadows them and makes a
larger front than the strength of his few fol-
lowers warrant.
Throughout the letter he presents the little
end of the spy glass to the public, himself pos
ing majestically, not to say picturesquely, in
the larger end. 1t was ''I' who went to Chi
cago as your chosen representative; it was 'I'
who presented your claims in committee and
before the convention; it was ~ who said to
them "God help you 4 cannot" 81" was
well treated there, but your claims were con-
temptuously rejected and your allegiance
spurned; so that "p' now champion your
wrongs not mine-and so on.
But while General Butler is stickler for
a certain kind of principle in politics. he is not
unmindful Of the main chance, and proposes
to make the best of his opportunity. He
minorities naturally sympathize, he argues,
and his constituents must cultivate the minor
ity party in all places possible, asking no
questions concerning their politics or pref
erences. Never was the fight for
electoral votes made on holder and
simpler grounds. We want electoral votes,
on principle, if possible, but we must have
them. That he thinks the Democratic party
made a great mistake in not nominating him,
is apparent, and his eulogy, written by him
self, points out the immense advantage his
candidacy would be over that of Cleveland
Addressing his constituents, he says:
'You have one advantage in your candi-
date: you will have to spend no time in de-
Tending him. His doings have been known to
the country for more than quarter of cen
fury. Every act of his life. has been under
microscope, lighted by the lurid fires of hate
and Islander. He is yet unframed, and has
no opinion to take back, no policy to recant,
and no just charge to explain for what he has
done either in peace or in war;
The letter indicates that at least one candi-
date is not afraid to wave the
bloody shirt, and to invite the cry
''jjingoism." He thinks elections should be
made free in the South, and that no Panama
canal should be constructed without the dis
tinct understanding that the United States
expects to control it whenever the occasion
demands.
As was to be expected, he devotes almost
the entire letter to fine words for the laboring
classes, and so wrought up does he become
that one might be excused in regarding him
as horny handed laboror himself, instead Of
dress suit and boutonniere. But, with all the
parade made by this daring man, it must be
conceded that he has reached the zenith of his
political life, unless the remote possibility Of
the withdrawal of Cleveland and the substitu-
ton of Butler be realized