National Republican., 1884-06-18
GEN. pEN nUTLER,s Views.
The Political Situation rs It Appears TO
Him-Ressons why Blaine Ia strong
and Cleveland Weak.

strongest nomination that could have been
made, as IL has turned out.
Reporter. But there seems to be q great
number Of boilers.
Cen. Butler. Moro apparent than real. 1
can remember when Mr.. Webster said of
Taylors nomination by tho whig party, Its
nomination not ct to be made" which was
true; but the popular enthusiasm carried him
through, and tho boilers were whipped in
before election. In Massachusetts, 10000
republicans left tho party in 1878
and 1879, and voted Independently.
But they were not the so-called independ-
ents Of to-day. Their action was a protest
against tho rule Of the republican party,
which was then substantially under tho con-
troll of the men who now bolt Mr.. Blaines
nomination, and James Freeman Clarke and
Charles Francis Adams and their CO. workers,
now having repudiated the regular nomina-
tion of the party, in most contingencies will
return to Mr.. Blaine, certainly rather than
vote for anybody that those men should
support by what party soever nominated.
Reporter. But Is not New York the battle
ground2
Gen. Butler. Yes, and the neighborng
states OF Connecticut and New Jersey. In
Now York this curious political condition
arose. In 1882 10000 to 10000 republicans
voted for tho democratic candidate for gov
ernor, and so many republicans stayed at
home that he was elected by the enormous
majority of $4,000; but with all that ma.
jority he received only some $50 more votes
than did Hancock in 1880. But what was
the republican vote, either actively voting or
remaining silentP 1t was a protest against
the republican administration which had re-
pudiated Mr.. Blaine, and against its nominee.
Mr. Folger, by the republicans devoted to Mr..
Garfield and Mr. Blaine, and but few of them
are the men who now bolt Mr.. Blaine's
nomination. That vote, Of course, will
now go back to Mr.. Blaine. So 1t would
seem to be unwise for the democracy to count
on that vote for carrying the state of New
York. That that vote is not to be depended
upon by the democratic governor who was 50
triumphantly elected is soen by the fact that
the very next year, when the governor
caused his friend to bo nominated as secre-
tary of state-the leading officer on the ticket,
Mr.. Maynard-he was defeated by some
10000 votes, while the rost Of the democratic
| ticket were elected, making o change in one
| year (if anybody could be SO silly as to be-
lieve that the 192, 900 majority of the previous
| year was to DO relied upon as democratic
votos) of $4,000 votes.
Reporter. Who do you think can carry the
state of New York;
Gen. Butler. Pardon me. 1t would
neither be profitable nor proper for me to
| make prophecies, 1t would neither be
interesting nor vslusble but if you desire |
| Will state few facts. Tho governor felt Ii
his duty as matter of administration to veto
the bill which enacted 5.cent fares on the
elevated railroads. That involved O very
large amount of money to be taken from the
middling and laboring classes, who principally
use that railroad, every year, as you will see,
when the statistics show that 97,600,000
people are carried yearly on these roads, the
veto securing to the railroads 10 cents fare
instead Of cents each, making sum OF
S4,S50,000 yearly. If tho veto had stopped
there, perhaps it might have been shown
that this was necessary to bo done, although
IL gave an impetus to tho anti monopolisss
which they never before had; but, the ground
on which the veto was based was certainly
not democratic, and thatwas that there was
no constitutional power in one legislature TO
regulate and abridge privileges granted by a
former legislature to public agency, how
ever oppressive those privileges had become.
Again, 1t has been unfortunate for the do
mocracy that the legislature has passed bill
with the approval of the governor taking
from the aldermen chosen by the people the
| power Of rejecting or confirming tho ap-
pointment of city officers, and that confined
to tho city of New York alone, apparently as
punishment applied to that city because it
gave democratic majorities
| The constitution of the United States and
of every state in the union, framed by our
democratic fathers have placed the control OF
| the appointment of officers in the hands of a
part of the legislative body, and the same
rule has been applied substantially in all
cities. The officers Of the city of New York
have moro important duties and have larger
emoluments than the officers of most states in
the union. IL our fathers were right this
bill is not democratic, but favors the one. man
power That the example was Immediately
attempted to be copied in regard to the city
of Boston by the Massachusetts, legislature,
with two-thirds republican majority, en-
phasizes this construction. If the democrats
will permit the republicans, boiling or regu-
lar, to nominate its candidate for president
for it, why may not this principle be carried
through all branches of our government2
Again, Mr.. Blaine Is a protectionist, and
New York has become the greatest manu-
featuring state in the union, and Connecticut
and New Jersey are in proportion equally
interested in the tariff question. Now,
everybody knows that upon that question
Gen. Hancock was beaten in New York, and
everybody also knows that the establishment
of free trade in this country would benefit
England and her dependencies more than
all other countries in the world. 1t
will be very difficult TO convince large
class Of our citizens, especially those who are
not ut all In love with England or her
institutions or her treatment of Ireland, that
1t is best to vote for the candidate of tho
democratic party in favor of free trade, and
thus to play into the hands of our old enemy
John Bull. Is IL not an admitted fact that to
carry New York Is necessary to tho success of
the democratic party? Can anybody who
cannot reconcile all the differences in the
party in New York, and who will be open to
local antagonisms, carry that state, however
great or high his qualifications may be2
Success at the coming election is not only
the duty Of the democracy, but an indispensa-
BILE necessity; for failing to carry the election
this year gives four more years of power to
the republican party, and under a bold and
daring leader OF great ability, large resources,
and agile policy, who has shown more
political sagacity, and who, by his unaided
efforts, has welded moro po-
litical power than any other man
of the present generation, the party will so
intrench itsolf in possession Of the govern
ment that its hold upon the nation cannot
be Overthrown, in this generation, at least !;
and, If AT all, it will be done by some new
party Of tho people, rising from the debris Of
the present political organizations, moro rad
ical more progressive, and more devoted to
tho interests of the whole people against the
aggression Of the few. This will be tho true
democracy which will make no entanging
alliances with the "mammon Of unrighteous-
ness"
day.
Railroad Matters.
Senator Hampton reported favorably yes
LerdaY from the cOmmittaa on fnilifnrv