West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1884-09-19
General Buffers Letter.

General Buffers letter OF acceptance
of the Presidential nominations of the
Anti-Monopoly and Greenback parties
or, as he puts it, his adrcss TO his con
stitucnts-is thoroughly characteristic
of the man. Like nearly everything he
does. it is interesting. There are pass
ages i'm IL which are strong and telling.
and which will make marked i'm
preston upon voters. IL is undoubted-
ly designed as bid for votes but i'm
this respect it does not differ from simi-
lar documents which have preceded il.
and il is only fair TO say that the Cen
cral has put his best foot forward, -
and done it in more effective fashion
than either Mr.. Blaine or General Lo-
gan.
The first portion of the General q
letter is devoted TO an account of his
stewardship as n member of the Demo
cratic National Convention which nom
mated Governor Cleveland Ho shows
that ne was there made member Of
the subcommittee which was chosen TO
prepare tariff plank, and that, i'm
such committee, four Of five resolutions
submittee by him were agreed to with
out division, and the fifth failed of
adoption by q tic vote. There would
certainly seem TO be nothing i'm this
record TO cause the man who made il 10
Withdraw from political fellowship with
those who assisted him; yet this is one
or the reasons the General assigns for
his refusal TO support the nominee of
the convention in which he participated.
General Butler follows this up with n
recital of his failure to get the minori-
~ platform prepared adopted by the
Democratic Convention. Some Of tho
matters covered by his resolutions were
dealt with clearly and fully by the ma
iority report On the simple score Of
n declination 10 adopt his phraseolOgy
in some particulars or his views i'm 9th
crs, General Butler really has no great
or reason for complaint than any Of tho
members who voted for the platform
which he presented He has, however,
the right to choose the course which
seems best, and as a result Of that choice
we have his letter.
There is a sharp contrast between
General Buffers treatment Of the labor
question and that accorded IL by Mr.
Blaine. Indeed. that portion Of the
letter of the former seems 10 have
been penned with especial reference TO
the utterances Of the latter Mr.. Blaine
spoke Of the rich rewards which labor
received in this country. and in6mated
that any frugal man could readily. from
his savings acquire % home for himself
General Butler says: Laboring men
arc out of employment and starving.
after a quarter Of n century OF Repub-
lican rule We have i'm this
country, even in its youth. almost in
fancy as regards the life Of Nations
richer men than in any other country
in the world, and as poor men as any
other country in the world, however en-
slaved that country may be, for a man
can not be poorer than starvation"
General Butler fOrciblc presentation
Of the condition Of tho workIngmcu and
wOrkingwomen Of the United States is
a strong argument against the industrial
policy which has been pursued by the
Republican party, and II shows that the
so-callcd protective system. which is
the pride and boast Of the Republicans.
has built up mOnOpolies and crushed
and Impoverished labor
General Butler diplavs his political
sagacity in the recommendation to his
supporters 10 combine with the opposi-
ton in order to make their influence
felt lie plainly gives his reason for
this course, and his recommendation
will no doubt have great weight with
his fufInUyora fhroughrttf a.. ,.,..,,.f..,