, 1884-02-06
pAmsoGUIsM VERSUS DEMO.
2 CRAZY,

- IA -
American politics, and that prince of
political demagogues, Benjamin F.
Butler. of most unsavory renown, who
has Sticky vaulted in and out Of almost
every party and faction in b country
during the past quarter of a century,
has the blatant effrontery to make 1t
appear that he'll be- candidate for the
presidency OF the United States before
the next democratic national conven-
tion-that is, If he can get there, which
is exceedingly doubtful, a. the demo-
cracy has neither use nor respect for
for such a craven creature. 1t was he
who mainly caused the disruption in
the democratic convention OF 1850,
which eliminated in q bad break in the
ranks Of the grand, old t~ime-honored
party Of the people, through the nomi-
nation of Breckenridge upon the one
side and Douglass upon the other. The
history OF that deplorable event is
still fresh 1 n the minds Of many of our
readers. But for that inauspicious
action, the republican party would not
have gained the ~ascendency that 1t did
in 1850, which it has maintained ever
since by means both fair and foul; es-
pecially the latterl Going with the
Breckenridge wing, Butler, though a
New England man, was the most abb
ject apologist fer the ultra southern
wing OF his party, and 30 remained
until utter defeat and absolute ruin
to It appeared inevitable, when, with a
nonchalance really astonishing to be-
hold, he dexterously yaulted clear over
to the other side Of the po-
lltical fence, suddenly becoming
the most rabid Of rabid anti
slavery crusaders in the field. The
antagonism of the two sections OF our
beloved nation was his delight, his
glory and his profit. He was foremost
to enter the van of the militia of Massa-
chusetts, and he then marched denantly
southwark to wage WAT against and
Cypress his former friends and trusting
.coadjutors. What his military career
lacked in brilliancy Of achievements, 1t
fully made up in the vindictiyeness of
its rancor; and this, alike, to northern
ers and southerners who would not bow
meekly before his austere and cruel
commands. How this ambitious man,
with such a dark record, can coolly ask
the people, whom he grossly insulted,
cruelty oppressed and bitterly de-
nounced, for their suffrages is decidedly
hard to Determine, unless 1t be upon
the principle that they, like kicked
dogs, will meekly lick the hard hand OF
their cruel master. But we do not
think that any considerable portion OF
the American people are of this de-
based kind; nor do we believe that
either of the two great national parties
have any use for. or confidence in this
gerrymanderer who seeks always to be
on top in a political fight; or, in case he Is
thrown under, to SOW the seeds of discord
as a balm to his overlooking acerbity
and wounded pride. Even his own
state repudisted his claims, last fall,
for a reelection to the goyernorship
thereof. All indications now point
most conclusively to the direction that
he will endeavor to go before the labor
ing classes of the country, especially In
the large manufacturing centres, and
by srecious pleas and fulsome argu-
ments seek to lead them away from the
bo som of the democracy, where their
best interests wholly reside. But it is
not likely that much success will crown
his peculiar efforts in this direction, az
the mass OF the American voters now
comprehend his tricky ways sufi-
ciently to guard them from heing In
continently led astray by false political
prophets after strange partisan gods.
The interests of the whole country re-
ally belong closely in the keeping of the
democracy, and the people, generally,
recognizing this pertinent fact, will do
well their duty by closing up the ranks
of the noble democracy as the campaign
advances, and, by making a determined
assault upon the citadel OF the r~ascally
radicals, will secure such a grand ma
tional triumph that purity will proudly
prevail in all the public places OF the
nation.
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