Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-06-29
BUTLER, HIS BOOK.
The Generals Autobiography
Now in Press.
BRIEF REVIEW OF IT'S CONTENTS.

Work Written Partly to Correct Wrongs
Done to Himself-The "Glittering Gen.
erality'' of Notwithstanding About
the Grim Old Soldiers Boyhood-His
Wife's Devotion-How He Won the
Ten-Hour Fight, and His Action in the
Charleston Convention.
BosToN, June 29.-The autobiography or
General Benjamin F. Butler is now in
press in this city. Its title will be But
ler's Book" and the unique personality of
its writer is stamped all over it-from
preface to the back cover. 1t is dedicated
by the general ITO the good and brave
soldiers of the Grand Army of the Repub
lie In the preface he says: Oaving lived
through and taken part in war the great
est of the century l have been
very frequently called upon by those who
are in their relations to me personal
friends, and to whom I am endeared by
lifelong kindnesses, to give what knowl-
edge | have of the course of conduct in the
action of national politics, and the causes
which ledup to so great results
Personal Wrongs Corrected.
Il desire to correct much of wrong done
to myself by prejudiced misrepresenta-
ton of facts and circumstances as to my
own acts in the service of the country, es-
pecially in connection with the conduct of
its armies. Therefore have thought it
but just to myself and posterity that the
true facts as l know them should be
brought out OF Buffers Book" there
will be two TRANSACTIONS, one into the
French and the other into the German
language. The German 05ition is dedi-
Gated with sincerest respect to the memory
of General the Field Marshal Won Moltke
by the author. The French translation is
dedicated TO f. Sadi-Carnot, president of
the French republic.
''AI Men Are Created Equal
The first chapter gives attention to
blood and breeding. The political
system of this country the general says,
sis founded upon what Rufus Choate once
termed a glittering generality, contained
in the Declaration or independence that
all men are created equal This is a
truth as applied to political rights, i'm
munities and burdens, but an utter alb
surdity so far as it is made to describe
other relations of people" Then he goes on
to argue much as a doctor that intermar-
riage develops weak intellect.
He Was Like other Boys.
General Butler has something very in
teresting to say of his early life and educa-
ton in the country school that he at
tended, where he learned to read with
very little difficulty. Il remained at
home, he says in his story of this expert
ence, during the autumn, and then it was
that our shoemaker gave me the book of
all books for boy-'Robinson Crusoe.
The question was not whether | wanted to
read it, but whether l could be kept from
reading it, so as to do the little matters
that | ought to do, and was able to d,
called in New Hampshire nomenclature
chores. My mother laying aside her
labors, which were quite necessary for our
support, taught and explained the book to
me with great pains"
Was Intended for Minister.
He then tells of his religious training
When boy he knew the four gospels by
heart, not excepting the whole of the first
chapter of Natthe Butler was intended
by his parents for Calvinist Baptist min
lister. When III college, under penalty of
a forfeit of 10 cents for each offense, he was
obliged to attend morning prayer each
day and church twice on Sunday. He re
belled at this, because he did not believe
the theory of Calyinism, and finally he
drew up petition to the faculty to be ex
excused from attendance upon prayers.
He came near to being expelled for this