Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1892-09-08

Inc general then aided that his eye,
sight troubled him greatly. and il was
very difficult and almost impossible FOR
him To read the fine print of the daily
papers
suggested a talk on the force bin rs
an issue, and his remarks Well deserve
To 20 into history as the best two-si3ed
statement that has yet been given to
the public from any single Individual ON
this mOmentOus question. quote him
verbatim ct literatim: 4 don't see how
il can be called an issue in the cam
paign. l have never considered it 50.
Its fate was settled by the last con
gress.
But it is in the republican platform
now" INTERCEPTED
1T ought not To be there The fact
of the matter is | could never see any
force in the bill. 1t hadn't particle Of
force. Even if enacted it would have
been ineffective. Now. if there is such
a condition as is claimed to exist in the
south the bill should be ten. fifteen, a
hundred times stronger. If there is no
such condition. express no opinion on
that point-then it was simply intended
TO have an appearance of force to quiet
the north"
From the force bill l dropped easily
to the peoples party.
Il have actually paid no attention to
it, said he. II will not say that it was
for lack of interest, for it was not, but
because | was unable to read the fine
print in which the platform and
speeches were printed. So can frank
" say that don't know what is in the
platform and have never discussed that
party for five minutes at a time. New
issues have arisen of late the develop
ment of which have not carefully fol-
lowed
1.-The tariff? / have seen no reason
to change my views on that subject of
late. have always been in favor of
protection to American industries
Then on that issue you favor Mr..
Harrison's election?'
A quizzical smile played over the
never caricatured features as he re-
marked
4 haven't lost my democracy yet"
In what do you agree with democ-
racy?"
IT would be hard to tell,
'Is the question of Capitalization of
power one in which you believe the par
ties fundamentally divided?"
Il don't think there is any real differ
ence of opinion between the parties on
this topic.
Then the general hesitated for a mo-
ment, began to tumble about among
his papers, and finally came out with
bit of plain spoken truth: For twelve
or fifteen years after the war | was
actively in politics, and during that
time l didn't agree with either of the
parties, and l don't agree with them
now"
l asked the general concerning his
health, and he felt that had at last
reached subject on which he could
talk easily and perhaps sarelessly.
Il am tolerably healthy have a
reasonable degree Of health. am able
to leave my home daily. l can cruise
about in my yacht America, and so
feel fairly comfortable. l have given
up the practice of my profession and
am just finishing up few last cases.
That takes me out of law as ! am al
ready out of politics.
And so ended the interview with that
artful dodger, Gen. Benjamin f. Butler.
But | wandered among the leading
democrats Of Boston late in the day
and l found that there We're no re
specters of the generals gray hairs
among them.
I'VE feel morally certain that he
voted for Harrison four wears ago" said
one of the most prominent men at the
Hub, land we feel fairly certain he will
do so again. Then as to his protective
theories, really don't blame the gen.
eral. His bunting factory has always
been well protected"
But this was only one of many like
expressions. Certain it is that this
prophet is without honor in his own
home"
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