New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-01-12
BENJIMIN +. BUTLER.

BENJdlIN f. BUTLER.
The death of General Butler removes from
public sight one of the most picturesque cnar-
acters that ever figured III American history
From the time of his first appearance upon the
stage of National politics i'll the Democratic
National Convention Of 1860 at Charleston
until hi, practical retirement from public lie
in 1854. when he was the candidate oil the
Greenbaci party for President. he was seldom
out of sight for any length Of time. The not0-
rictv gained in the Charleston Convention
where rs the leader Of the Massachusetts dele
cation he voted fifty seven times for JEFFERSON
Davis for President, would have been soon
lost but for the succession OF events Which
tvelvemon,h later brought him INTO the heid
IN armed opposition 10 the cause which Je1er-
son Davis represented i'll that convention ana
10 the movement in support oil that cause oi
vb;ch Dovj. WAS the head. The suddenness
OF the transformation was almost starting. II
vas the first one of those dramatic effects WIN
which for the next quarter OF century nc was
accustomed at intervals 10 dazzle the magma
ton and confuse the sense OF the spectator
PM i. was not alone by the suddenness OF his
Transformation, or the r9pdity and facility oil
his limitations that he held the stage and kept
himself before the people His originality OF
mind fertility of resource. and q certain rcck-
les, audacity born Of undoubting confidence in
himself were qualities which met the popular
demand and answered to the exigences OF
OF at emcl gencicS III most stIiring ana event
full time.
Whatever else may be said OF him, 1t Will
not be denied that he rendered great and use
ful service TO the cause Of the Union from the
time when he startled the party OF Secession
with which he seemed 10 be naturally allied, by
answering the call for troops in defence Of
the Government, until the war closed. That
his faults Of temper and astonishing weak
nesses on some sides Of his character often
serv ed evil purposes, and operated as hndrances
rather than a. helps is equally true let, taken
all in all. II may be said III truth and not III
the language of culOgy, that from his first I'M
,ortant service at Baltimore III 1861 To the
termination, not specially glorious. of his mil
itary career he rendered benefits TO his country
that 4 thousand times outweighed the i'll effects
Of hi, foibles and his follcS, his ovcrwecning
self-confdencc and sclf-asScrion and his con
slant pursuit of selfish ends. With many OF
the qualities Of a successful commander. and
his military career can hardly be called more
than disappointment. But it should also be
said that partly on account OF the peculiar
conditions surrounding him and PATTY because
of his own pcculiarites of character he had
unusual difficulties TO encounter, and there was
never 4 moment in his military career, as in
deed there never was in all his public life, III
which he wa, not followed by an opposition
always determined and persistent and often
times bitterly personal and malignant. And
there was always something impressive in the
manner in which he not only faced opposi-
ton but seemed TO be gladdened by the very
tumut of il. He enjoyed the storm he breasted.
His career as public man in civil life was
much the same as it had been in the field of
war. Always dramatic and interesting. there
were times when it flashed with the brilliance
Of some unexpected success or sudden achieve
mcnt in the face of heavy odds, and the periods
were rare when he was for any length of time
off the stage or ont OF public sight The foot
fights were his j0y and whether he posed as
a patriot or clowncd it for the groundlings he
kept well to the front and never 1t the audi
ence lose sight Of him. But his public life
furnishes little that is inspiring a. an example.
He had successes. As they arc called IN politics,
and some Of rather a remarkable sort but as
Member of Congress or Governor of his State
he has left little that will endure to the credit
Of his fame or the benefit Of his fellow-men.
lie could hardly be called statesman always
and everywhere he was the politician, and it is
truth to say, the time-serying, selfseel,ing
politician playing game not pursuing Il call
ing. With a cynical disregard for anything
like high political principle he habtuaIly played
the demasogue, practising upon the credulity
Of the people in furherance of his own per-
sonal ambitions or selfish ends.
His closing days were full of chickering's,
disputes and litigations over transactions re-
cent and long past. The end Of his life, peace
full and painless, seems in striking contrast
with his troubled and stormy career.