The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-01-18
VERY BIG BLUNDERS
Benjamin ButterwOrth Discusses
the Present Administration.
His Original Observations on Business
and Political ConditiOns-COl. Con-
ger Discusses Pertinent Questions.

Benjamin Butterworth, the widely-known
Cincinnati lawyer and who formerly rep
resented that district in Congress was in
the city yesterday stopping at the Deni-
son. Some private business of a legal ma
ture brought him here Mr.. Butterworth
as is We'll known, is a most interesting
talker, and his observations upon matters
both business and political, are keen and
decidedly original.
Local politics in my district" said he to
Journal representative, last evening, ARE
in much the usual condition. The thor
oughly good element is supine and inactive
while the other fellows are active and vigil
liant While the former class is praying
for a nice clean administration of affairs
the lively, Wide-awake convention manipu-
lators and ward hustlers are preying upon
their fellow-citzens to the full extent of
the law and frequently a little fuller. This
condition is the same in all large COM
munities, however, and will probably con-
tinue SO until there is another flood and the
Lord puts a man in the ark who won't
get drunk the moment he sets his foot
on shore.
"The condition Of business" continued he
as the conversation changed from local to
general topics, lis the most remarkable that
ever known to the world. Here we are
with famine in the midst of plenty. There
is no scarcity of money. the elevators are
bursting with grain, and the conditions
apparently such as TO warrant general pros
perity, yet business is stagnant as the
blood in a dead body. / see no hope, either,
for any immediate relief, the manu-
facturers are going to hold off until they
get something to train their guns on. The
Wilson bill is soaring them very badly,
and they will move slowly and cautiously
until that measure is disposed Of The tariff
discussion makes il evident that the Ques-
ton is largely a local one. after all, for
when you affect the interests of an indus
of the districts so affected rallying against
the portion of the measure that
Injuries their constituents. 1t looks to me
as If Watterson and Dana, who oppose
the Wilson bill because it is not radical
enough, hope to compass its defeat on
that ground. They profess to want abso~
lutte free trade, and yet, knowing that it
is out of the question, they fight this bill,
which is in the direction a their hopes.
The remarkable condition of affairs in this
country just now is, as l have said, GER
tainly unparalleled in the annals of time.
1t seems to in this connection that
the time should some day come when the
government, local, State and national, will
be allowed to transact it's own business,
and not NEEDLE with that Of any one else;
to stand by and let private interests look
out for themselves Whenever there mere as is
city or State or Nation should take a hand
and do this or that, when in reality they
their own business the same as individuals
are allowed to do.
''One great misfortune is that hybrid
politicians are generally in the ascendency.
The first thought of these. individuals In
office is not how will this or that change
affect the country's interests, but now VIII
it affect his own individual prosperity, MS
chances of political preferment. There is
too much self-interest in things political
and too little regard for the countrys S.
Everything is subordinated to selfish in
terests and the country suffers. -
"I have always had warm feellng OF
regard for President Cleveland, MT But
terworth remarked, but his attitude IN the
Hawaiian matter is one of the most rlulcu-
lous spectacles ever afforded the dlpIo-
matte world 1t is certainly the most ex-
traordinary administrative act in the MS
tory of nations. He has put his loot IN IL
and is engaged now in twisting II arounu
with an exceedingly awkward result. III
does not matter whether or not there was
an error committed by the last admlnlstTa-
ton. President Cleveland mace tne
most serious mistake of his career in at
tempting TO overthrow the provisional gov
eminent established in the ISLANDS. his
action is a great surprise to me Tor 1 re-
parfled him as too practical a man 10 Dlun-
der So seriously I think he was entirely
honest in his belief that ne. was GONG tne
right thing, but he now realizes the gravity
and extent or his nilSldhe. IL was O. g.
gantic bluDder." .
Mr.. Butterworth spent a portion OF yester-
day afternoon with eX1Presldent 51a d,If
as much pleased with General HarrlsonS
apparent good health, saying Ihat ne never
saw him looking so well. Inc eX,fr9sl
DENTS coming series of lectures at the Lee
land Stanford University, in California, Is
interesting the Buckeye statesman great
ly, and he thinks these lectures VIII De the
basis of one of the most important DOCKS
of recent years. They will be q model OF
literary excellence, he thinks, as well as or
remarkable value In nlstorica t selsG; MI