The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-03-19
TO FIGHT A STATUE
BEN BUTLBR'S ENEMIES HAVE NOT
FORGOTTEN HIN.

Grant Him the Honor of Having Been a
Great Military Hero and AIlege That
He was the Most Corrupt and Danger
ous Nan in Politics of His Time-A
Large Portion of the People Defend the
statue Idea.
New York March 1S.-The New York
Evening Post, in its time, fierce OPP
poneent Of Ben Buffers, has the fol-
lowing dispatch from Boston:
The movement for the statute Of Ben
Butler, to be erected by the state, has
reached such momentum that its OPP
ponent of Ben Buffers, has the fol-
selves if they wish to defeat it. A
unanimous report has been made in the
legislature in favor of it. The petit
ton was heard before the committee on
military affairs and state house, sitting
together, altogether a body Of twenty
two men-siX senators and sixteen rep
resentatives. The former committe
was taken because the subject was Of a
military character, and the latter be-
cause it was proposed to put the statue
on the state house grounds. The first
that was heard of the affair was year
ago, when one of the Boston Demo-
cratic members of the house, who is
also a member this year, and SO young
that he cannot even remember the war,
and Buffers career in it, introduced
petition for statutes of Wendell Phillips
end benjamin F. Butler. At the hear
ing last year there were present the two
men who perhaps were nearest to But
Ter Of any in his later political life
Colonies Noah A. Plympton and Albion
S. DrinkWater who were on his guber-
Material staff and who were the mana
gers of his political campaigns in 1882
end 1885, when he was elected governor
over the Republican candidate. Robert
r. Bishop, and when the Republican
candidate, George D. Robinson, defeat
ed him. These two men seemed TO be
the chief of the interested last year, in
view Of the proposed rebuilding of the
front and the construction of the eX-
tension, that, though not a word was
said in opposition. the petition was re-
ported upon reference TO the legislature
Of 1896, and so there was no agitation Of
the matter to speak of last year. To end
this phase Of the matter, il ougt to be
added that the pteition was taken from
he files and referred this year TO the
above two COMMITTEES sitting jointly,
end that they reported in the house this
afternoon (having reported already I'M
animously in favor of a statue for But
ler) that it be referred to the commit
tee on state house alone, so far as re-
Iates the m tier of a statue of Phillips.
But the case for Butler alone, upon
which the report has been made. was
brought in by a petition from Major
Charles A. Stott of Lowell, one Of his
neighbors, and others. This was sup
49,, I,a l- nd
perhaps thousands Of others from all
over the state. 1t has not been difficult
TO secure signatures for a statue to
Butler Stott was once chairman of
the Republican state committee, and
this would remove all partisan features
Of the case, for Butler was Democrat
in the last years of his political career,
though he did run for the presidency in
1884 against Grover Cleveland. The
hearings on the petitions for statute
brought out large attendance. The
proposition was for the expenditure Of
$4,000 for an equestrian statue to be
placed on the grounds Of the state house
The speakers in behalf of the petition
were, in the first place, Colonel Plymp-
ton and others of Buffers old personal
friends. Secondly, they were repre-
sentatives of the colored race, who were
eloquent over the service which Butler
had rendered TO them and who were
apparently ready to give him a crown OF
Immortality beside Washington and Lin
coln.,- Thirdly, they were soldiers or
the war, some of them men who remem-
bered the career of Butler in New. Or
leans and thought that was sufficient to
establish his claim eternally upon the
people not of Massachusetts alone. but
the entire Union, for grateful reCogni-
ton. They thought that it showed that
he had high military qualities.
Not a hostile word was said about
Butler, during the entire hearing. There
was much discussion over his leading
traits, whether he was most distinguish
ed in military or civil life. Questions
were asked Of most of the speakers
whether they thought that an eques-
trian statue or a statue in civilians
dress would be most fitting in view or
Buffers career The only suggestion
of anything Ike criticism from any of
the friendly speakers was from one vet
eran who thought that Buffers career
upon the James river did not show that
he had high military qualities, hence
a civil statue would be most fitting. The
point was made by some of the commit
tee that Butler va of such a figure that
he would not make an artistic statue
upon horse, and Ii might be better 10
put him on foot. The colored veterans
were sure that nothing but an equestri-
an statue would do anything like JUS
tiCe to the general. and they objected
strongly 10 any change of the program.
When there was a call for the remOn-
strants. no one said a word until Mr.
Frank +. Sanhorn arose, who has been
known for many years as no Butler
lover. But even he was so dominated
blythe spirit of the hour that he forboTe
10 make an attack upon Butler, but said
that he had no objections TO the statue,
provided the state would adopt some
system by which subjects should be
selected from the entire Massachusetts
history according TO their merit. OF
course such rule would shut out But
Ter, and doubtless that is what Mr.
SanbOrn meant, but his objection was
so graciously worded that no one who
did not know the past would feel the
force of il. He suggested that the most
fitting statue that Massachusetts could
erect would DC that OF Oliver Crom>
well. adding regarding Butler that the
most suitable place for his equestrian
statue would be in front OF the Tewks-
bury almshouse-in view Of the gener-
ais sensational investigation OF the
state alTshouse when he was governor.
Then, in due time. came the report OF
ma rzoA 0Ea