The evening times., 1901-10-12
The case Of General Butler.

For a long time General sir RedVers
Butler has kept his tongue firmly be-
tween his teeth. Notwithstanding the
most weIl-meant efforts on the part Of
English newspaper critics TO draw him
out At last, a few days ago, he broke
silence. and. if ne has a grain of sense,
by this time regrets that he did
The straw that broke the back Of his
patience was the general public outcry
in the United Kingdom against his APP
pointment to the command Of an army
corps Taking advantage of a festive
occasion, General Butler took the world
into his confidence in a way that has
rendered him about the most UnpUpU-
lar person in the country just at pres
ent. He admitted that, after the disas-
ter at COlensO, he had photographed
General White in Ladysmith to surren-
der on the best terms he could make
with the Beers. and excused himself by
urging that this action, for which he
expected he would be blamed, was
taken out of sympathy for the beleaS-
ured comrade whom he believed himself
unable TO relieve White did not sur
render. and Ladysmith ultimately was
relieved but that does not help Butler.
Rage and modification over the con-
fession sticks out OF almost all the
newspaper columns printed in England;
and even the most hard and fast Gov
eminent organs are demanding his in
slant resignation OF his trial by court
martial. if he win not resign.
Il. a. ID
vers Butler. If he had kept quiet, his
strong social and family influence prob
ably would have pulled him through, in
spite OF the embarrassme mt il would
have cost the King and ministry to sup
port a general whose campaign in
South Africa was anything hut a sue
cess Until within a week It was IN
deTstood in London that, in addition to
his assignment to a corps command, Sir
BcdveTs was on the next honor list for
a peerage. 1t is thought now that he
Will forfeit both All of his old miscaI-
cUlations, omissions, and blunders will
now rise against him Now Il viii be
remembered bitterly that he failed 10
properly scout the field Of CoIenso. be
fore young Roberts and a lot of other
gallant English. Scotch, and Irish boys
charged into the river ambuscdde and
TO death. Spion Kcp viii be revived.
and perhaps others matters Of both
military and uncomfortable character.
We are rather sorry for Butler, and
fear that he viii be made a scapegoat
by irate John Bull. He was not half
the failure in Natal that some of his
cO.freres were at the other side of the
field II is only necessary TO refer To
the MUdder River campaign 60 estab-
lish that fact Yet the l0rdIing VINO
was responsible for that bloody fascO
is still in command and high favor
The friends Of Miss Stone. the captive
missionary. have issued second appeal
for subscriptions TO the ransom fund, and
assert that stories 10 the effect that the
bandits had given her a respite of thirty
days are without foundation The ease Is
in something Of a muddle. II is said that
the Washington Government has asked
for a suspension of the Bulgarian and
Turkish pursuit Of the bandits until terms
can be arranged with them FOR the pris-
Cuer's release. Ii is also reported that
chis Government viii hold Turkey re-
sDonsibie for the outrage. but that state
mcuL is at least premature