Year: 1874

WASHINGTON, March lO.-The Howard
court of inquiry convened. Mr.. Sherman
presided.


General Hillyer's Chances. z a3E7


General Hillyer's Dame will be withdrawn
as general appraiser of merchandise, at his
own request, and it is certain he will be
nominated as naval officer, vice Latin,
Senator West Presents Memorials of the


Chamber of Commerce.


In the Senate Mr.. West presented a
memorial of the New Orleans Chamber Of
Commerce, asking congressional aid and
protection of Southern railroads. Also q
memorial from the Same body for removal
of Instructions at the mouth of the Missis-
sippi river.


Referred to the Committee on Transpor-
tatiOn.


The New York Times on ''Butlerism.'


This is an editorial from the New York
Tines "Butlerism.-It is question which
we commend to the careful consideration of
the representatives of the Republican party
at Washington, whether our party has
not had enough of that element in the con-
duct of it's affairs popularity known as But
lerism. We think it would be we'll for those
who are responsible for the management of
the party and for the conspicuous public
acts by which it is judged, to ask
themselves if the country is ready to follow
through thick and thin the lead of the
Essex Congressman. There seems to be q
strong disposition at the national capital to
award to that gentleman remarkable de-
gree of influence and prominence in matters
for which nature and training have not con-
spicuOusly fitted him. 1t might be as we'll
to reflect what may be the results upon
the fortunes of the party and upon the well
fare of the country, if this disposition is al
lowed to go unchecked. Those who are in



who enjoy, without interruption, the pecu-
liar charm of his mind and character, may
perhaps be excused for falling into an ex-
cessve subservency which is quite mex
plicable to the impartial observer at dis
tance. But as the time has hardly yet come
when those whom the party has trusted
can be absolved from all responsibility, it
is fair to ask whether an otherwise excus-
able alteration of Mr.. Butler can not be
carried too far for the interests of Repub-
licanisn. There is very little doubt in our
minds that the country at large, and es-
pecially that portion of it most Immediately
concerned, is tritle sick of Mr.. Butler
We do not believe that the famous
Simmons matter and the conduct of the
national administration with reference to
it has strengthened the Republican party
anywhere. We do not suppose anyone
will pretend that it has helped tho
party in New Hampshire or Connecticut,
and we do not see how in any reasonable
portion Of the community it could help us.
We have not ourselves taken any part in
the Simmons fight, in the first place be-
cause the facts were stOutly disputed on
either side, and in the scond place because
it seemed to us matter that ought to be
settled with reference to the bitter public
opinion of Massachusetts and New England.
What we regret to perceive is that it has
not been so settled, but on the contrary, the
bitter public opinion from one end to the
other of New England is expressing itself
az disappointed and outraged by the
result, and the origin of this
bitter feeling Is not 80 much any
special interest in the Office Of collector at
Boston. as in the conviction that General
Butler has run the whole thing. SO tar as
we can Judge from the published state
ments of the Massachusetts Senators and
Representatives, this conviction Is not with
out foundation Mr.. Butler himself seems
to be doing all in his power to strengthen {
it, He regards himself, and he is generally
regarded as the most influential politician
in Washington, and the impression that he
is 80 is all the while doing the party harm.
1t is not very singular that it should do
us harm General Butler is not fit man
to be party leader. We need not 90 into
any extended analysis of his character to
show why he is not. His political history
only too familiar to the country, shows It,
He has hardly quality of a successful
leader if we except persistence and bold
ness. These, however, are only auxiliary
qualities They are not of the essence of
craftsmanship; they are needed in good
party leader, but they are not in themselves
sufficient to constitute one. In the absence
of other and better qualities, they may
well Iuin leader or party that will fol-
low him. 1t is little to say of a man that he
Is bold even to impudence if he rejects the
principles of party, violates it's pledges,
breeds faction and division in it's ranks,
maligns it's trusted men, loads it with detes-
table measures, and subordinates all its in
terests to insane ambition. This is, in sub
stance, what Butler has DONE and it is what
the party can not tolerate without sustain
ing injury, perhaps irretrievable injury.
Certainly the party is passing through diff
culties. We think the most sanguine believer
in the efficacy of fixing things, will not deny
these amongSfhe causes of discomfort now
manifesting themselves, is the conviction
that our finances are in very bad way for
want of decisive congressional action.
Is it quite safe. considering this fact, to
give up the management of the party to q
man whose knowledge of finance Ia a. lin