that
he might win the favor of the slave-holding and rebel Democratic
elements of the South by catering to their prejudices against
her. If that be true, this charge of General Butler's is
the most disgraceful single utterance that ever came from
American lips. If it be not true, what must be the nature
of which the gentle, charitable and kindly Senator Frye could
believe it true after an intimate knowledge so many years?

General Butler was disappointed in his expectation of Democratic
support in the country at large. He had thereafter no rest
in politics for the sole of his foot. The remainder of his
life was spent in speculation and manufacturing enterprises.

I repeat what I said of General Butler in his lifetime, when
he was at the height of his power, with a full knowledge
of his vindictive character, that the success of his attempt
to use and consolidate the political forces of Massachusetts
would have been the corruption of her youth, the destruction
of everything valuable in her character, and the establishment
at the mouth of the Charles River of another New York with
its frauds, Tweed rings and scandals.

General Butler made an earnest effort to get the Republican
nomination for Governor in 1871. He had built up what was
called a Butler party, in which he had had the aid of the
National Administration, and of all persons whom he could
either seduce by hope of reward or terrify by fear of his
vengeance. It was not a question in considering candidacy
for office with him whether the man had rendered honest service
in civil or in military life, whether he was a man of honor
or of good or bad character, but only whether he was a Butler
man. He conducted his own campaign for Governor in 1871 and
again in 1873. In the former he summoned his adherents to
the State Convention, issuing a circular in which he advised
them to bring three days' rations in the expectation of a
long and angry struggle.

I was invited by the State Central Committee to preside at
the Convention of 1871. It was quite likely that the Convention
might break up in disorder and the result would be two factions,
each claiming to be the regular Republican organization. I
told the gentlemen of the State Central Committee, who communicated
to me their desire, that I would do it on condition that there
should be provided one hundred skilled and trustworthy police
officers who would obey my orders, and, if it became necessary,
would r