My explanation of
Butler's influence over Grant is to some extent conjecture.
But I believe Grant thought him a powerful political leader
and that he was entitled to respect as representing the opinions
of large numbers of men. Beside that Butler had a great
influence over some ambitious men who were his confederates
and over some timid men who were afraid of him. Their influence
with Grant was on Butler's side. Then Grant was apt, as I
have said in another place, to sympathize with men who were
bitterly attacked, especially men who were charged with dishonesty
or corruption, because such charges were made against him.
So without undertaking to explain Butler's influence with
Grant, I content myself with stating it and lamenting it.
He led Grant to make some very bad appointments in Massachusetts
which were totally repugnant to the feeling of her people.
But for those appointments, in my opinion, the strong objection
felt by her people to giving any President of the United States
a third term would not have prevented her supporting him for
renomination in 1880, a support which would have insured his
success.
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