The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1878-08-09
fAS ISSUES OF THE HOUR.
oI,s.Ix.--NEw SER1Es.

- f-rG----:o:G-L =
ADDRESS OF SENATOR BurLER AT. AN
- a. ERaEFIELD PIoNIc.
4 .;1sS-ss -t-sfs-. ------,o:--- ~
The HGeds Oppos;ng. Forces-Despotiisu
or aGonstautional Republic The, " Goa
and Morality" Iarty-Ow State no,
out Of Danger-This Is White Nan.
GoOernn,ent-No Mired TTckcts-.SmaA
Comfort for Rouldbc-L Independents.
EDaEFIELD Court HOUSE, July IT,
The picnic which was given at Stonelands
to-day in honor of Senator nj. G. Butler
was attended by crowd which exceeded
all expectation. 1t was the first occasion
3 abiios~f fpsasauos uEshs
county since his election, and this fact
alono was sufficient to command the pres.
ence of large crowd. The scene Of the
celebration was Stonelands, the former res.
idence Of his uncle, Senator A. p. Butler.
and upon our arrival at this place, which is
four miles from the Court House, we found
large crowd already assembled, which
continued to increase up to the latest hour.
A stand had been erected under the trees.
and at II o'clock the meeting was called to
order by MIR. j. G. Sheppard. This gen.
tleman made happy and glowing address,
ending by presenting Senator Butler to the
audience.
SENATOR BUTLER'S SPEECH.
Senator Butler came forward, and after
a few pleasant remarks, by way of intro
duction, he said: II there is ANYTHING
which could inspire me to speak in terms
of sober mirth and give utterance to the
impulses Of my heart, it is this place and
this occasion. In almost every countenance
before me, aud in the very Autterings of
these forest leaves, the associations of nv
boyhood come back to cluster and gather
thickly around me. 1t is something. INV
friends, to excite the pride and qualification
of any heart that, after the lapse of more
than twenty years, 1 should return here to
scenes l once know so familiarly as boy to
speak to many of the old associates of nv
childhood. This pleasure, however, is not
unmixed with melancholy reflections and
feelings; many Of those who lived here
then are now nomore and no more for
ever. They were men who loved their
country for their country's sake, and who
were devoted to her best interests. DUTY
impclled them to discharge their duty to
their country, and they loved that duty
more than life itself And whata race Of
people they were {! Can it be expected
that j, who learned to love the constitu
ton Of my country under the shadow Of
this same forest, by the side OF this same
stream and under the rays of this same sun,
that l should return here without feelings
OF profoundests gratitude and plsasure1-
Upon the hill in our rear lived Squire"
Daniel Holland. as he was familarly called :;
upon that one lived Bland, and upon these
others lived George A. Addison, Senator
A. L. Butler and Governor Pickens.-
What an array of honest and honorable
mon and true patriots they were Here
are the sec mes which knew them Familiarity
and long. I knew them as q boy. MANY
Of their descendants are now within the
sound Of my voice. Some of their con.
tempories are. still alive with the frosts of
many winters upon their heads. What
would we not have given in the dark days
through Which We have just come for one
hours counseipS Sf Sth0ses.nen. But they
have passed away. They were good and
honest and true men in their day, but they
have passed away forever.
TIE ISSUES OF THE HOUR.
Let tell you, my friends, what has not
passed away. The very same issues that
confronted them are now confronting US,
aud the question for the future is, will We
be worthy sons Of such worthy sires and
maintain the constitution of this country
pure and civil ? That is the question and
that the issue Of to-day. 1t is q very con-
5 Syepiepts and j regret to say it is q too CON-
mon place remark in thi, country, that the
only issue now before us is one of honesty
and one Of race against race That is not
true, 1t is belittling the question to say
that it is only one of raco against race
The issue is just as great now as seventy
i've years ago between constitutional liberty
and republican institutions on the one
hand, and centralized despotism on the
other. 1t makes but little difference who
votes at primaries or who have represe nta-
aion. The great issue is above and superior
to all that; it is one of the rights of the
States, aud through the States of the peo-
ple--of constitutional liberty as opposed to
a centralized despotism.
THE GREAT OPPOSING FORCES.
There are two great forces at work in
the country to-day, and they are moving on
parallel lines. The one is represented by
Radisaksm, and is moving, AZ surely as the
needle turns to the pole, towards the estab.
lishmeut Of centralized depotism. The