The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1878-08-09
1hR ISSUES or THE HOUR.
ADDRESS on. SENATOR BUTLER AT. AN
at ERaEF1ELD PIoNIo.
VOL Tx.--Nrw SER1Es.

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ADDRESS or, SENATOR BUTLER AT. AIN
a ERaEF1ELD PIoNIc.
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the Gpdt Oppos;ng. Farces--Despo.isn,
or a Constitutional Republc-7he God
and Morality" Iarty-Our State not
out Of Dagger This Is a Whae Mdn $
GoOernment-No Mined T;ckets-SmaN
Comfort for ould.be-hdepenelents.
EDGEFIELD COURT HOUSE, July IL
The picnic which was given at Stonelands
to-day in honor of Senator NJ. c.. Butler
was attended by crowd which exceeded
all expectation. 1t was tho first occasion
fsS2 aeafs Dptlar;s biio>A fpsasanos inrshs
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 IL o'clock the meeting was called to
order by Mr.. 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
n few pleasant remarks, by way of intro
duction, he said: If 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 futterings of
these forest leaves, the associations of nv
boyhood come back to cluster and gather
thickly around me. 1t is something, nv
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 [ once knew so familiarly as a boy to
speak to many of the old associates of my
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 countrys 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 we're Can it be expected
that | who learned to love the consttu-
tion 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 should return here without feelings
of profoundests gratitude and plsasure!-
Upon the hill in our rear lived esquire"
Daniel Holland. as he was familiarly called
upon that one lived Bland, and upon these
others lived George A. Addison, Senator
A. P. Butler and Governor Pickens.-
What an array of honest and honorable
mon and true patriots they were !! Here
are the see nes which knew them familiarly
and long. knew them as 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 counsel Of those men. 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 me tell you, my friends, what has not
passed away. The very same issues that
confronted them are now confronting us,
and 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 today. 1t is very con-
. yenients and regret to say it is too COM
mon place remark in this 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 race against race
The issue is just as great now as seventy
five years ago between constitutional liberty
and republican institutions on the one
hand, and centralized dcspotism on the
other. 1t makes but little difference who
votes at primaries or who have representa-
stion. The great issue is above and superior
ito 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
IA 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. Tho one is represented by
Radieaiism, and is moving, as surely as the
needle tufns tc the pole, towards the estab.
lishment of centralized depotism. The
party which is committed to this work is