Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1879-08-21
Senator Butler Intorvied.
Ills OPINIONS ON FINANCE.

81 judge from what you have said that
the financial question will not occupy SO
important position in the approaching
campaigu as tho political questions to which
you have rcfcrrcd2"
~ do not think so. In my Judgment
the Radicals committed q great party blum
der in not forcing the financial question
upon tho Democrats, instead Of permitting
tho Democrats to compel thcm to meet
issues which they Ohc Dcmocrats) mado on
'thc use of troops ut tho polls, aud the
deputy marshuls,' supervisors 'tcs. oath,
&C., SO. True, the Republicans were di-
vided on financial questions us we'll as the
Democrats, but not SO much SO, and if they
had forced the fight on that issue at the
beginning of tho extra session, and kept
it up, the Democrats of the East aud West
might have been divided; but they did not
do so, and the opportunity has passed.
think the differences of opinion among
Democrats, on tho silver question Ovr that
is now about the only financial matter upon
which there is difference of opinion, } is
moro apparent than real, aud l hope aud
believe thut before the Presidential canvass
opens all differences will disappear and the
Democrats will be solid to go into the Gsht
on the consolidation doctrines Of the Radi--
calls. | do not understand either wing of
the Democratic party to be opposed to silver
nor to its equalization with gold"
"W hat then is the point of difference
in the Democratic party on tho silver ques-.
tion2''
Gas said awhile ago, 1 think the diffe-
romeo is moro apparent than real. Nobody
objects to silver as a currency, and to its
being made equal with gold, but tho ques-
tion is hoo this is TO bo accomplished Onc
set of Democrats, more notably those w.o
favored tho Warner Silver Bill as it was
originally introduced, think that the un-
limited free coinage Of silver by the govern
mcnt is tho best way to bring about the
equality is to say, if you have $50, 900
worth OF silver bullion, which is worth in
reality but cghty~fivo cents in the dollar
of 4l2a grains, you shall be allowed to
carry the bullion to United Suites mint
and hnve it coined into standard silver
dollars, SO that the moment the Government
stamp is put upon it that which was intrin.
sically worth but eighty live cents becomes
by this artificial appliance worth ono hun
dred cents. On tho other hand, there arc
those who think that silver having been
fully remonetizod and inycsted> with un-
limited legal tender power, it is best to
limit its coinage for tho present, at least,
and gradually restore its equality to gold.
They think that the two metals if let alono,
in their present relations, will rcadiust
themselves to each other, and to tho bust.
ness OF tho country with, perhaps, such
notifications as trade and commercial
interest and time will dictate and Justify.
This is the loading difference, only as to the
means to accomplish the same result aud
agree with those who hold tho latter opin-
ions. 1t is very difficult, complicated
subject, one of tho mosS difficult in goyoru-
mental science, is this question of finance,
aud very few men in tho world understand
it, at least, iu the application of its princi-
Piles to government. And yet you hear
men talk about it az glibly and confidently
as if it we're as simple as The Rule of
Tree | confess, very frankly, that there
arc many branches of the subject that do
not fully comprehend and grasp, but
prefer in this. US upon all other questions,
to tako conservative position, and in tho
meantime givo the subject candid consido-.
ration and tho exercise of my best iudg-
ment."
"ln what respect do the advocates of tho
unlimited free coinage of si2cr claim that
it will beneficial to tho people?"
"Why, they sny it will mako money more
abunIant, stimulate business, enhance
prices, employ labor, and in that way relieve
tho pressure of tho times"
"ls it your opinion that it would have
that effeot7"
"No, not to any appreoiablo degree.
believe that business will revive more surely
perhaps somewhat moro slowly, and reach a
normal condition more oertainly--that
prosperity will be restored in all parts of
tho country upon moro substantial and