The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1879-08-22
A TALK WITH SENATOR BUTLER.
The Late Fight in Congress and the Pres.
cnt Situation.

CUt SttUUttOu.
EDGEFIELD, August 6.--Accordinc to
instructions l have interviewed Senator NJ.
q. Butler, and have succeeded in obtaining
his views on some of the more important
subjects now before the country. L called
on him at his residence, and after the usual
exchange OF courteSics stated the purport
of my visit, and with little preliminary
sskirmshing, tho interview proceeded as fol.
lows
"Aftcr the smoke of battle has cleared
away, what is your opinion of the result of
tho political confict ut the extra session Of
Congress 7" ~f'
cit is about what supposed it would be
when the controversy opened. The Radi-
eals sounded their gongs, raised great
hue and cry, and frightened the timid
throughout the country; but, as it pre-.
gresscd, the Democrats gained on their
adversarics and ended in substantial vic
tory. The Radicals have, for some years,
concealed their real principles under attacks
upon the South, and this great debate has
compelled them to throw off the mask and
show their disregard for tho Constitutional
limitations which attach to our Republic.
distinguishing it from any other that has
ever existed, and boldly avow their puspo-
scs to make tho Government what they
choose to Call Strong government which
in reality means nothing less than a consoli-
dated Empire-built upon the destruction
of the States. Of course the leaders deny
having any such purpose, but it is the inev-
liable logic of their position. They can
not escape it, and the Democrats ought not
to allow them to escape it,"
"Do you think that that will be the
issue in the next Presidential campaign ?"
"Unquestionably it ought to be, for if
the Radical party succeed in establishing
the doctrines announced in debate, as the
settled policy Of the General Government,
an entire change of our system of govern.
ment will follow A constitutional govern.
inent of limited powers, operating upon the
individual citizen through the States, ex-
cept as to those powers specifically granted
in the Constitution, or such as are necessary
to carry out specific grants, will be converted
into q consolidated centralism-if I may
use tho term-responsible only to the lead
ors Of the dominant faction, who wield the
vrerAss~-sSe-~sS -~sSsanaisAaaAnL4&oe
their party and for the distribution of the
spoils of office and this change will follow
much more speedily than you suppose.
The exercise of national authority, in their
view. means the destruction Of State author
ity, except as far as the State governments
may be convenient instrumentalites for Gu
forcing the national will The form of
government is much more cfectualy
changed by this means than by dissolu-
tion of the Union, or separation of the
States, for in the latter case Republican
institutions may be preserved, but in the
former they will be entirely aud hopclessy
destroyed
ado you think that MIR. Hayes sympa.
thiscs with the extreme doctrines of his party
leaders, and is it your opinion that the rank
and file of the Republican party concur in
them I"
II will reverse tho order of your question.
do not believe the rank aud file Of the
Republican party in tho North do concur
in such doctrines or principles as a general
thing. The rank and file. of the Republi.
can party in the South have 70 opiuin-,
=, wv """ ''.,...oYuentIy can scarcely
DC -..u responsible 1 believe that a great
many of the more conservative Republicans
of the North are really devoted to correct
principles of constitutional government, but
their leaders arc able, aggressive, and, in
many instances, INSCRIPTIONS men, who
love power for the sake Of power and the
cmolumcnts and Importance that it gives
them, and not for the good that they may
do to their fellow man, and, under tho cry
of party necessity and party supremacy,
many of these men will be borne along and
committed to policy of government which
in their hearts they do not approve. The
battle. ground will be at the Nor.h, and
everything depends upon the pluck ana
energy of the Northern Democracy. If
They do not permit the Radicals to raise
false issues and frighten the people by false
alarms, they can win. But they will have
TO press home the real danger to liberty
with sntiriDg portinacity and tact. The
nendulum has been swung back in the
South as it was when Mr.. Jefferson went
into power in 1901 and upon similar issues.
AS to MT. Hayes, have no doubt he is in
full accord and sympathy with the extreme
men Of his party on these questions. II
, you will read his veto messages to the late
appropriation bills of Congress, you will
discover that he pushed the right OF Fed,
cral interference with tho affairs Of The
Qkok.a f,,rthor than INV man hoo QUAR- yo,