The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1879-06-06
Our Senior Senator.

The "old man." rs we muse now call him, or,
in polite phrase, "Senior Butler" we see by our
Nrthcrn exchanges has been interviewed rs to
the situation in Congress and as to other matters
touching Southern interests.
The New York Star, Of the 18th, says Of the
Senator.
RMr Butler is probatIy rs good q represen-
tative man of the Southern people and their
views as could be found in or out or Congress
Like the statesmen OF taat section generally,
he is conservative, but at the same time n
staunch supporter of Democratic principles
lie says, and We agree with hn, that the extra
session, caused hy the action of the Republi-
cans and their President, hos been Of advantage
to the Democrats, first, in securing tho organi-
zation of the House beyond peradvcnture, AM
next in bringing into the foreground for the
consideration Of the people in the approaching
political campaign important issues. lie thinks
the Republicans have fallen into trap, and
have unwiscly courmited ed themselves to the doc
trine of bayonet elections. On this subjcct he
pertinently remarks: Mr.. Hayes in his last
veto message has gone further than any man has
ever before vcuturcd in this country. General
Grant practiccd his theory, but he never COM
uittca to writing SO bold doctrine as to the use
Of troops rs has Mr.. Hayes.
"Therc seems to be u vein Of sarcasm in Sen
ator Buffers remark that the negroes should
spread themselves over the North, where they
would have the. fostering care and guidance OF
their EcpuuIicau friends, tut lie sretus TO earn
cstly believe the migration of the blacks would
Le n benefit. He is decidedly in favor Of an in
terchangc of population between the sections
the negroes to come North and the whites Of the
North to go South.
"On the subject of the condition of the negroes
ir the South and the causes Of their trouble,
we have never seen the truth well and tersely
put as he puts it. Nothing is more to the point
than the following remarks:
"The worse enemies to the negro at the South
nrc not the land owners, but a certain class OF
shopkccpe (of course do not include in this
category many country merchants, who are very
honorable, fair dealing p'en), who sell to the
negro bad whisky and tobacco and cheap goods
ut the most exorbitant rates, and at the end of
the agricultural season their entire year s earn
ings are gone to these men. Eight out of ten of
the negroes will pay any price for goods if they
can buy them on credit. The shopkeeper gem
orally estimates what each negro will make and
has his account shaped to absorb it. These are
evils which time and the negro only can correct
but Radical emssaries seize upon individual in
stances Of unfair dealing to play upon the ere
,ulty Of the negroes and make them believe
that il is the landlord who has wronged them"
We, too, agree with Senator Butler, that the
extra session has done the Democracy no harm.
ii has brought to the book, in plain and unmis-
taxable words and measures, the prime policy
of the Republican party and 1t has done more,
il hns shown us at the South in the Presidential
chair the wolf in sleeps clothing. The lovely
Hayes now stands before us in his true colors.
The extra session has unmasked the batteries Of
our Radical foes and we now know to a man e1-
actly whence the fire will come and what best
to do to meet it. 1t is the brazen proclamation
of a bayonet rule over the liberties of the coun
try, in which wayfaring man, though fool,
might not be mistaken.-COi. Register.