The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-09-16
BUTLER and WATSON.
Joint DEBATE AT BATEsBURG, WEDNEs
DAY. SEPTEMBER 9.

DAY, SEPTEMBER ..
Sharp Encounter of Wit Between
south CarOlina's Senator AN"
GeorSia's Alliance COngressmah..-
The Account Seems 10 Indicate
That the Georgian Carried the
Crowd with Him, as Against the
Victor at Prosperity.
News and Courler)
RArEsBuRG, September 9.-About twelve
hundred citizens of Edgefield and LeXlng-
ton and sporadic visitors witnessed To-Day
the great political battle Of Batesourg be-
tween Congressman Watson, of Georgia, and
Senator Butler, Of South Caolina. The mar
ratiye OF the clash OF wit and oratory Is
best told in the proceedings given below, ana
especially as 10 the result as it appeared to
the two gentlemen mostly concerned IN the
duel. ,s,,oo, ,ha
speakers gracefully and with fair distrlou-
tion of compliments. II was distinctly uh-
derstood that only Senator Butler ana Con-
gresham Watson should entertain ana m
struct the audience ne oraeo to open Senator
Butler TO follow and the first speaker 10 re-
ply. ..ooo ybicb vos bean.
tifully located in the suburbs OF the city,
were Capt ]. H. Brooks, DIR Folk. Capt Bates
Col w. ]. Talbert. the Rev Mr. McSWain; EN-
Governor John G.. Shepperd, Edltorl1ooK, VI
the ASgSsa Edor Edor AS on the
Newberry Herald and News; Editor Buch-
anan, OF the Chester Reporter. some report
ers and other distinguished gentlemen
The speaking began at II o'clock shar p,
and was Kept up until o'clock sharp, en-
cept q short intermlssion.
Prof Nash read letter from l'resident
Stokes stating that he regretted his lnaoll-
ity to accept the invitation ofthe committee to
be present, but that it was impossible on
account OF engagements In the eastern part
OF the State.
What Col. Watson Said.
Col Watson spoke substantially as fol-
Know perfectly well that will be at a
In ths hauesdom Sstn
over me. You know him, and love him: l
am unknown to you. There Is a wide differ
ence between me and him In our relations TO
office would not be here. That would be n
matter for you to settle yourselves. But
when Senator Butler takes the position ne
has on this question II affects every one ot o,
men. We are discussing measures that AFFECT
Georgia as we'll as we'll as South Carolina II
is platform that touches everyone. an In
position to expect that questions shall be
discussed on broader lines than personal ones.
Each OF US will rise to position Of statesman
ship and brotherly love. South carolina mas
Georgans. Your distinguished men are
known and honored in Georgia as we'll as
in South Carolina. say TO you. Gen. Butler,
with respect, that you demonstrate the man
hood OF South Carolina, and feel 1t an honor
to debate this question with you and VIII
debate 1t In the highest sense OF honorable
discussion. feel that Georgia boy Is at
home with South Carolina boys.
We assert that the sub.treasury plan will
be a good law. Gen Butler denies 1t. That
puts the burden Of proof upon me. 1t is for
me TO demonstrate that the plan Is q good
one. That's good parliamentary law. We
started 1t in Georgia, and we wanted the snb
treasury or something better. but 1.-THE more
wethought OF the sub-treasury the better we
from horns to its hoofs. I don't know how
correctly Gen. Butler was reported In the
debate at Prosperity with DR. Stokes. !
have the report us published In The News and
correct, ahd, If there is no corrections OF 1t
take for granted that the report is correct.
When we debate measure we debate the
principles underlaying It, lam going to de-
monstrate TO this audience that Gen. Butler
will do himself great injustice II he under
takes TO discuss the details Of any measure
without dsussing the principles underlying
take one or two positions. The bill was
either right or wrong. If 1t Is right he. as
an American statesman, owes II to this people
To help them make this bill q law. II the
plan is wrong, ought lie not TO be able to
demonstrate that fact from constitutional
standpoint, from an economic standpoint,
from precedent and from legislative enact
ments. When he wishes to decline to discuss
the plan he puts himself In the awkard po-
sition OF saying that the plan is right, but he
can't help you. or IL Is wrong and he can't
show II, and he can take either horn OF the
dilemma he likes md he will have some
rough riding on either one. (Applause and
laughter.)
BUT WHAT is THE PLAN?
Col. Watson went on to say that Gen. But
Ter would have to come out and debate the
plan. and may God give the victory to him
who Is right. Applause. Col. Watson, as an
analogy for the discussion OF the plan, said
the.greatest reform movements of modern
times had been discussed without q bill with
It's details. just as the tariff was discussed be-
fore the Mills bill was framed, and that Gen.
Butler discussed 1t without waiting for the
bill. and so it was with secession, the adop.
system. He then discussed the sub-treasury
plan on three lines: First, the laws; second,
the evils complained OF, and third, the rem
edy.
ATTACKING THE BANKS.
He took up the national banks and dis
cussed them as an old law and as all evil. He
denied that they were war measure, having
was nearly over. He elaborated the charges
of contraction and stated that the system was
robbery aud so forth, and that the S5O,OOO 900
He charged as doyay ihat to
Senators should have voted for the recharter-
ing OF national banks. Applying the rule, he
held that II the Government could lend mon
ey on bonds 1t could also lend money on cot
Ton and other field crops.
FALSE ANALOGY.
He maintained that precedent for the sub
treasury could be found in the banks of AM
sterdam and Hamburg, which issued certifi-
Gates on gold and silver uncoined, which cer-
tificates passed current in Europe. He also
cited the case OF the Land Loan Bank of Eu-
skelda, Sweden, WEIGH issued money on lands
at 4 per cent, and which plan was adopted
also in Norway. None Of these banks failed,
while the English and Russian Banks had to
be helped out by the Bank Of France. He
ais cited the case OF the SileSian Bank, cstab-
lished by Frederick the Great.
He SAYS LEND AND MEANS. MORROW
Georgia lends money at 81 per cent. He
maintained that prices were regulated by un-
lawful contraction of the currency, and he H.
lustrated 1t by o supposed case. in which all
the banks OF u country should suddenly call
in all outstanding obligations. On this point
he quoted Mills, Ricardo, Henry Clay and
John T. Sherman. He euiogiZed the English
system OF laws by which the great depression
Of nyprcOmp Inv financial M