The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1891-09-10
THE RATESBURG DEBATE.
Tom Watson on the Subtreasury-Dr Stokes
not PreSent-RlIt1er Makes "A Strong
Speech.


Speech.
Special to The Herald and News
BATEsEURG, :. c., September g.
$50 p. M.-The much advertised de-
bate between United States Senator
NJ. c. Butler, of South Carolina, and
Congressman Tom Watson is m pro-
gress here to-day. The crowd, which
so far seems good-natured, is not as
large as expected, numbering about
|, 800 all told.
The meeting Was held in l deli shtful
grove about one hundred and fifty
yards west of tie depot. The meeting
was opened at 1880 a. n. in the old
fashioned camp meeting way of wind
ing large tin horn calling the clans to
order
Prof Nash, OF the Bateshurg Graded
School, acted as master of ceremonies
and called upon the Rev. Mckain to
invoke the divine Blessing upon the
meeting. The chairman after reading
a letter from DR.. J. William Stokes,
explaining his absence by reason of
previous engagement in the Eastern
part of the State, furnished the infor-
formation that only Messrs. Butler and
Watson would be permitted to speak
upon the matter.
Senator Bptler this morning called
on Mr.. Watson and rendered him the
choice as to how the debate should pro-
ceed. Under this arrangement, Mr..
Watson chose to open and close.
Being introduced by Senator Butler,
congressman Watson said that If
neither were candidates for office he
(the speaker) would not be here, as that
would be matter Of home route for the
people of South Carolina to settle
among themselves, but this being an
occasion for the discussion ofa measure
touching the interest of all the people,
he felt no delicacy in approaching the
task that was before him. Proceeding
to the subject of the debate, he stated
that the sub-treasury, like all reforms,
must expect to meet opposition. There
was no reason why both he and Cutler
could not discuss the principle or plan
without the bill.
Senator Butler objects to the bill he
wa. bound to substitute or if he object
to the principle, then he would be in
the position which could he occupied
by no statesman. If any means Of re-
lief were offered, he could take either
horn of the dilemma. Mr. Watson
then assailed the national banking sys-
tenn, and quoting from the News and
Courier the report of Senator Buffers
speech at Prosperity, taunted the Sena-
tor with holding that seven per cent.
was the only decent rate of interest on
money, and that if reports were correct
the he had said that the man that bor-
rows money at 2per cent. never meant
to pay it back.
He proceeded to give his argument
on the sub-treasury as legal and prac-
ticable remedy. His argument was
lst, that it was needed that it had
been in operation in the Amsterdam
and Ham burg bank; the land loan
feature was in operation in Sweden and
Norway, governing particularly the
Enskellen Bank of Sweden, none Of
which sub-treasury banks had sus-
pended payment, although other banks
of England and Germany had failed.
He also mentioned Frederick the
Great and the Silesian banks as on the
principle of a sub-treasury bank. He
denied that the national banking sys
tenn was war measure; said tha, was
the use Of greenbacks that backed sue
cess, but plutocrats wanted to get rid
of greenbacks and then establi shed
national banks so that the prosperity
of the people would be in other hands.
His main argument was directed to
establish the claim of the land loan
scheme, and he assigned that II SINE
principle would operate in case of non
perishable home products. He depic' ed
in the worst terms possible the poverty
stricken condition of the farmers, and
said in the demands of the Ocala plat
form was to be found the panacea for
all Ills.
Tom Watson is a forcible speaker, and
held the attention Of his hearers. He
was frequently applauded. His speech
was quite eloquent.
SENATOR BUTLER
smoke for half an hour before dinner,
and at this writing be is still speaking.
He said in opening that be had been
severely censured for discussing the
bill at Prosperity. He had been berated
and derided for exercising the right of
any citizen of expressing freely bis
opinion and that in discussing the bill
he was committing some crime. This
bill had been decided upon as embody-
ing the wisdom and thought Of econo-
mists and lobbyists at Washington, and
yet he should not discuss it without the
consent of the bosses. He had meyer
expected the day to come in South