The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1891-09-10
/ From the News and Courier.


New and Courier. and the Senator S
subsequent remarks concerning Dr.
Stokes treatment of him in the Cotton
Plant, there has been much wonder on
all sides as to what DR.. Stokes would
say in reply.
DR.. Stokes has been asked for an in
terview on the subject, but refused it,
stating that his reply would appear in
the Cotton Plant.
The following is Senator Buffers
letter sent to DR.. Stokes:
SENATOR BUFFERS LETTER.
EDGEFIELD, S. G., August q, 1881.
DR.. J. w. Stokes, Editor Cotton
Plant, Orangeburg, S. C.-Dear Sir: On
my return to Edgefe.d yesterday, after
an absence Of three weeks, friend
handed me copy of your paper, the
Cotton Plant, of the Sth instant, IN
which I find the following in your
editorial column:
"Echoes from Prosperity - Senator
Buffers Contemptuous Opinion OF
the Alliance"
"At Prosperity Senator Butler di-
vided all men into three classes. Two
. of these classes are honest, including
himself. The third one,' he said, who
borrows at any price and never intends
to pay it back. This last class Is the
one avho Uants to 6orroeC money ut 2per
cent (italics ours.--From the News
and Courier report.) This is a remark
able statement from the Senator. The
man who borrows at any price and
never intends TO pay it back is thief
and scoundrel. According to the
Senator, therefore, 10000 Alliance men
in South Caroliua, and good many
Non-Aliiance men, who would like to
borrow money at2per cent, are thieves
and scoundrels How do you like that,
farmers of South Carolina? 1t is an
infamous charge; but since it comes
from United States Senator CT course
VIC will keep our mouths shut--till the
next election.n
was invited by Mr.. w. D. Hardy to
speak at Prosperity on the 10Th of July
s'to discuss the sub-treasury plar on its
merits" I accepted, and upon the an
nouncement being made in the papers,
you challenged me to a joint debate. [
accepted that also. You then sought
to be represented by a substitute, Mr..
Livingston, of Georgia, on the plea
that you had other engagements.
The newspapers prodded you so
severely for this retreat in the presence
of the enemy" that you appeared and
Livingston did not.
Although an invited guest, and on
that account, presumably entitled to
select my own place in the debate, you
and your friends imposed the terms
and notified me through Mr.. Hardy OF
your arrangement. promptly acceded
to them. These terms gave you the
opening aud reply. You were on the
stand, and having the reply, are sup
posed to have heard every word l
uttered.
Permit rle to refresh your memory
as to what did say in that portion OF
my remarks to which your editorial
refers. I spoke as follows:
There are three classes Of people
one class that neither borrows or lends
money, land they are a pretty large
class and another class lends money
out on interest (and it is perfectly
legitimate business; he prefers to live
on the interest rather than put his
money in cotton or mules, and there is
no reason why he should not. Does
that make him an enemy to the coun
try or make him any less a patriot be-
cause he loans money at such rate o
interest as he may be able to get?)
Then there is another class, which
unfortunately, I belong to--the Dor
rowing class. iLsughter.] l dom
think man because he lends money
at 10 per cent. is thief Sometimes
am very much obliged to the party 70
letting me have it; it helps me out of ;
scrape and I gladly give him the rat'
he charges. have seen the time tha
/ would like to have borrowed S..
''Then you will take my class, ant
they are susceptible Of division int
three. You will fluid the fellow vino
he had one Or two thousand dollar
would invest and make something b.
borrowing it at 5, 6, I, s, 10 or Is pc
cent, and will in due time return th
money he borrowed and the iDteres
on the same. There is another felloN
just as honest, just as truthful as tn
other man, who borrows money at c
per cent, and misfortune overtake
him, a cyclone, a sickness or sOmethln
prevents his returning; be is as homes
us the other man, but he cannot retur
it just al that time, but if he is homes
he will keep on haumering until h
does pay it back. Then, the other cld>
acho arW 6orroU money dt ,, IS. 20 or ;
per cent, and ncrer intends to pdy
back, 0rad necer docs. Applause an
laughter Il is too little; it is llk