The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1891-08-13
THE DEBATE At PROSPERITY.
What Senator Butler Told Reporter
About his Meetingzwith :Presi-
dent Stokes.
from the Baltimore SIM

pletely used up two sub-treasury cham
pions in open Joint debate at Prosperity.
In relating his experience at the latter
place Senator Butler said he went there
determined to giveth people plain talk
on the financial question. He did not en-
ploy any confusing statistics, but simply
told his hearers how foolish it was for
them to be led away with the idea that
the Government IS going to lend money
to every man or woman who wants 1t
without security.
There were a number Of interrupters
scattered through the crowd, but the Sen
ator's long experience in the Senate as a
running debater enabled him to dispose
OF his supposed tormentors without much
trouble. On every hand to-day he was
congratulated upon his success in the
joint debate, and also because he was not
injured in the row which followed the
meeting. He says the reports of the row
were greatly exaggerated, as it had moth
ing whatever to do with the political meet
ing. It appears two men In the crowd
undertook to get even with police othcer
who had on previous occasion arrested
them. The officer, who was young
giant, knocked his men out one after the
other IN a truly Sullivan-Eke manner.
Several pistol shots were fred and there
was sonle cutting done, but the particl-
pants we're IN no way connected with the
meeting.
Senator Butler Will go to New York to
join the members of the Senate commit
tee on naval affairs. who were authorized
at the last session of Congress to sit dur
ing the recess for the purpose Of consider
ing the question of the reorganization OF
the navy. Their investigation will extend
from the head of the line, through the
staff, to the enlisted men. In fact the en-
tire personnel of the navy is to receive
their attention. The committee may
visit several of the navy yards and naval
stations to see what progress Is beng
made in the various branches of the ser
vice.
THE FREE SILVER IDEA.
On the subject of general politics Sena-
tor Butler says the people of South Caro-
lima are too busy with their own State af-
fairs to give much attention to the selec-
tion of Presidential nominees. Ex-Presl-
dent Cleveland is still highly regarded by
the South Carolinians, but, in the opinion
of Senator Butler, the free silver idea pre-
walls there to such an extent that his views
,[ssH<-ra5 question may interfere with hls
Presidential prospects. Senator Butler IS
a firm believer in the free silver theory,
because he claims it will increase the cir
culation of the currency. He says there is
a scarcity OF money all through the South
ern States, and the people il that section
are firmly convinced that free silver Will
give them more money. At present there
is not sufficient money to do the ordinary
business, and unless something is done to
relieve the financial distress prevailing
there the people are apt to resort to tiat
money OF any other scheme that is calcu-
lated to give them temporary relief.
In some parts of the State the crops
have been very good, but in other sections
the yield has been very discouraging. In
number of instances crops which prom
ised we'll had to be abandoned because
any money to lend. A few thousand dol
lars would have saved many young and
wel-deserving farmers from ruin.
The Prosperity Debate.
[Greenville News
All toe newspaper men who were at
the Prosperity debate concur in the
statement that Senator Butler had the
crowd, composed chiefly of farmers,
with him soon after he began speaking
and carried off all the honors Of the day.
We are not surprised by the informa-
ton. We have never read or heard
anything from DR.. Stokes who repre-
sents the sub-treasury-or Superinten-
dent of the Penitentiary Talbert-who
seems to have been present as general
alliance man-to impress US with the
belief that either Of them is a remark
ably heavy weight. Nor have we ever
discovered anywhere an argument or
statement in defence of the sub-treasury
scheme which could not be knocked
higher than Gilderoy's kite-which has
never yet come down-by little study
and thought.
It is, however, an encouraging indica-
ton that the sub-treasury advocates
have the courage Of their convictions
that they haye come out from within
the walls Of the alliance and challenged
debate on equal Terms and in open
field. That is the right way for people
to do. DR.. Stokes may or may not have
reached the painful conclusion that he
took rather too large a contract for his
capital when he stood forward to de-
fend his pet measure on the stump. He
may view the results differently from
the newspaper men or hemay be one Of
those frequent and very happy persons
whose abnormally developed self esteem
stands them we'll in such circumstances
with invariable assurances Of success,
despite exterior evidences to the con-
trary. We hope, in any event, he will
not be discouraged by the Prosperity
performance. Let him challenge Sena-'
tor Butler to further debates. Let him
take a hack at Ben Tillman and another
at Uncle George. In fact, there are men
IL nearly every county of the State
who could probably be stirred Up TO
meet him or any orators of his selection
before the people and discuss the sub
treasury.
That matter, by the way, is getting
into pretty thin shape by this time. A
little hammering has knocked all the
stuffing and trimmings out of it-all
the practical parts. Its most earnest
advocates now say the details of the
bill are nothing, that it's the principle
they are contending for. The principle
appears to US to be rather abstract and
shadowy and hard to get hold of, and
even that is offered in exchange for
something better"
SENATOR BUTIER's SPEECH.
Augusta Chronicle
Senator Buffers speech at Prosperity,
S. c., Wednesday, in reply to DR..