The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1891-09-24
GEN. BUTLER IN REPLY.
HIS REMARKS WE'RE DIRECTED TO Or.
STOKES.


He Dnnies EmphaticalIv that no Applied
Abusive Epithots to tho "Cotton Plant
--"Tho Worlds" AshevilIo Interview
Was Correct.
EDGEFIELD. S. c., Sept. S.-As was
intimated in today's World Senator But
Ter yesterday sent DR.. Stokes the follow.
Ing letter in reply to tho editorial In last
weeks issue Of The Cotton Plant:
SENATOR BUTLER'S LETTER.
EDGEFIELE, $. g., Sept. I. 1891.
DR.. j. W. Stokes, Urnnye6ury, s. e.
DEAR SiR--I have received your two
letters of the Goth ult. and .lth inst.
Also by the last mall copy Of The
Cotton Plant OF the 5th inst, contain
ing my letter to you Of the 2Sth ult. In
reply to your first letter, | will say that
l did no: intend to say III my interview
with the reporter of The State at Ashc-
vile, that l had requested you to pub
lish my letter in The State. glanced
hurricdly over the interview after it ap-
pcarcd IN the paper, and was not attract
ed by such 4 statement. Not having il
before me 1 cannot verify your version
oft, or otherwise L am quite sure |
could not have made such Il statement,
because did not request you to publish
the letter IN The State. However, that
is not at all material. AS ! now recall
the interview, it was in the main cor
rcctly reported.
In reply to the inquiries in yours of
the Nth inst, i'll regard to my interview
III The World and News and Courier,
the one i'll Ashcvillc and the other here,
will say they are correctly reported,
andrCprcscnt Just what | didsay.
And now q word as to your editorial
criticism Of my letter, in The Cotton
Plant Of the 5th INST; Just one point,
because canno. follow you through the
mazcs of evasion and Quibblin% which
pcrvadc ITS entire length of nearly two
columns.
You say, near the top of the first
column: "In view Ofthc abusive CpithctS
the senator is reported TO have iudulgcd
in reference to this paper, (Thc Cotton
IlanD III his recent AshCvillc and Edge
field interviews, | might justly consider
that the senator had placed tho whole
matter beyond the pale Of courteous
reply, or even notice."
Now, my dear sir, you must know
there is not an atom OF truth in tins
statement. No honest man can find any
thing in either of the interviews TO iusti-
ty 1t. Whatever Of cpithcts That may be
found III these interviews were addressed
to you personally, not the newspaper
you edit. | have two much regard for
tho liberty and freedom OF tho
press to take offence at any fair
criticism by the press OF my conduct. 1t
is not only the right but the duty Of the
newspaper to criticisc freely and fear
lcssly tho acts and conduct of public
men and question whenever and whcr-
ever they arc ammenablc to criticism.
l have been the subject ofcriticism by
The newspapers over and often. some
times adversely sometimes otherwise
and have never complained OF it. Ii
will be n bad day for the country whcl
the papers fail, from any cause, to hole
up to the public the acts OF public oni
cials. But neither have You or an,
other editor the right to make the pres
tho vehicle Of private, personal resent
ment. and claim immunity under cove
ofthc freedom of the press. No honor
able editor will so abuse the high station
he occupies.
| have been somewhat surprised a
the scnsltivcncss which you and some o
your sub-trcasury orators have exhibit &C
ut the legitimate newspaper criticisms
OF your public acts. The "hoycott,"
believe, has been inlulgcd in by some OF
youto punish certain newspapers for
daring to give the public information
rs to your transactions. Let me admon-
lsh you. and those who adopt you
methods and tactics, that they will not
win. The light will be turned on, and
YOU will not be permitted to ply your SO
called 'campaiGn of education" behind
barred doors, and indulge in calumnics
and manufactured Misrepresentation
The Alliance, as originally organized,
was most excellent institution, calcul-
atcd to work In calculablc benefits to the
agricultural classes. Many of tho best
men III tho country joined and sustained
II, with THIS end in view; but a few SELF
seeking politicians got control of It's
machinery and arc trying to convert il
into secret political organization, to
be operated Tor their own selfish ends.
All secret political organizations arc
nimical to freedom Of thought and
action, and to the liberties ofthc people.
| trust you will not succeed in your
efforts to make the Alliance political
machine, but that it will move forward
on the lines originally intended by its
founders and stand an invinciblc obsti.
Gle between the interests of the farmers
and those who would either opprcss OF
mislcad them.
No, Sir. L have not indul 5cd III
abusive epithets towards The Cotton
Plant. L was among the first contribu,
tors to that paper before it fell into the
hands Of those some of whom ut least
are prostituting its columns to unworthy
purposes. | wish The Cotton Plant
every successes, but cannot withhold my
expressions Of contempt for the uses to
which it is being operated. Very re-
spectiully yours. Nj. e. BUTLER.
The 1tata to be Returned.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 9.--Thc Itata
ia TO be returned to the Chilean govern.
men, il accordance with the terms of a