The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1891-08-04
SUB-TREASURY DEBATE.
SENATOR BUTLER AND Or. STOKES
MEET AT PROSPERITY.

SENATOR BUTLER AND Or. STOKES
MEET AT PROSPERITY.
Nothing New, For or Against the Meas-
4 ure, Present.d-Tho Senator Finds No
Place In This state for n Third Party .
snmmary OF the Several spseehes
PRosPERITY.S C.,JYly .-Thelarg.
est crowd that Prosperity has ever
known assembled today to hear the
open Joint debate on the sub-treasury
! between the two distinguished speak
ers, the Hon. M. 9. Butler and DR.. J..
y VIM Stokes. From early dawn until
the time of debate every entrance TO the
town was thronged with interested Wis.,
itors, and at 10 o'clock, the time ap-
pointed for the meeting to commence,
quite fifteen hundred persons had gath
cred around the stand. Comfortable
seats had been properly prepared for the
ladies in front Of the rOstrum, and in
spite OF the threatening appearance of
the heavens considerable number Of
the gentler sex were present. Every
one was struck with the excellent be-
havior Of the assemblage, for through
out the entire meeting almost perfect
quiet prevailed, except whe n the speak
ers were questioned and when applause
was given to Gen. Butler.
The audience WAS doubtless an intel.
ligent one, and was out to hear the
"truth developed" and to give chance
for convictions. All of the speakers
remarked especially concerning the
above noted fact.
A TRAP THAT DID NOT WORK.
Notwithstanding trap, similar to
the one arranged for Governor Tillman
at Spartanburg, had been prepared for
Senator Butler, yet it can be safely said
that the victory was decidedly his. He
his views were heartily received.
Promptly at the time appointed the
Rev. Mr.. Sigh, president of the New
berry Alliance, who acted as chairman,
announced that the meeting would be
opened with prayer by the Rev. j. B.
Traywick.
MR. SLIGH'S REMARKS.
After these devotional exercises the
chairman, in his opening remarks, af-
ing such gOOdiy number present, said
This large assembly Is hopeful sign.
1t shows that the people are awake to
their interests, are beginning to think
for themselves and have come in search
of knowledge. he hoped, to see and
learn, not to censure or cOndemn. The
debate will he on the sub-treasury plan,
not the bill-that plan embracing the
idea Of flexible currency. bespeak
the very best attention and behavior.
Let us remember that we are citizens
capable Of thus rejecting, with brains
located in the head, not in the heels.
Let us listen with the hope OF improv-
ing our ideas. These speakers have a
difference of opinion and have a right
to that opinion, so condemn them not.
know that the Alliance Is searching
for truth. We recognize that some
thing is wrong and seek a remedy, but
If the remedy we ask will not help us
out of 1t we will take another. All OF
us, therefore. are for the same purpose,
so treat all with the same respect. /
repeat again, that the people of the
United States are beginning to think
for themselves. You are capable of
doing the same. then exercise that
sound Judgment that characteriZes us. VI
DOUBLE TEASIING ON BUTLER.
The programme for the day was then
announced as follows: The first speech
to be made by DR.. j. VIM Stokes, the
privilege given to the former to answer
the Senator. After this a dinner of
barbecued meats would be served, and
the programme resumed promptly at 3
with a speech on the same plan by Col
Talbert, superintendent Of the Peniten.
tiary. DIR. Stokes, who was then intro.
duced, stepped forward and spoke as
follows:
DIR. sTOKEs's FIRST SPEECH.
Mr.. President, Brothers and Fellow
citizens: / esteem it high privilege
to meet you on this occasion. AS a ma
tive of South Carolina am proud OF
her history. / believe also that all hon.
est men ale my brothers, and while pa.
triots are thinking for themselves and
interested in the measure that is before
us will give the results that have ar.
rived at on this great economic ques
ton. l count this large audiences as a
hopeful sign, and certainly think it q
hopeful sign, that the people are inter
ested in these problems.
1 rejoice to be at this meeting and tc
see this large crowd because the All:
ance has been reportt d as being opposed
to u discussion Uf its measures The
only reply that l make to such imputa
tions is that heretofore the debates
were between two Alliance men and
especially for Alliance men. Snc0 il
Is our issue and effects us most, we
deem it our right to have 1t discussed
Alliance we determined to urge oper
discussion of this plan. The idea OF
secrecy was to eliminate any outside
agency that might prejudice the mem
Ders Of the Alliance. This gathering il
for Newberry County and the meeting
was called tor this particular discus
sion. put it to you, then, whethe,
the Alliance Is notin favor of discus
sion with the opposition when Zen
Butler Is here for that purpose. 1,
wants free and full discussion and W
abide by such discussion.
Here MIR. Stokes read his letter OF
challenge to Senator Butler, which ap.
peared in the News and Courier to. day
He explained 1t was not his intention
to speak, but that Mr.. Livingston, OF
the Georgia Alliance. had accepted the
invitation to meet Gen. Butler. Late
last evening he received message
from Mr.. Livingston telling him h
could not meet Gen. Butler on account
of physical inability. He continued
saying:
/ am glad to I've here, and remember
fellow-citiZens, this is an INTEL. ctua
contest of brain with brain. We want
to present the position of the "a llianct
pro and con. Let us gather with mind.
unprejudced 10 receive the truth. asl
the Alliance especially to give Close
and practical attention to develope tn,
truth, for we give the people of thi,
section this opportunity of seeing tn,
bottom of the matter. With these pre-