The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1892-03-09

SENATOR NJ. c. EUTLER.

SENATOR NJ. C. EUTLER.
The Divisions of the Democracy Can Only
be Healed and its Real Opinions Settled
at a Primary for State Officers,
To the Editor of the News and
Courier: Some days ago I received the
following letter:
Hon. NJ. c. Butler, United States
Senator. Washington-My Dear Sir:
The political situation in South caro-
lima is very serious. | desire to OBTAIN
from you an expression of your views
upon what course the conservative peo-
pie of the State should take to bring
about the unity and harmony OF the
party, which was so rudely broken by
the unnatural course of events in this
State two years ago.
shall be very much obliged If you
will cover the subject as fully as, in
your judgment, the Importance Of the
issues to be discussed, may require, and
and wish that you would express your
views without reserve. | have address,
ed similar request to quite number
of prominent and intelligent gentle
men in different parts of the State, and
hope that you will favor me with re-
ply at your earliest convenience.
Yours very truly,
J. G.. HE11PHILL,
Editor The News and Courier.
Charleston, S. c., February 1G.
Sharing with you the opinion that
''the political situation in South Caro-
lima is very Serious" and realizing that
it is my duty, with other citizens of
the State, to do what I can to heal the
breaches made in the Democratic party
and restore harmony and good feeling,
I shall reply to your letter fra nklv and
without reserve.
In order to suggest a remedy it is
first necessary to ascertain, if possible,
the cause or causes Of the trouble. We
find the Democrats of South Carolina
divided into three parts or factions.
Those who support the present State
Administration, those who oppose it
and express purpose to test their
strength within party lines, and those
who oppose it, but do not commit
themselves to action within party
lines.
Now, to begin with, there is not room
in South Carolina for three factions
of the Democratic party-sc scarcely room
for united, solid party, confronted as
it is by the common enemy, the Re-
publican party.
If the breach continues one or more
Of the factions will be absorbed By the
Republican party, or will absorb it.
This has been the experience in almost
every similar condition of political par
ties, and there is no reason to assume it
will not be so in our case.
The question I would like to put to
every patriotic Democrat in the State
is this: "Would you be willing to see
the Republican party in power in
South Carolina again in any form"
Composed as it is of such large ma
jority of the colored race, could any in
crement of the white race, with such
controlling constituency of the ether,
make it safe depository Of the ad-
ministration of the affairs o.! the
State?
The white Democrats of South Caro-
lima are not strong enough to divide. 1t
will not do to say there is no danger of
Republican supremacy i'll that State.
Political changes in this country are
sometimes sudden, often insidious, and
frequently it is the unexpected that
happens, and l now utter the waning
we are in great danger of the over
throw of white supremacy anc the
rehabilitation Of the Republican party,
if not in name, in form and substance,
for political party, whatever its name,
is controlled and its policies determined
by it's constituency. Once destroy the
Democratic party in South Carolina
and you have another dominated by
the negro vote. We know what that
means.
Would it not be wise and patriotic in
this view of the situation to bury past
differences among ourselves, and if
need be agree to disagree so that we
may get together? II is safe to assume
in controversies such as are now going
on in South Carolina, that errors and
mistakes have been committed en- all
sides. If this is admitted, and [ am
sure no man having knowledge Of the
fra:lties of CURVATURE and the fallioi,ity
of human Judgment will undertake to
deny it, the door will be open for neu-
tral concessions and forbearance.
During the last canvass Governor
Tlllman and his friends assailed with
unusual vigor and pertinacity not only
the political methods and policies Of
his predecessors, but attacked their per-
sonal characters and motives as well.
Charges were made which [ believe
were afterwards admitted to be with
out foundation. All thoughtful. con-
servative people deprecated these
things at the time, and foretold evil
consequences. The evil consequences
have come. The scenes were shifted,
and the precedent having been estab-
lished, now that the present Admin'S-
tration is on trial, similar methods are
being pursued towards 1t.
The friends Of the Administration
certainly ought not to complain oi this,
and I do not know that they do. | call
| m, -tot "a tho citII1tI0n