The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-03-09
SENATOR BUTLER,S LETTER,
The Campaign OF 1890 Is Discussed.
and the Issues OF To-Day are Com.
mented On-He Believes u Prfma-
ry Election VIII Cure all Our
TrnnhIps.

4 ueSlTe 10 OOLaln ITOID you eApTesSlOH "
: your views upon what course the conserva
tive people Of the State should take to brinl
about the unity and harmony Of the party
Z which was SO rudely broken by the unnatura
, course of events in this State two years ago.
shall be very much Obliged II you will GOV
, er the subject as fully as. In your Judgment
the Importance OF the issues to be discussed
may require. and wish that You would express
your views without reserve. have address
!, ed similar request TO quite number o
prominent and Intelligent gentlemen In dif
lerent parts Of the State, and hope that ,yor
will favor me with reply at your earlies
convenience. Yours very truly.
Il Editor News and Courier.
i Charleston, s. C., February 1G.
Sharing with you the opinion that 1.-THE po
litical situation In South Carolina Is very se
rious." and realizing that 1t is my duty, with
other citizens OF the State to do what can to
heal the breaches made in the Democratic
party and restore harmony and good feeling
l shall reply to your letter frankly and with
In order to suggest remedy 1t is first neces
sary to ascertain, If possible, the cause OF
causes Of the trouble. We find the Democrats
of South Carolina divided into three parts OF
State administration. those who oppose it and
express purpose To- test their strength with.
in party lines, and those who oppose II, 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 Dem.
ocratic party-scarcely room for q united. SOL
enemy, the Republican party.
II the breach continues one or more of the
factions will be absorbed by the Republican
party, or will absorb 1t. This has been the ex.
perience in almost every similar condition OF
political parties, and there Is no reason TO as
sumo 1t will not be SO In our case.
The question I would like te put to every very
"Would you be willing to see the Republican
party in power In South Carolina again In any
form p" Composed as IL is OF such q large ma
Ory Of the shs soSrea @ eond any
trolling constituency Of the other, make II
safe depository Of the administration of the
affairs OF the state?
The white Democrats OF South Carolina are
not strong enough to divide. twill not do to
say there is no danger Of Republican s1prem-
acy in that State. Political changes in this
GUS, and frequently 1t is the unexpected that
happens, and ] now utter the warntng-we
are In great danger OF the overthrow Of white
supremacy and the rehabilitation OF the Re,
publican party, II not in name, In form and
substance, for q political party. whatever It's
name. is controlled and Its policies deter
mined by It's constituency: Once destroy the
Democratic party IN SOUTH Carolina and you
We know what that means.
Would II not be wise aid PATRIOTIC In this
view Of the situation 70 bury past differences
agree so that we may get together7 1t is safe
to assume in coniroy ersies such as are now 60
ing on In South Carolina that errors and mis-
takes have been committed on all sides. II
this Is admitted, and am sure no man hav-
Ing knowledge of the frailties of our nature
and the fallibility OF human Judgment will
undertake TO deny 1t, the door will be open for
neutral concessions and forbearance.
During the last canvass Governor Tillman
and his friends asseiled with unusual vigor
and pertinacity not only the political meth
DDS and policies OF his predecessors, but at
fnn yo1 q nj q q Tnnffuaa
az well. Charges were made which believe
were afterwards admitted 10 be without foun
dation. All thoughtful, conservative people
deprecated these things at the time, and fore
Quences have come. The scenes were shifted,
and the precedent having been established,
now that the present administration is on
trial. similar methods are being pursued to-
wards II.
The friends OF the administration certainly
ought not to complain of this. and do not
know that they do. call attention to 1t to
state the situation fairly and frankly, so that
attention to 1t TO emphasize the remark that
the habit Of indulging In personal vitupera-
ton, abuse and Misrepresentation IL "a Gus |
tom better honored In the breach than In the
observance" and to express the hope that In |
the future 1t will be abandoned. do not
wish TO be understood as saying that all the |
abuse and villihcation OF the last canvass was
confined 10 Governor III llman and his friends.
His opponents-some OF them-playcd very |
lively part In the performance, but this does
not and cannot justify II. or course, II man
In kind Is almost irresistible. plead guilty |
to the habit, at times. myself, but this does
not justify or make 1t right.
And the newspapers-why should their edi.
Ing public facts and expressing their opinions
on them? Newspapers are the vehicles
through and by which news is communicated
10 the public, which the public wants. The
tlyat nc ho1 10 M ~
US, express their opinions in their editorials,
and why should they not? 1t does not make
them public enemies. What they say may be
u saw. az % but % iHey have rignt nay more, more
a duty, to give their opinions, and they are &C.
cepted or rejected as they are wise or other.
wise.
Why should patriotic citizens OF the State,
who do not approve OF all the methods and
policies and acts Of the present administra-
lion, be denounced as "Bourbons," "aristo.
'rats" "rlngsters" etc? And WY should should
md acts of the present administration be de-
bounced as "enemies to the State" political
,ricksters," etc., ETC.? There Is no sense In all
his. his No good but untold harm must result
1t would be uncandld in me to say that the
present administration Is not amenable to
criticism. A good many things have been
approval, but 1t is entitled to fair treatment.
Newspapers publish severe criticisms of the
and they have right to pub
lsh them. Other newspapers publish vigor-
,us vindications of the administration, and
hey, too, have right to publish them-but
lbuse and vituperntion never settled contro-
versy, and never will, Political Issues In
rec country are settled by facts and argu-
n ents intelligently and fairly presented TO
he people. In enlightened communities such
acts and arguments only are effective.
Governor III Tilman himself said In the begin
ling OF his administration he would be euvi-
'oned by many difficulties, that he would en-
counter fierce opposition, critical Judgment,
.tc., and he has not been disappointed. How
much of this he has invited by his own course
,oted for him l entertained the hope that, {
,nce elected and installed, he would adopt a
oonciliatory course and allay
he irritation aroused by the exciting can vass.
think he had II In his power to have done 20,
md sincerely regret lie did not but he Is the
md presume Is prepared to stand or fall by
hem.
This much by way of preface "a very long
preface admit brings me TO the point OF sug-
'esting plan upon which think We all
,ugbt to agree.
las q majority OF the Democratic voters be-
lind II, Majorities shift with such astonish.
ny rapidity In this country that few things
re more uncertain aud deceptive. A faction
n party In a majority this year may be In Il
hopeless minority next year.
ents majority OF the Democratic voters? /
nswer. by primary election, Submit the
laims Of every candidate 10 the people and T
ct them decide at the polls who they want. Z
having decided in this way every Democrat
n the State should and Will rally to those re- :
eiying majority OF the votes and close up I
'ur divided ranks.
Surely nobody Wishing to carry out the will {