The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-12-06
DEMOCRATIC LEAGUE CLUBS.
Senator Butler Gives his Views as to
Their Organization,

Senator Butler Gives His Views as to
| Their Organization.
GREENvILLE, S. G., Nov. 30.-The
editor of The Mountalneer. believing
that the views of Senator Butler upon
the proposed organi ration of Democrat
ic leagues would prove interesting to the
public, addressed letter to that gentle.
man not long ago, to which the follow.
Ing answer has been received. The re.
sponse is in the line to be expected from
one who has given practical evidence
of his ability to meet emergencies IN the
past, and bis eloquent plea for the unity
ard supremacy of the white man in South
| Carolina will not be lost UPON the mass.
es, who are ready as ever to maintain
| the doctrine by which the State was re.
deemed from misrule and corruption.
The letter is as follows:
"Washineton, b. g., Nov. %, 1913
"Col. Jas. A Hoyt, Greenville, S. G.
my Dear Sir: I am IN receipt of
your letter of the 18th inst, asking my
views on the proposed organization of
Democratic leagues in South arolina.
l am not well enough advised of the
object of the proposed organization
to give very intelligent opinion in
regard 10 it. My understanding of tbe
objects of the National Democratic as
sociation or league, of which the Hon I.
Chauncey Black of Pennsylvania. is
president, and Mr.. Lawrence Gardner
of this city, is secretary, Is that
they shall be auxiliary OF supple
mental 10 the regular organizations in
the different States and Territories and
are rather educational than strictly po.
litical. That is to say, they are instru-
mentalitles for the collection and distri-
button of Democratic literature, and are
convenient organizations to assemble
and have addresses on financial or eco
nomic topics by distinguished Demo-
cratic Speakers. If that be the purpose
of the proposed organization in South
Carolina can see no objection to it.
We all need instruction in sound Demo-
Garlic doctrine, and T should welcome
any movement that would promulgate
or encourage 1t.
"If, on the other hand, the object be
| to organize leagues or associations lnde-
pendent of and in antagonism to tue
| regular Democratic organization of the
| State, I think it would be unwise and
impolitc. What we most need IN South
Carolina is harmony and good feeling
among the Democratic masses. We
cannot disguise the fact that there are
two factions IN our party. Sincere, hon
est Democrats are to be found iu both,
and I think 1t only needs patience and
| federation and torbearance, one for DIFF
ferences of opinion with the other, to
bring our people together. It is for the
interest of some men to keep up dlssen.
ton, wrapgliug, angry recriminatlons
and abuse, but the great body of Dome.
Gratis IN both factions are tired of it. OF
course there are those who live and
thrive on confusion and dissention.
They have nothing else to sustain them,
and when party strife is ended and mat
ters settle down to a normal state, they
subside and disappear. But, as I have
remarked, our people are at heart con-
servative and want peace. Peace can
be secured on perfectly honorable terms
to both factions if our people are allowed
to get together.
Il fear the organization OF the pro-
posed leagues would oper tie as fire.
brand rather than sedatlve-would be
seized upon by agltators to widen tn e
breach. That at least ls my apprehen =
sion. Whatever reform may be desired IN
the regular Democratic organization
must and can be- effected in the organi-
zation. trust therefore, that we shall
90 along 10 the regular way and close
up our ranks to make common cause for
good government.
II have heard it limited that one fac
ton or the other has, or may appeal to
| the negro vote to defeat the other. I
sincerely and devoutlY pray that no such
calamity may ever befall my native
State. The degradation ofthe ballot,
the decentralization OF the white people,
not yet cured from the experiences OF
'76' would be something too terrible to
contemplate. With su;h q great pre-
pondersnce of negroes, we can draw n o
comfort or encouragement from expert
ences in other States with white major
tiles. Fof myself, I have struggled for
white supremacy and shall continue to
struggle for it's permanency. Whatever
am owe to the white people of South
Carolina, and by them and with them
shall survive or perish.
above all things let me implore our
| pooplo to boor NTH opo opothor noupe al
with one another in spirit of patriotic
federation and enlightened forbearance.
1.-THE political fate Of any man or set
of men is of small concern, when bal
anced against the welfare Of all our peo-
pie. Young men are coming to the
front full of political ardor and honora-
BILE ambition. They should be encour-
aged on the lines of such political
methods as will ensure good government
and ready obedience to law justly ad-
ministered. Upon their shoulders will
rest the burdens and responsibilities OF
maintaining social order and admins
tering the affairs of the government.
They cauIot do this satisfactorily with
the ballot degraded, as it must be by
an appeal to the negro vote, until this
race has made more enlightened progress
IN the scale of civilization. Some of them
are equal to the duties of citizenship
nov. but as a whole they are not
Every truly yours, M. @. BUTLER" "
| ATsller's Narrow Escape.
ROANOKE, Va, Nov. 24.-a. F. Low
ing, former paying teller of the First
| National Bank of this city, who was
j indi,,tod ON 0ntnhar % for ann hpzZlinp o