The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1893-07-27
PRESIDENT BUTLER
ADDRESSES : LARGE CROWD ~
8RlNTLfES 5 GROVE HIS SPEECH
DELIGHTFUL O,SEpPO .TnENT

/ CAMo. y. C.-The l+th of Jul,
was, and will be memorable day it
the history of the Alliance in IIert
ford county. The day was intense
| ly warm and early in the morning
were indications Of rain. However
neither the heat nor the threatening
clouds prevented the Alliance. both
male and female, from assembling,
The audience was indeed for "A coun-
ty oEe very large, numbering at least
eight hundred. The meeting pre-
schtcd two great attractions, name
l!y, the transaction of important bus
mess and the presence Of our Presi
dent, Mr.. Marion Butler. His fame
az a speaker had preceded him, and
t'Ie deslreron the part of our people
|, hear hlm was eager and great.
The usual routine of business for the
morning was suspended in order to
hear the President. Comfortable
seats were arranged beneath the
shade of Brantley's Grove, and a
roStrum erected, which was protect
ed from the suns rays 10y friendly
foliage. The speaker was nitro
duced by the county lecturer, with
out flourish of trumpet or clash of
symbol, but in plain manner, be-
coming rustic and an unlettered
farmer. The speech Of Mr.. But
Ter was indeed most singular one
His political opponents had tracked
hlm III his lecture tour, and painted
him aS the very incarnation of a DO
lltIcal demagogue. The good peo-
pie at large were warned by the
scntlnels on the watch towers of the
public press, that he was dan
gerons foe to good government and
an INSCRIPTIONS partisan.
lie was aware Of this crusade and
that the belted knights, full of sara
cenlc hate, had sounded the bugle
call to arms. 1t was hardly to be ex-
pected that his audience would hear
words of no angry import, see no
flashes OF an aroused indignation,
hear no growls of bottled up thun-
der, but great was the surprise and
great the pleasure of all to listen to
a strictly Alliance lecture, without
solitary allusion to partisan poll
tics, without solitary TRADE of
personal bitterness. He painted no
sky Iurid with surcharded lighting,
he implored no AeoIus to unloose
the winds of his wrath to wreck the
enemies Of the order. To say that
his speech was an ingenious one and
well-timed, calm, cool and dispass-
lonate IS but echoing the expression
of his entire audience. Many whocame
to scott, went away to think. Many
who desired to see the flash of sabre
and the tilt of lance, saw only the
olive branch, heard the gentle notes
Of peace, not the wild alarums of
war, saw not MariLs, sullen, gloomy,
with the thunder cloud of wrath up
his brow, the lightning of hate in
his glittering eye, meditating ven
geance for his defeat, but rather
Timotheus in chalcis, majestic in
his serenity and calm in the midst
of disaster. Not even the tempting
bait of silver's sheen lured him
from the even tenor of his speech.
His presence among us was an in
splration; his words replete with
wisdom, with cheer, which fell on
willing ears and found deep lodge
ment in loving hearts. [ heard not
that day, nor since that day, single
disapproyal Of Mr.. Buffers speech.
He discussed Allianceism, pure aud
unmixed, and left the vultures of
party to fly without shot. His ex-
ordium was indeed beautiful-oil
thrown with loving hands upon a
deeply agitated surface. His pero-
ration was striking and sublime. 1t
is said that the imprisoned eagle
turns his eye full upon the undim-
med splendor of the sun, and tears
not with clan and beak the little
wires that hinder him from sealing
Andcan heights or Alpine peaks.
The Alliance of Hertford county
and many others who heard his lee
ture-hls words Of weil-timed ad-
vice-his warning cry against hate
and persecution, tender thanks to
the President Of the Alliance. He
has left a sweet memory behind. The
lecture occupied an hour and half
III its delivery. The audience was
attentive. The fair ladies
around Brantley's grove had arrang-
ed a beautiful bpquet. By request
the Lecturer of the county presented
it to. the speaker, who gracefully ac-
knowledged its reception.
Au abundant dinner was furnish
ed and all and Lundy, having been
partook of it abundantly.
The beStspirit prevailed. Democrats,
Republicans and Peoples party
men, all fraIernizing and express
ing themselves charmed with the |
speaker and the speech.
JEFFERSON AND JACKSON