The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1894-05-23
Uhe gerala and Velr5
ELBERT Ell B EdrAElI' =; AgIL' Proprietors.
ELBERT Il. AULL. EDITOR
TAKE YOUR CHOICE.

TAKE YOUR CHOICE.
There has been some interest in the
replies of Gov. Tillman and Gen. But
Ter to the alliance catechism. Both re-
plies are now in and we give the letters
to our readers this week. We have
read both replies rather carefully, and
really there is not much difference that
we can see in the two replies. Neither
one of them measures up fully to the
vardstick, and we do not see how the
alliance can get along without third
candidate if it means to give its sup
port only to such candidates as swallow
the whole thing.
Gov. Tillman is opposed to the sub
treasury plan of lending money direct
to the people and does not hesitate to
say SO. Gen. Butler says he under
stands that this plank has been aoan-
doned as impracticable and unconsti-
tutional, and he suggests something
better in the repeal of the ten per cent.
tax on State Banks Of issue. This is
good Democratic doctrine, and the
Senator has held this position for a
long time. They both say they will
not be bound by caucus of the party,
and Gen. Butler says it is never under
stood that party caucus binds the con-
science of those who attend. They
both also oppose the government own
ership of railroads and telegraphs, and
Gen. Butler points out how such q
scheme would defeat one of the main
planks of the platform of the alliance
by increasing the bonded debt and
thus perpetuate the national bank sys-
sem and be burden upon the taxpay-
ers. He also tells the alliance that he
was in favor of the free coinage OF silver
before it was born, and is glad - see
that the order has adopted his platform.
The alliance took two pulls at Gov.
Tillman before he was brought out.
They both favor the income tax, and
neither pledges himself to vote against
any and all candidates who refuse to
uphold the alliance demands. Gen.
Butler says he will remain loyal to the
Democratic party so long as it adh:res
to the principles which he thinks con-
6ucive to the best interests of the peo-
ple. Gov. Tillman omitted to say any
thing about allegiance TO the Demo
cratic party. Gov. Tillman writes like
be felt that he twas bigger than the
alliance" and we are inclined to think
that he is, and that the alliance will
adopt him as its candidate, though he
refuses to endorse two OF the main
planks in its platform. We do not be-
lieve the alliance will feel that it can
well afford to oppose Gov. Tillnan.
But we shall see.
We have no fault to find with Gen.
Buffers letter. He stands where he
has stood for long time. In fact we
believe where he has stood even before
the alliance was any sort of a factor in
our politics.
We will await with some degree of
interest the action of the alliance on
these two letters. Will alliancemen
accept either one of the candl-
dates, or will they 60 in search OF a
new man. The State suggests that
they might find suitable and pliable
and flexible man in the person of DR..
J. Billie Stokes who has been promi-
aent candidate for several campaigns.
Well, if they want a man who can
easily swallow the whole platform he
would be good subject. On one occa-
sion in advocating the sub-treasury we
remember to have heard him say that
if the government loaned $50 on cotton
and the cotton was not redeemed but
sold by the government, and it only
realized $50 for it, nothing had been
lost because the money was in circula-
ton.
Our purpose now is simply to direct
attention to the letters of Gov. Tillman
and \ IN. Butler. You can read them
for yourself and take your choice. They
have both spoken iu response to the
alliance catechism. When they get on
the stump they will more fully explain
their positions and make things lively
generally for the boys.