Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1894-04-11
BUTLER IN DARLINGTON.
CONTINUED FROM FIRST PAGE.

the Governor had ordered Capt.
Mclaughlin to fire iuto church
filled with women and children;
suppose he had ordered him to Get
fire to the town of Columbia; sup
pose be had ordered him to throw
a railroad tram, full of innocent
passengers, from the track Ac-
cording to his theory he would
have had to obey, and yet, If he
had obeyed, Capt Mclaughlin
and his company could have been
arrested, tried and doubtless con-
victed, of murder or arson or in
cendiarism, and the order OF the
superior officer, the Governor
would not have protected him.
This shows how wild and untenable
and absurd his proposition is. I
repeat, no officer can be compelled
to carry out an unlawful order OF
his superior officers, and if he de-
clines to odey it, the only penalty
he incurs is trial by court martial.
"I would not advise any officer
or soldier in the military service
of his State or elsewhere to acts of
insubordination or disobedience of
orders, but they are as amenable
to law as other citizens, and should
never forget that they are subordi-
nate to the civil power of the gov
ernment. We have had a recent
example of how sensitive the
officers and soldiers of the regular
army are. At Denver. COL, where
Gen. McCook of the regular army
refused to interfere at the instance
of Governor Waite. saying he
was present with his troops as
preservers Of the peace, and could
only interfere when the civil
powers are paralyzed. This | think
would be a safe rule for the mill
tary of this and all other States.
"Governor Tillman has ruth
lessly and wantonly insulted this
gallant young officer of Newberry.
There is, aad can be, no justifca-
ton for cruelty. Capt McCaugrin
is gentleman, and exercised the
right which every soldier has, of
rendering his resignation rather
than serve under a braggart, bully
or all incompetent superior officer.
He has right to exercise this
privilege at any and all times, and
the exercise of the right does not
Justify or excuse this wanton in
suit from his superior officer.
"I cannot comprehend what Gov
ernor Tillman means by his wild
and reckless conduct. The thinking
people of this State, of all factions
are tired of dissensions, wrangling
and confusion, of his fre-alarm,
pyrotechnic style of government.
1t is having a bad effect upon the
material and social interests of the
State. 1t is making US an object
of ridicule and a by-word with all
enlightened, intelligent people. We
want repose, quiet. peace order;
and it will not do for him to say
that these disturbances are brought
about by an oligarchy or an
aristocracy or ring. He has had
undisputable control of every de-
partment of the government for
nearly four years and it is very
strange that all these disturbances
and dissensions, and all of this
wrangling aad bloodshed should
spring from his own administration.
Does it not argue that there isl
something wrong, radically wrong,
in his administration;
;The people of this State are
not felons or outlaws; as a rule
they are conservative and law
of all factions. In 1876
hey arose in their power
and hurried from the administra-
ion of the State government men
who had brought disaster and sor-
row upon the people. They are
Iong suffering and patient and he