The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1894-05-29
ANSWERING THE ALLIANCE.
BUTLERS VIEWS AS TO THE DE
MANDS,

He is Ready to Discuss Public Issues
Caucus Cannot Bind His Con
science-The Sub-Treasury n Back
Ownership of tho Railroads aud
Telegraphs-Favors an Income TaA
and Repeal OF the Bank Tax.
[Senator Butler has replied to the
questions propounded by the Farmers
Alliance, and under date of May IL,
1894, he sends the following answer to
Mr.. II. p. Mitchell, chairman execu-
tive committee of the State Alliance.
The questions and "demands" are
omitted by us, because they are already
known to our readers, and we give the
reply of Senator Butler to the questions
asked j
Taking up the questions OF your let
ter in their order, beg to say in re-
sponse to the first, will discuss any
public question the people may desire
to have discussed, and as the Finances
of tho country" are legitimate and
proper subjects for discussion, 1 will
discuss them with pleasure and with
out reserve. L will refer moro fully to
the last point Of your inquiry, whether
L will "defend them against the
enemies of our (your) ORDER" when |
come to discuss the Alliance platform.
whether you mean to ask me whether
L will defend the finances OF the
country against the enemies of your
order, or the finances of the country T"
as proposed by the Alliance. | assume
you mean the latter.
Replying to your second question, l
beg to say that in my political life
have never allowed any caucus, or
society, or organization, to bind my
conscience, and shall not do SO in tho
future. Caucuses, or societies, or or
ganizations of any kind, which seek
to bind the political conscience OF any
free American citizen, are in my judg-
ment, inimical to that freedom of con-
science and political action, so essential
to tho preservation of free republican
institutions. l have attended many
caucuses of the Democratic party, to
which | belong [ have never heard
the suggestion that any mans con-
science, or political action should be
bound by them. | never will so sur
render my individual judgment as to
be bound by any caucus. | am loyal
to the principles of the Democratic
party, and shall maintain that loyalty
so long as it adheres to principles |
think conducive to the best interests
of the people, not q day longer. l
have been under the impression that
the Farmers Alliance was not politi-
cal organization, but an Industrial
Union for the protection of the farm
ers against impoSitions from other
sources. / do not believe in secret
political organizations, we had sad
experience sOme years ago with them.
Whatever concerns the political well
fare of our people should be open to
the fullest, freest, most public discus
sion. In order to prevent impOsitions
on the people, the light must be turned
on from all points of view. recognize
no master in this country. except the
people. Caucus rule should not be al
lowed to usurp the rule Of the people.
will, therefore, say will pledge my
loyalty to the demands of the Alliance,
so far as they meet the demands of my
judgment and | cannot hold them above
loyalty to party caucus, because make
no pledges to party caucuses," and
deny the right of party caucuses," or
any other caucuscs tC command pledges
from me to surrender my conscience
and Judgment to it's dictation.
Coming now to the demands, permit
mo to say, by way Of preface, that there
seems to be very grave misapprehcn-
sion in the minds of some people as to
the power of IL caucus over its NOM
caucuses since have been in the SEN
ate, but nobody ever dreamed of bind
ing any member of the caucus to vote
against his Judgment For instance,
Democrats and Republicans differ
widely among themselves on financial
questions. a caucus is held for con-
sultaton and financial topics are dis
cussed, but in the Senate and House
each man votes as his judgment die
tates some may favor the free and un-
limited coinage OF silver at one ratio
or another; some may favor the sub
treasury plan of the Alliance, and
after consultation in caucus they vote
for or against either proposition, when
the occasion arises. Nobody is bound
by the caucus unless he chooses vol
UNFAIRLY to be so bound. No oaths are
administered, no pledges exacted, as a
requisite of party fealty. If there were,
would never attend a caucus.
In regard to demand " first" of the
Alliance, l will say that the sub-treas
ury plan has been abandoned because
it was found to be impracticable and
unconstitutional, and therefore it is
unnecessary to discuss it. In my judg'
ment q better system" would be at
tained by the repeal of the 10 per cent
tax on State banks Of circulG ton, and
l. UFuSU IIlttU Ullc fAllluuCc VIII UtRc plldl
up and make it one of the "dcmands'
1 cannot, of course discuss this PROPOSE
tion at length in this connection, but
take the liberty of handing you one oil
my speeches delivered in the Senate
at the last extra session, in which
have attempted to elaborate the argu.
ment in favor of the repeal, and beg
you to do me the favor to examine it
/ think you will find that if this tax
should be repealed we would have 6"
safe, sound, flexible currency" and
enough Of it.
| favor I" the free and unlimited coin.
age of silver and gold at the present
legal ratio of l6 to L." and advocated
it in Congress before the Alliance was
organized, and am gratiied to know
that the Alliance has adopted my plat
form on this subject.
Fifty dollars per capita is not toe
much currency for country like ours
but the trouble with our present fl
nancial system is not so much the pei
capita amount OF currency as the un
equality Of its distribution. Some sec
tions OF the country have much more
than $50 per capita, while in our sec
tion, doubt if wo have So per capita
If in our State we could be guaranteed
$40 per capita, If so much was neces
sary for transaction of our business,
would compromise on that; we should
then have about so, 100000 of currency
in circulation in South Carolina, where
as | doubt If we now have $1,000. 900
If, by tho repeal of the 10 per cent
tax, the States should be permitted tt
nuthoriZe bnnkS of nirnnIotinp ~,