The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-04-05
THE TRUE STATE OF AFFAIRS.
Senator Butler Explains the Status in
South Carolina,

SOubn OarOl1na.
Charleston, S. c., April 4.-Senator M.
c. Butler spent Monday in Darlington,
the center of the recent disturbance, and
took pains to ascertain all of the facts in
connection Herewith. Monday night he
gave correspondent of the News and
Courier a comprehensive statement of the
affair In order that the country may be
correctly informed, and not base its con-
clusions on Gov. Tillman's biased state
ment, which has been telegraphed every
where, Senator Buffers account is ap-
pended:
l came down from Darlington this evening
where have been the past twenty-four hours.
AS far as L could learn everything is perfectly
quiet. The civil authorities are prepared to
discharge their duty 1t seems that number
of state cOnstables or spies as they are
called. had been in Darlington for the purpose
of ascertaining If there was cOntraband
whisky. In the searches which they made
they we're supported by the mayor and civil
authorities of Darlington, and there was not
the slightest resistance to the enforcement Of
the dispensary law. On the contrary the peo-
pie of Darlington cooperated with the en-
forCement. This was prior to Thursday,
March 20. 1t appears that the force
OF constables or spies was increased
on that day by a reinforcement of about
eighteen men armed with Winchester
rifles and pistols. Why this reinforcement Of
armed men should be sent into a peaceable
law abiding community where there had been
no resistance to law / cannot understand,
and think the authorities will have
difnculty in explaining 1t. 1t also APP
pears that this armed band were about to re-
tire from the community where they had not
been molested or disturbed, when personal
difficulty arose between two young men at
the railroad station where these spies were.
The difficulty, from what / can learn, was an
entirely personal matter between the parties
engaged, and in no way connected with the
execution Of the dispensary law One of
these armed constables, McLendon by name,
interfered in this private dlfficulty. A citizen,
Mr.. f. f.. NoTment, at the depot on business,
made some remark and there was an eX-
change of epithets between him and this con-
stable whereupon the constable opened fire
on MT Norment with the remark, cd damn
IT, bows let her roll The firing then became
general between the armed COnstableS and
tine few persons who appear to have been at
the station by accident or on business. The
result of this firing was that two young unof
Tending citizens we're slain. one constable
killed and this man McLendon badly
wounded; several other citizens were shot
and the chief Of police. who was trying to
preserve order, several times wounded. The
people OF Darlington were naturally indlg-
nant at the extraordinary and violent meas
ures adoDted by the authorities Of the state,
and upon the information of this emute at
the station, they turned out and pursued the
men whom they righuully thought had com
mitted wanton and unprovoked murder
upon two of their best citizens. They pur-
sued these men, take 1t, as long as there
was prospect of arrestina them and we
must assume Of bringing them to justice for
what they considered an unprovoked homi
eide AS proof Of their conservatism, the
wounded man. McLendon, who had shot Mr.
Norrnent was taken to the jail and there pro-
tected from further injury, although the peO-
ple of the town were greatly infuriated at his
Conduct. l think 1t may be safely asserted
that there is not more law-abtdlng, lntelh
gent community anywhere in the United
States than in the two counties OF Darlington
and Florence
governor Of the state Of South Carolina
would have felt 1t to be my duty, upon being
informed OF the occurrences al Darlington, TO
have gone promptly to the scene OF disturb
ance and assured the people of that hitherto
law-abidlng community that they should have
fair play. 1 think If Coy Tlllman had done
this. matters could have been composed in
twenty-four hours. and whoever should have
been proven to be at fault would have been
made amena0le to the law. Instead OF THAT
he issued proclamation denounclnS the good
neople of these two counties as insurgents
A. d lnsurrectionists. and ordered the military
of the state to camp upon them During my
stay at Darlington l was deeply impressed
with the anxiety OF both the citizens and the
military to keep within the limits Of the law.
/ advised as far as l had the right to advise
that under our form OF government the mill
farv be subordinate to the civil power, and
the use of the military arm was only justi-
fable when the civil authority was proved 10
he powerless and paralyzed. And think If
GOV. Tillman had or would recognize this con-
stitutional relation of the two powers OF our
government he would avoid many OF the mis-
fakes which he has made,
There are two ways to execute any law:
The one py wisdom and conservatism and
6rnness and the other by harshness, violence
and an unreasoning disregard Of the feelings
NJ The citizens. l need not now express my
opinion in regard to the dispensary law, but
may say that in my judgment the governor is
attemptinc to enforce 1t in harsh, violent
and iI[advised manner. lie ought TO know
that the Anglo-Saxon, particularly in our day
and generation, will not submit beyond a
certain point to be harried' repressea ana
aI'he constitution Of the United States and
OF the state guarantee the citizens against un-
reasonable searches, and there Is nothing IN
the disDensary law that l know of which 1usti-
fes an invasion OF this sacred right. GOV
Iillman must not imagine from the patience