New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-09-13
/. TAR HEEL STATESMAN.
CAREER AND CHARACTER OF MA
RON BUTLER.

as RISE TO POWER AS POLITICAL AdirAToR
.,ov HE ovERTHREw THE BOURBON DE-
,,o-RACY IN NORTH CAROLINA AND
rrcAME THE LEADER OF THE
poPULIST NATIONAL
ORGANIZATION.
:. any grouping of the political leaders who |
risen 10 prominence on the wave Of COM |
~s.ic agitation in the South. Marion Butler, |
- United States Senator from North Caro- |
ord present chairman o. the Popust Ma |
-, Committee seems Justly entitled to the
0ost Mace Tilman alone Of the new school |
= co,thern politicians can contest his North |
silva colleagues right TO rank as the most |
=, ard striking personal force behind the |
F,,ar upheaval which in recent years has |
i,vsr the old political life Of the South to its |
w foundations. In a certain fiery sensational |
- =, methods and III the direct and brutal |
'~.-,,ss Of political power. Tillman undoubtedly |
ARE head and shoulders above all rivals; nor |
AM, he denied that he. first an ong the Southern
,u,iorary leaders. captured the political ma !
.,,re-v Of state and built upon its ruins |
80. and imposing fabric of local and personal |
AVER Yet the reckessness and violence OF |
r,ura,'s craftsmanship and his eXtravagant |
.,rss ~ an almost autocratc local authority |
40 already threatening to tumble South Caro-
u,o,s "wool-hat" government to the ground |
.,ns hevond the borders of the Palmetto State
ii. influence insignificant at hest. has lately
,.-,nk 10 absolute nothingness. Political and
,.-sonal association with Sc vulgar demagogue
!. hardly endured even by his allies in the present
ps,naatjon crusade and TO the world at large
:. has Justly become the pariah of current poll
tics
Though Butler has as yet built UP a less for
rnable and impressive power at home, he has
,svsrtheless succeeded. under much more diff
,ut conditions in establishing himself securely
90 factor in the politics Of his native State.
While his influence once recognized in the wider
National field has steadily gained in popular
,npreciation and Importance. Acting, unlike
Tlman wholly without the Democratic party.
and forced TO create an original and independent
organization Of his own. Mr. Butler. in his fight
for control in North Carolina, has displayed an
alertness Of Judgment. fertility Of resources and
A direct and practical skill unmatched by any
weapons in the arsenal OF his mpetuous and
coarser-grained Southern neighbor. and the bril-
liant success Of his local strategy, continued
through three years Of difficult political manoeu-
wing has now led his party TO draft him by
general consent for National service. and to IN
trust to him the MANAGEMENT Of the most I'M
portant campaign so far in the history Of the
Populist organization.
Mr. BUFFERS BRILLIANT SUCCESSES.
At thirty-three years-sxteen years younger
than Tillman. his only rival for the priority of
rank among successful Southern agitators;
seven years younger than Watson, the candidate
10
younger even than the Boy orator. in the joint
management of whose campaign for the Presi-
dency he is TO play a commanding part-the
North Carolina leader finds himself intrenched
n political power in his own State secure in the
enjoyment OF four years term in the United
States Senate, and intrusted practically with the
destinies Of a political party in a nationa! can
yass whose complications offer boundless oppor- |
tunity for ingenious combina.iCr and burrowing |
intrigue. Can the career o, Tillman. or Watson. |
or even Of the Boy Car ..date himself. show a
greater brilliancy or s-i,Gi.y OF achievement?
OF the candidates on the Presidential and Vice
Presidential ticket. Watson alone. Of course. !
offers fair comparison. Cutting loose from the
Democratic organization and enlstng in the
Farmers Alliance movement about the same |
time Butler. his career in Georgia was shaped !
from the start on much the same lines as But ;
Representatives in 1890 turning into a full
hedged Populist. and being pushed forward as
the third party leader and candidate for Speaker
against Nj Crisp. the young Georgian seemed ,
to leap at one bound into the most conspicuous /
rank in the new organization. His too sudden |
rise to prominence proved fatal. however.
All the strength Of the Bourbon Democracy OF |
Georgia was exerted to prevent his reelection /
The Popuist forces behind him were unOrganized /
and he suffered signal defeat. Though strug
Cling again and again 10 recover his lost power !
and revive the party fortunes in Georgia. Mr. |
Watson through defect OF temperament or lack |
Of genuine political skill. has met only with sue
cessiye rryerses. PopUlism failed somehow TO |
strike root in the stony soil OF Georgia Bourpoh- !
Ism Only Mr.. WatsOn's unexpected nomination /
fc- the Vice Presidency at St Louis interviewed /
70 save him from comparative pohtlcal ooiNioh
Like KOlb IN Alabama. Field in Virginia Nc |
DoYell in Tennessee. and hearbey ana DAVIS IN
Texas. the Georgia leader had found no natural
Cleavage IN the Democratic party mo when 20
DIVE the wedge OF POpusm. and his following |
could maintain itself only as hopeful nucleus
10Y future opposition.
Butler indeed had the advantage Of more !
iaVOrng conditions. for North Carolina perhaps /
he most democratic OF the original slave states |
With no governing arstOcracy and far less Ilsld
Iacitons than her neighbOrs. offered an eHctP- /
uenal field for the agitatcr who sought 70 as
pace the old order with all his VaSarles OF econ,
9Mca and political reform. North carolina nau
suffered little or nothing from reconstructlon |
rule. and having minority negro population
c0uc easily afford TO dismiss the bugaboo oil |
aegro supremacy so effectual in keeping intact !
ne Bourbon organization in other States The !
rariners' Alliance movement had also been |
auhched and guided in North Carolina by one |
80. He most energetic and sklfu! organizers |
Hlch that singular agitation has PRODUCED |
,,. 4. Polk, who, but for his untmely death |
RAJ nov, now be enjoying the political honors when
Oh Nn-sh 70 his successor in leadership IN tne
~ worth State. The results Of Polk's industry /
11aeaclty survived him. and undoubtedly |
onsn, . .d In large measure 20 Buffers subse-
ns,ia uiuhnphs Yet the dexterity and tact, the !
re- - ana effort required on Buffers part 10 /
no. e .ul fruits Of the agitation successfully |
to- a 1noer his predecessors panstaking dircc-
Inc 80 mp MIN as a political manager OF genu-
sn1-e--H unluestlOnel talent. Tor MI Butlers |