The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-12-21
THE ROCKY MOUNT sPFECH N0 LONGER
oC-M 10 DOUBT.

Editor Campbell has long article II
the last issue Of the Argonaut tenn
perately reviewing the discussion be
tween that paper and the Caucasian
and terrifying the publication i'll the
Argonaut. After reiterating the truth
of the original charge, Mr.. Campbell
supports it by statements of leading citi'
zens. One of them, an honored clergy,
man in Senator Buffers own church
Rev. Il. S. Mckenzie, rector of the
Episcopal church at Rocky Mount,
writes:
II would have challenged the
SANDER ut the time, but did not
think it becoming to one of my
calling to make the first move. The
more / thought of it the more in
dignant | became. | swear to the
truth Of the charge because | think
it right that a man holding Senator
Buffers position, who so vilely SIAN
ders the best people Of the State,
should be exposed"
After quoting from others, Editor
Campbell continues:
but il the affidavits OF these good
men and true are not enough, we
have plenty of others to back them
up. Among many others, the follow
ing prominent citizens heard Senator
Butler utter his SANDER against the
best people of his native State and
can so testify:
"'Thos. H. Battle, president Bank
Of Rocky Mount.
"Hon. j. b. Phillips, Battleboro,
farmer
REV. A. d. Belts. minister Of the
GOSPEL.
Capt. Robert Whitaker. yard mas
ter A. G. l..
ed. G. Muse, commercial traveller.
IN. Oppenheimer, of the firm Of
OTpenheimer and Smithson.
I'm all thirteen, Of among the
very best citizens OF this section.
Thirteen! an unlucky number for
Marion Butler.
''Mr. }. B. Phillips says: Say for
me that Marion Buffers claim that
he used the words agents of shylock
and the monopolies' instead Of Dem
ocratse is false. ,sis charge was
made against Democrats and l am
willing to swear tV it, Those who
know .Joe' Phillips would be salts
fed If there were no other evidence.
"RevA. ID. Belts says: 4 am sorry
tomsay that the young man said it.
Anember it veal. for it hurt me-
to- think. that man in so high a
position should SO SANDER some of
the best people in the State. II
There are not better men in North
Carolina than the above names and the
six men whose affidavits we have al
ready printed. Wherever they are
known, their word will be accepted with
out questioning. 1t is clearato us that
the Argonaut has fully established the
truth of its original publication. Con
Guiding Editor Campbell says
~ do not wish to wrong Senator
Butler. ] published what he said be-
cause | thought it right to- do so and
not as part of plot, as Mr.. Butler
charges. j did not consult with
any one before publishing it, nor
have | done so since except as far
as to get testimony to substantiate
my statement. -
eff / have maligned Mr.. Butler
there is a course open to him by
which he can obtain vindication, and
/ receive the punishment the crime
deserves. If l have libeled him, by
all means let him file his complaint
with the proper authorities and have
me punished for the same.
''To be sure such a course on the
part of the Senator might prove a
boomerang and he might come out
of it with the seal OF slanderer and
liar stamped upon his brown.
81 am willing to take the risk ON
my part-are you willing to take it
on yours-Senator Marion ButlerY'
We regret that we have not space for
the entire article. 1t is temperate in
tone. One of the strongest points in
the article is the argument that the
editorial printed in the Caucasian of
September Both, copied and condemned
in this paper early in October, is SUBJ
stantially what Butler says he did not
say in his Rocky Mount speech. Every
one who reads the base charge, printed
in cold time, would feel confident that
he used the words attributed to him in
the Rocky Mount speech, even if they
did not have the testimony of a dozen
Argonaut's report.