The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-01-18
BIN stTrLkwoRTH'S Rue WORDS.

1vba death of Hon. Ben. Butterworth,
Commissioner of Patents, who has been
IN for some time, will make vacancy IN
nnhlic life which will not be easily filled.
Long in Congress, he retired after deelin-
inc TO go with his party in its extreme
nosition on protection. He was an honest
student of social and political problems,
and he had the independence to follow
y here his convictions led him. lie
Nas an able man, with originality and
fire. and when he spoke was always
heard and often quoted.
N;r. Butterworths last public speech,
delivered at a celebration on July 4th,
IosI Mt Luther Place Memorial church
in Washington city, was regarded rs re-
m.rkable at the time. 1t was criticized
by public men of the Hanna school Of
politics, but was pondered over by
thoughtful patriots. We quote:
Our country possesses enough broad
acres to raise food to feed the world, and
sufficient resources to give employment
to one-half the human family. | know
that for all these gifts we are devoutly
thankful. But why are our granaries
running over, our sheep running about
the mountains unsheared, and yet there
are men among us without clothing or
food? There is something the matter.
With all of our wonderful resources, TO
have the country filed with idlers, plain
Nv indicates that there is something
wrong"
Continuing. Mr.. Butterworth declared
that the people are the ones to blame in
the matter, for they are the government
and are responsible for the election of
the President and legislators, and hence
responsible also for their acts.
1T is true" said he. 'that there is
prosperity in the country, even with
the conditions of pauperism that are pic
tured. but the trouble is that prosperity
is running too much in one direction.
On the one hand we have starvation and
want. and on the other the reckless and
lavish expenditure of immense sums of.
money, This is due to some error in our
system of economics. For any law, an
wisely written, allowing such errors, we
should rebuke the lawmakers forclby
and audiby. The history of the world
is that when in a country accumulated
capital finds expression in controlling
legislation and shaping administrations,
the dissolution of that country is near.
Such a condition exists in this country
to-day. and it is q coward who does not
say so. and an ignoramus who does not
know it. 1t behooves this people toI
see TO ii that no other motive than pa
triotism finds expression in the legisla-
ton in yonder Capitol.
Each man is part and parcel of the
government. With a ballot | control its
destinies. One single ballot once cast
thourhtless determined the question
of war between this young republic and
a sister republic to the south. The desti-
nv of a nation may thus depend upon a
ballot we thoughtlessly cast The liberty
of no people has been destroyed except
by the people themselves. Our system Of
suffrage is unfortunately based upon a
peculiar condition. for every male cltl-
zen of certain age, no matter what MS
moral character. his reputation, or any
thing else may he, has a ballot. lie, the
purchaseable commodity in politics, holds
the balance Of power, and Id ike TO
know how many men high in official lie
owe their places to the purchase of this
commodity / again make the statement
for which / was criticised some time ago,
and that is that there is not legisla-
tive body under this flag that has not its
organized bandit within its midst, who
buy and sell legislation. and there is
not municipality under this flag but
that has a band in it who, for sum
of money. will guarantee to block or has
fen legislation. When any corporation,
body, of monetary power can dictate leg
islation it is nearing a condition that
means the destruction of the republic.
Let us see to it that with the inequality
of apportionment men have rights as well
as property. that properties have duties
TO perform as well as men,"