The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1900-02-08
(RaI~igh News and Observer.)

(RaI-igh New, and Observer)
The NeWs ald ObSerccr yesterday
received the following:
UNITED STATES SENATE, !
Washington, ID. G., Jan. y, 1900.
Editor NcWS amt ObScrrer, Raleigh,
n G..
You have published what purported
to be a report Of my speech at the re-
cent meeting Of the Peoples Party
State Executive Committee held in the
state senate Chamber in Raleigh.
Among other Things you report me as
saving that certain persons "should
be driven from the State" etc. |
made no such statement. All that
did say that could have accidentally
been 50 misuuOtcd, or that could be
thus distorted or perverted was to
the effect that all law-abiding citizens.
regardless Of party, should JOIN hands
in this campaign to drive from power
in the state those who depend upon
getting into and remaining III power
b, ballot box stuling and by melting
mob violence. Tine meeting of the
Committee which addressed was an
executive meeting, and there was no
Reporter of any paper present. How
ynu secured this so-called report
which mi>repre-ents my speech in
many particulars, do not know, but
| am confident that every person who
WAS present III the Senate Cham ber
and heard what did say, will bear
me out in this statement.
Yours respectfully,
MARION BUTLER.
=. S-Of course YOU will do me the
Justice to publish the above letter.
Notwith>tanding Mr.. Buffers de-
nial, he used the words attributed to
| him. There can be no doubt of that.
They were taken down as he spoke
them. They were printed in this pa
per next morning. Mr.. Butler was
then in Raleigh. Neither he nor any
other member of the committee de-
| uicd that the report was correct. This
was two weeks ago, and the above is,
| so far as we know, the first denial.
And why? Mr. Butler is beginning to
see the effect his words are having.
No doubt the above is what Mr.. But
Ter whistles he had said. and it is
possible he has since persuaded bim-
| self he said it, but he did not. Here
is what he said:
..Having entered this fight we can
| not f0rSake it, We must 90 forward.
Now even more than then are our
| liberties threatened. There is one
issue and but one and WE MUST
FIGHT TILL THAT Is SETTLED.
That issue is whether or not North
Carolinians are free men.
Let us Join hands with all who
will help us and wipe out such con-
spiracy.
Il am satisfied that those in favor
of free suffrage can, by combining
their strength in the coming cam
| paign. redeem the State from the Red
Shirt Gang.
The negro question | know con
fronts us, and it must be settled, but
we cant trust the man who has lived
on the negro for thirty years to settle
| it. We've got to settle it. We are
the folks who at heart want it settled
not they. We want it settled so they
can no longer use it as a scarecrow.
The Republicans also are anxious for
its settlement. and they'll help p to set
tie it in the proper way
..LET Us JOIN HANDS AND DE
| FEAT FOREVER THIS LITTLE GANG
OF ANARCHISTS AND RED SHIRTS
who trv to take bv violence that
which they cannot win by fair means.
But it takes something more than a
red shirt to scare Il Populist. In the
eastern counties in the campaigns OF
recent years the PopulistS haven't
been running. They have been in
| more danger there than anywhere
else, but they have stood true as steel.
I'VE HAVE GOT TO FIGHT AND
WE HAD As WELL. MAKE UP OUR
| MINDS TO DO II. ! believe there
are enough votes in favor of free suf-
| frage to win in the campaign in spite
| of their ballot-boN Stutfing and red
shirt lawlessness. But to do it we
have got to be on our guard. The
election law of 1894 Twas wide open and
] wouldn't ask anything easier than
to steal 10000 votes under it. The
new election law is worse. But we'll
win in spite of it and of Simmons and
the red sthirts.
The Republicans are in the fight
to the death. LET Us JOIN HANDS
WITH THEM AND HELP THEM
WHIP THIS GANG OUT OF THE
STATE. Let us announce to the world
that North Carolina will no longer be
ruled bv anarchists. red shirts and a
little gang of toadies-men who have
betrayed every body and everything
The Republicans are willing for
us to take the lead. go ahead and hold
a convention and name a ticket. They
will be some Republicans on it. and
it NAV be we can find Democrat who
will Join in this antiamendmentti fight
| There are some such prominent Dem
ocrats and | think it possible that
one or more OF them may offer to
take a place on the ticket"
This speech created Indignation
throughout the State and the express
sion> of stern disapproval of the in
cendlary utterances were by no means
confined to Democrats. Not few
/ letters have been received at this office
from PopuliStS as we'll as from DEM
ocrats. declaring that if Butler still
had any followers who paid attention
to this advice. his speech would pro-
woke encounters that might lead to
bloodShed. 1t was tirebrand thrown
into a campaign that had been in
augurated on the part of Democrats
by an appeal to the reason and the
calm Judgment OF the manhood Of the
State.