The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-22
NEED OF MORE TOLERANCE
Gen. Nj. G. Butler Discusses Poll.
tics i'm the South.
Inclined to Regard McLnurin's
Course with Approva1-His Views
ON CoIonialism-Tbe Appointment
of John G. Capers satisfactory.

of John G. Capers satisfactory.
Gen. NJ. C. Butler. of South Carolina,
who was succeeded in the Senate six
years ago by Senator Tillman, is inclined
to regard McLaurins attitude with ap-
proval.
What in your opinion. will be the
effect in South Carolina of Senator Nc
Laurins attitude toward the Democratic
party?" was asked of General Butler yes
terday.
There is no telling what twelve
months will bring forth in the politics
of this country" he replied. IF l had
been in the Senate / should have voted
just as McLaurin did with the exception
perhaps of his vote for the Ship Subsidy
bill. And yet, there are plenty of prece-
dents in Democratic history to justify n
vote for that bill. South Carolina subsi-
died every railroad bill in the Senate by
I subscribing to the capital stock of the
companies up to the breaking out of the
war. If l am not mistaken, this course
was pursued in behalf of every railroad
without exception. l am quite sure 1t was
true of the South Carolina Railroad. the
G. & c. Railroad the c. c. & A Railroad
the Blue Ridge road, and the North
eastern.
IL Will ne blSlSleti, lHdl lHtIt
is a difference in principle between such
action by a State and by the Federal
Government The Federal Government
certainly subsidized to the extent of mil
lions and hundreds of millions the Union
Pacific Railroad. undoubtedly by the vote
and help of good Democrats. However
that may be, It does not come very grace
fully from some Democrats and some So
called Democrets to question McLaurin s
| Democracy and undertake to read him out
of the party for voting as he did when
| they within two weeks thereafter wheeled
around and voted with apparent gusto for
a railroad subsidy which was not wanted
by the Postmaster General and was there
| fore said, at the time, by the consistent
| Democrats, to be a simple Eratuity from
the Treasury"
You do not then, apprehend that i'm
| perialism or militarism will take the place
of popular government if the policy Of
the present Administration is carried
| out?' was asked.
NO, sir; if the President had done less
than he has in dealing with the questions
| involved in the absence OF Congressional
action he would have made himself liable
| to impeachment and disgrace He could
not have done less and maintained the
dignity, honor, and good faith of the Gov
| ernment of which he was and is the head
! That is my candid opinion, speaking as a
citizen.
Imperialism and militarlsm do not
grow out of such questions. and cannot
as long as the press is free and uncor-
rupted and citizenship is permitted to
/ cast ballot for the preservation of
! popular government. We are In much
| more danger popular constitutional gov
ernment isl from demagogism, Social
I ism, Populism. Anarchism, and such
heresies and fallacies. The supremacy
and control of such doctrines in the af-
1 fairs of the Government may necessitate
the employment of force to preserve pub
lie order, the rights of property. and the
enforcement Of the law. so that those
who are crying loudest against imperial
ism may make it necessary and become
its authors. Political agitation which
deals with the intelligence and patriotism
| of the people is always healthful, but
no republic has survived or can survive
| the domination and control in its govern
mental administration of reckless time
serving demagogues.
What the South needs now more than
| ever in its history is broad, liberal states
manship which suggests more than mere
/ obstruction and opposition, conforming
ia all respects to constitutional limita-
tions, but getting in line with the
progress and development of the age
We are just emerging from the paralyz-
ing effects Of reconstruction with all its
horrors and crimes, and should turn our
faces to the front and contribute to the
| State and national power on all legiti-
| mate lines.
Il believe McIaurin and many other
/ nF he re in
with this course, and therefore his course
has my approval. The Democracy, in my
Judgment made fatal blunder when it
permitted the Republicans to appropriate
I to their own use the questions growing
out of the Spanish war. The Democrats
! did much to bring about that war as
the Republicans, and should have claimed
their share OF its results and conse
ouences. For myself, am reJoiced that
the crust of our national isolation has
been broken, and that we can take our
proper place among the nations Of the
! earth.
81 favor retaining possession of the
Philippines and other insular possessions
We came into possession of this new ter
| ritorY in the prosecution of just war
! We expended vast amounts of money and
lost many valuable lives ia the Spanish
war and by all the rules governing such
| questions We are entitled to indemnity for
the expenditure This indemnity is usual
~ paid in money or territory. Inasmuch
Spain hau money We TOOK Porto
Rico in part payment. and for the Philip
pines we paid cash. The title deeds were
signed. sealed and delivered. Why should
we give up land we have paid for with
! the consent of its owner-Spain?
| do you apprehend that the govern
ment of these islands is going to be very
embarrassing to our Government
Not necessarily. il common sense and
good judgment are employed in dealing
with them. OF course the problem is Il
serious one, but not insurmountable. / do
not believe in protectorate or colonial
government There Is no place in our sys-
TEN for dependencies. The new posses
sions of the United States belong To all
the people of the United States. and
should be governed under the supervision
| of Congress as our other Territories are
governed, giving TO the inhabitants of
them just much power of selfgovern-
ment and sovereignty as they are capable
of exercising This has been the rule for
Alaska for thirty-odd years and may be
as safely applied elsewhere. j cannot see
where there is such an overpOwering diff
Guilty in our way.
NO. sir: If the American people will
put their heads together in n patriotic
spirit We will solve the problem justly
and satisfactorily. The possession of
these islands will rebound with especial
and immeasurablc benefit to the cotton
| States. furnishing, as they will, most
valuable market for manufactured cotton
goods and give us a status in the Orient
from which we can defy competition in
that vast field. We should insist upon the
door being kept open to China. We should
hold on to the islands and govern them
as We can. honestly. justly. fairly. When
the inhabitants realize that our Constitu-
tioual form Of government with represen-
tative responsibility means for them free
dom and enlightened progress, they will
scoff at the jeremaids of those who have
tried to convince them that we intend to
destroy their Liberties and rob them of
their country
In regard TO the appointment of John C.
tod