The times., 1901-04-22
NEED OF MORE TOLERANCE
Gen. nj. G.. Butler Discusses Poll
tics in the South.
Inclined to Regard McLnurins
Course with Approynl-His Views
on CoIoniaIism-Tbe Appointment
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 Me
Laurin's 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 a
vote for that bill. South Carolina subsi-
dized every railroad bill in the Senate by
subscribing to the capital stock of the
| companies up to the breaking out of the
war. II I am not mistaken, this course
was pursued in behalf of every railroad
without exception. l am quite sure II was
true of the South Carolina Railroad, the
G. & c. Railroad. the c. c. & A Railroad,
the Blue Ridge road. and the North
eastern.
1T viii be insisted, perhaps, that there
is 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, II 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 ard 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 simple gratuity from
/ the Treasury"
You do not, then, apprehend that inn
perialism or militarism will take the place
| of popular government if the policy Of
the present Administration is carried
! out2" was asked
mo, 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.
z
1 citizen.
imperialism and milftarism 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 "A ballot for the preservation of
/ popular government. We are in much
more danger popular constitutional gov
ernment isl from demagogism, Social
( ism, Popuiism. Anarchism, and such
beresies and fallacies. The supremacy
and control of such doctrines in the af-
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 ii necessary and become
/ it's 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 it's govern
mental administration OF reckless time
! serving deTnagogues.
What the South needs now more than
! ever in it's history is broad, liberal states
ma anship which suggests more than mere
/ obstruction and opposition, conforming
in all respects to constitutional limiJa-
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
L believe McIaurin and many other
! young men of the South are in harmony
| with this course, and therefore his course
has nv approval. The Democracy, in my
judgment, made a fatal blunder when it
| permitted the Republicans to appropriate
! to their own use the questions growing
/ ont of the Spanish war. The Democrats
] did as much to bring about that war as
I the Republicans, and should have claimed
their share Of its results and conse-
( uuences. 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.
Il 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 in the Spanish
1 war, and by all the rules governing such
| questions we are entitled to indemnity Tor
the expenditure. This indemnity is usual
l " paid in money or territory. Indsmuch
as Spain had money We took Porto
| Rico in part payment. and for the Philip
! pines we paid cash. The title deeds were
we give up land we have paid for with
the consent OF its owneT-Spain?
| "Do you apprehend that the govern
I ment of these islands is going 10 be very
embarrassing to our Government
Not necessarily, if common sense and
good judgment are employed IN dealing
! with them. OF course the problem is Il
serious one, but not insurmountable. l do
not believe in proteCtorate or colonial
government. There ~ no place in our sys-
tenn 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 10 the inha bitants of
them just so much power or self-goNeru-
ment and sovereignty as they are capable
of exercising This has been the rule for
Alaska for tliirty-Odd years. and may be
as safely applied elsewhere. ] cannot
where there is such an OVeTpOWering diff
Guilty Ia our way.
NO. sir if the American people will
put their heads together in patriotic
spirit We will solve the problem justly
and satisfactorily. The possession of
these islands will rebound with especial
and unreasonable benefit to the cotton
States furnishing. they will, n most
valuable market for manufactured cotton
goods and give us Ii 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-
tiOnal form of government with Tepresen-
/ tattVe 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