Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1901-05-01
BUTLER is WITH McLAUR|N.
"HIS COURSE HAS MY APPROVAL" SAYS
THE FORMER SENATOR.
WOULD HAVE VOTED AS He DID

HUULD nHIL IUl[D H0 III DID
1t he had Been in Senate-A Approves Presl.
dents Course In Some Respects.
Washington, April 21.-Gen. M.
Q. Butler, of South Carolina, who
was succeeded in the Senate six
years ago by "Pitohfork" Tillman, is
inclined to regard Senator McLau-
rms attitude with approval. A COR
respondent OF the Sun interviewed
Gen. Butler to-day on that subject.
"What, in your opinion, will be
the effect in South Carolina OF Sena-
tor McLaurin's attitude toward the
Democratic party ?" was asked of
Gen. Butler.
"Oh, WE'LL" he replied, "you know
what Gen. Wigfall used to say: sIf
there is anything God Almighty
does not know it is what will be the
outcome of the popular election or
the verdict of petit jury There
is no telling what twelve months
will bring forth in the politics of this
country. If | had been in the Sem
ate would have voted just as
Mcl4aurin did, with the exception,
perhaps, of his vote for the ship
subsidy bill. And yet there are
plenty of precedents in Democratic
history to justify a vote for that bill.
South Carolina subsidized every
railroad built in the State by sub
scribing 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.
cit will be insisted, perhaps, that
there is a difference in principle
between such action by State and
by the Federal Government. The
Federal Government certainly subsi-
died to the extent of millions and
hundreds of millions of dollars the
Pacific railroads, undoubtedly by
the votes and help of good Demo
Gratis. However that may be, it
does not come very gracefully from
some Democrats and some so-called
Democrats 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 rail
road subsidy which was not wanted
by the Postmaster General, and was
therefore said at the time by consist
cnt Democrats to be simple gratuity
from the treasury"
"You do not, then, apprehend that
imperialism or smilitorism' will take
the place of popular government if
the policy of the present Admins
tration is carried out 2"
"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. lie
could not have done less and main.
tanned the dignity, honor and good
faith of the Government of which he
was and is the Chief Executive.
"That is my candid opinion, speak
ing as citizen. 'Impcrialism' and
'miltarjsm' do not grow out of such
questions, and cannot as long as the
press is free and uncorrupted citizen
ship is permitted to cast ballot for
the preservation of popular govern
ment. We are in much more danger
popular constitutional government
is-from demagogism, socialism,
populism, anarchism and such here
sizes and fallacics. The supremacy
and control of such doctrines in the
affairs of government may necessi-
tate the employment Of force to pre-
serve public order, the rights of
and enforcement of law so
that those who are crying loudcst
against imperialism may make it
necessary and become its authors.
Rolitical agitation which deals with
the intelligence and patriotism of
the peopl is always healthful, but
no republic has survived or can sur.
vivc the domination and control
in its governmental administration
of reckless, time-serving dema-
gogucs.
"What the South needs now more
than ever in its history is broad,
liberal craftsmanship, which suggests
something more than mere obstruc.
ton and opposition, conforming in
all respects to constitutional limita.
tions, but getting in line with the
progress and development of the age.
We are Just emerging from the