The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1906-10-25
THE SHELBY STARS DEsPERA-
TIOy.

THE SHELBY ATAheH nEAFkAA~
TIoN.
Its Oniy Answer 20 senator Bstisr's
sheIhy's speech 10 Absse~De 1ocrass
Cant Ans~er R~pabiieaa Arx~ment-
The Star. under the headline,
"Marion Butler, Traitor" in Its Is
sue OF last Friday, In Q two-eolumn
editorial, after giving three column
review Of ex-senator Buffers speech
last week, expressed Its desperation
by resorting TO the same viiifications
which characterized that paper some
years ago and has always character
lied its leader, the News and OBJ
server.
The following Is a sample OF the
language used In said editorial:
"Marion Butler will not be known
to history as populist, or q repub-
licsn, or q demagogue, but as 9 traitor
to his State I"
ga traitor !" Shame on any edi.
tor who is 30 narrow as to try to be-
smirch the character and fair name
of such q man for no other purpose
than to weaken the influence Of q
speech which his political enemies
cannot answer! We were glad ia
hear a number Of leading Democrats,
who value truth and justice more
than mere party expediency, con-
denim said editorial in the strongest
terms. While Senator Butler has
doubtless made some mistakes In
life (all men make them), yet his
name will 60 down in history as the
peer of any man Of his age in the
State, and will live long after the
names of his political traducers have
been forgotten.
The only excuse offered by the
Star for Its unjust condem nation
was, that Senator Butler appeared
as attorney against the State In the
South Dakota bond suit. In this he
did no more than hundreds of other
reputable officers in the State have
done and will do again at every op-
portunity-the editor of the Star
being one of the number. Did no,
Hon. Charles Price a few years
ago receive a fee of $4,000 in a
bond suit against certain counties In
this State when the counties were
resisting the payment Of the bonds !
Did any paper condemn him for
this? Senator Simmons has ap-
peared against the State in similar
cases, and every lawyer appears
against the State when he defends q
criminal in court.
Were the South Dakota bonds an
honest debt ?. They were issued by
Democratic legislature and signed by
a Democratic governor and Demo.
cratic treasurer. They were sold
upon the market like all other bonds
and the money used in building the
Western North Carolina Railroad,
which is now paying a dividend of
seven per cent, and would pay more
if a Democratic governor had not
been too hasty about leasing the
road. If this was a dishonest debt,
the Democratic party is responsible
for it. IF it was an honest one, then
it was right to pay it, and any law
yer had the right to represent the
plaintiffs. This Mr.. Butler, who
had ceased to be United States Sena-
tor, did, and for so doing the Star
brands him as ga traitor"
But the Star says he contracted
his services to the bondholders three
months before his term of office ex-
PRED. Suppose he did, no services
were rendered till the expiration of
his term. Then why do you find
any law restricting a Senator's prac-
tice except before the departments
at Washington.
Now, neighbor, your malicious at.
tack upon Senator Butler was I'M
called for. The very fact that you
made personal attack, instead of
answering his speech, Is positive
proof of the weakness of your cause.
Senator Butler is not candidate nor
an issue in this campaign.
Gentlemen Of the jury, take the
case.-Shelby Aurora.