Evening star., 1909-05-05
MEMORIES OF BUTLER
Few Left of Old Type of Ante
beIIum Southerner.
PATRICIAN OF OLD SCHOOL
Stories Recalled by Death Of Former
Carolina Senator.
HIS DISTINGUISHED CAREER
Took a Revolution Headed by TILL
man to Loosen His and Hampton's
Hold on Masses.
HIS DISTINGUISHED CAREER

9he death of Gen. Matthew Calbraitr
Butler of Edgefeld. 8. c.. at an fnfirmary
i'm Columbia, that state, Wednesday
night last, of complication of diseases
induced by an old wound, revives many
memories of life in the United states
Senate during the active political years
following 1876.
Gen. Butler was born in 1896 of a dis
tingushed South Carolina family. he
served with distinction throughout the
civil war; rising from captain to major
general of cavalry in the confederate
service. After the war Gen. Butler TOOK
prominent part in the movement 10
reclaim the state to the democratic party
and aided greatly in Hamptons victory
In the subernatorial race of 1876 Dur-
ing his distinguished career he exerted
as powerful an influence on affairs In the
Palmetto state as any South Carolinlah
since the days of John c. Calhoun and
William C. Preston.
Idol of His People for Years.
His, passing calls to mind that he was
one of the few left of the old type OF
the aristocratic antebellum southerner. He
was a patrician of the bluest blood, de-
scended from a long line of statesmen.
For years he was the idol of his people,
and he and his colleague and personal
friend. Gen. Wade Hampton, controlled
the political destinies of the Palmetto
state They had been gallant soldiers OF
the Confederacy and 1t took a revolution
to loosen the hold they had on the Caro-
lima masses. But the revolution. led by
Ben Tillman, came around In the most
unexpected fashion and with the fury OF
an avalanche
I,mnton os brave q general as ever
led men into action, lost his seat In the
United States Senate, and Tillman, after
an exciting and sensational campaign,
in which he and his opponent MADE
Joint canvass defeated Butler for the
same office. 1t was a victory for the
new element over the old ar1stocratlc
influences that dominated the old COM
monWealth ever since the formation OF the
Union. The man of high family lineage.
of inherited prestige and superior social
status, was beaten by the vigorous ana
intensely earnest, but uncultured, FARMER
of Edgefield. More than once he and
Gen. Butler came near having personal
difficulty, and it was freely predicted that
if they did clash one or both would pc
killed.
Imposing Figure in the Senate.
He was a handsome and elegant man.
and twenty years ago, when he was In
his prime, there was no more imposing
figure in the Senate of the United States.
Though not an orator, he spoke easily and
gracefully. although he did not get upon
his feet often to address his associates.
1t seemed peculiar that the closest per-
sonal friend in the Senate Of the ex-Con-
federate commander of cavalry should be
Don Cameron of Pennsylvania. Differ
ing radically in politics, they were never
theless as strongly bound to each other
as Damon and Pythias. When Butler
wanted to take pleasure trip 1t was
the keystone state man who went with
him on his fishing jaunts along the coast
of Carolina.
Their intimacy grew out Of peculiar
old Simon Cameron, Don'S father, was
senator from Pennsylvania, there was
also in that body the Hon. Pierce Butler.
uncle of the man who has just passed
away.
Friendship for Don Cameron.
The right of Simon Cameron to his
seat was bitterly assailed. and he stood
in danger of being ousted. In this crisis
Pierce Butler came to the rescue, and, by
voting and working for Cameron. helped
nightly in causing him to retain his
place.
Years after that episode M. C. Butler
was chosen to the Senate, and against
him were arrayed strong partisan infiu-
ences that. threatened the loss of his
office. 1t still close to reconStruc-
ton times, and i'll feeling between the
north and south had not died out.
Among those republicans who cast their
votes in favor of Butler keeping his seat
Don Cameron was prominent, and the re-
suit was that the Carolinian stayed. 1t
was golden opportunity to pay off an
ancient debt, and Cameron gladly en-
braced the chance.