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The Press and Banner " b Twelve Pa^ehi. Wednesday, Sept. 16, 1891. TmmTun mn WAHiOflXF 15(JillM AMJ TTAlUUll. , i - i JOINT DEBATE AT BATESBURQ, WEDNES- s DAY. SEPTEMBER 9. *< ( _ . I I Sharp Encounter of Wit Between Sou III Carolina** Senator mill (jeorgla'* Alliance ConitresMiuaii? The Account Seems to Indicate ] Tliat the (iroriciau Carried the ' row?l With Him, mm Against the i Victor nt Prosperity. J (News and Courier) < Batesburq, September 9.?About twelve 1 ? hundred citizens of Edgefield and Lexiug- 1 ? ?i vimtni'K witnessed to-day ' IUU iluu D|JU11>V<>V ...... the great political battle of Bateeburg between Congressman Watson, of Georgia, and Senator Butler, of South Oaollna. Tiie narrative of the clash of wit and oratory is best told in the proceedings given below, and especially as to the result as it appeared to the two gentlemen mostly concerned in the duel. Prof. Nash presided and he introduced tha speakers gracefully and with a fair distribution of compliments. It was distinctly understood that only Senator Butler and Congressman Watson should entertain and instruct the audience. The order of speaking was, Congressman Watson to open, Senator . Butler to follow and the first speaker to reply. Among those on the stage, which was beautifully located in the suburbs of the city, were Capt J. H. Brooks, l)r Folk, Capt Bates Co! W. J.Talbert, the Uev Mr McSwaln. K.\Governor John C. Shepperd, Kditor|Hook, of the Augusta Chroicle; Kditor McLenna, of the Johnson Monitor; Kditor Aull of the Newberry Herald aud News; Kditor ISuch~0 T?nnftHpr sninp ronorf HUHKJy Ul l>UC ^licnvi-i >?V{.V. .v., K ere and other distinguished *entleroen. The speaking began at 11 o'clock sharp, and was kept up until 5 o'clock sharp, except a short Intermission. Prof Nash read a letter from President Stokes stating that, he regretted his Inability to accept the Invitation of the committee to be present, but that it was Impossible on account of engagements in the eastern part of the State. What Col. WatRon Said. "Col Watson spoke substantially as follows: I know perfectly well that I will be at a dlsadvatage in discussing this question with Senator Butler, He has all the advantages over me. You know him, and love bim. 1 ' am unknown to you. There is a wide differ^nce between me and him In our relations to you. If Senator Butler were a candidate for niHoo r nmiirt nnthdhere. That would be a ' matter for you to (settle yourselves. But when Senator Butler tak^s the position he has on this question it aflects every one or you. We are here discussing measures, not men. We are discussing measures that affect Georgia as well as well us South Carolina It is a platform that touches everyone. I a.n In a position to expect that questions shall be discussed on broader llncBihan personal ones. Each of us will rise to a position of statesman ship and brotherly love. South Carolina has always been close to the heart of Georgia iujd Georgians. Your distinguished men are known and honored in Georgia as well as in South Carolina. I say to you, Oen. Butler, with respect, that you demonstrate the manhood of South Carolina, and I feel it an honor to debate this question with you and will debate it in the highest sense of honorable discussion. I feel that a Georgia boy is at home with South Carolina boys. I We assert that the sub-treasury plan will be a good law. Oen Butler denies It. That puts the burden of proof upon me. It Is for me to demonstrate that the plan Is a good one. That's good parllmcntary law. We started It In Georgia, and we wanted the snb treasury or something better, butlthe more we thought of the sub-treasury the belter we liked It. Now we want the sub-treasury from horns to Its hoofs. I don't know how correctly Gen. Butler was Reported In the debate at Prosperity with Pr Ktokes. I have the report as published In The News and Courier, but I presume it was substantially correct, ahd, if there Is no corrections of It I take for granted that the report Is correct. When we debate a measure we debate the principles underlaying It. I am going to demonstrate to this audience that Gen. Butler will do himself great injustice If he undertakes to discuss the details of any measure without disussing the principles underlying it. Further, Gen. Butler will be forced to take one or two positions. The bill was either right or wrong. If it is right, he, as an American statesman, owes Itto this people to help them make this bill a law. If the plan is wrong, ought he not to be able to demonM-ate that fact from a constitutional standpoint, from an economic standpoint, from precedent and from legislative enactments. When he wishes to ilecllne to discuss the plan lie puts himself in the awkard position of saying that the plan Is right, but he can't help you. or it is wrong and he can't nhow It. and he can take either horn of the dilemma he liken and lit* will have some rough ruling on either one. (Applause and laughter.) BUT WHAT IS THE PLAN? Col. Watson went on to say that (ion. Butler would have to come out and debate the plan, and may God give the victory to him who Is right. [Applause.] Col. Watson, as an analogy for the discussion of the plan, said tbe-greatest reform movements of modern times had been discussed without a bill with its details, lust as the tariff was discussed before the Mills bl|l was trained, and that (ien. Butler discussed It without waiting for the bill, and so it was with secession, the adoption of the postotflce system and the railroad system. He then discussed the sub-treasury plan on three lines: First, the laws; second, the evils complained of, and third, the remedy. ATTACKING THE HANKS. He took up the national banks and discussed them as an old law and as an evil. He denied that they were a war measure, having been established In July, 1SC4, when the war was nearly over. He elaborated the- charges of contraction and stated that the system was robbery aud so forth, and that the SOU,000,000 they made every year belonged to the people. He charged It as disloyalty that Democratic Seuators should have voted for the reeharterIng of national banks. Applying the rule, he held that If the Government could lend money on bonds it could also lend money on cotfon and other field crops. A FALSE ANALOGY. He maintained that a precedent for the subtreasury could be fouud in the banks ot Amsterdam aud Hamburg, which Issued certificates on gold and silver uncoined, which certificates passed current In Europe. He also cited the case of the Land Loan Hank of Euskelda, Sweden, welch issued money 011 lands at 4 per ccnt., and which plan was adopted also In Norway. None of these banks tailed, while the English aud Russian Banks had to he helped out by the Bank of France. He als cited the case of the Sllesian llanlc, established by Frederick the Great. HE SAVS LEND AND MEANS. 1IOUROW. Georgia lends money at 8% per cent. He maintained that prices were regulated by unlawful contraction of the cuurency, and he illustrated It by o supposed case, in which all the banks of a couulry should suddenly call | in all outstanding obligations. On this point he quoted Mills, Klcardo, Henry Clay and! John T. Sherman. He eulogized the Knglish ' system of laws by which the great depression I of 185" was overcome by the financial mcas-1 ures of Lord Castlereagh. He denied that la-i [ ziness andextravagauce were the causes of depression, but drew a picture of a hardwork-! lug people eating poor provisions, musty11 meat and white meat, wrinkled like a ribbon.: This comparison created a great deal of laugh- j i ter. He couldn't see how people could be | \ lazy and yet produce a surplus of cotton. ] Yet cotton goods were high and the staple i was low, which proved that there was a bug ' i in the buttermilk somewlieje. j LAHOK AS A UNIT OF VALUE! He held that silver and gold were not the 1 unit of value in the books on political econ- !1 otny. On this point he quoted Aduni Smith, who held that a variable article could never j1 he a correct measure of the quantity of other | things, ttiat Is gold and silver continually varying, could not be a correct measure of the 1 * value of other commodities. He held labor to be the correct standard of value and the 1 sub-treasury bill was Imbedded In this pliilos- 1 ophy. C<?|, Watson then said that the sub-1 reasury could bo tested by tlie people of a ounty selecting a factor who would be n )onded officer elected. Letsuch an officer istie certiiicates as the Government does on :old and silver, and tliis would be the subreasu.iy in its essence without any Governneni expendeture. The bond, of course, vovld be approved by the Circuit Jud^e. Gen. Butler said that all the money would >e back in the treasury in t lie spring, when he people Wanted it most.. Col. Watson said that this would only be rue if all the people put in their cotton at he same time and took it out in the first six nonlhs. On the contrary, the farmers would aut cotton in at various times from September on, so that the operation would be coninuous the whole year. This was the last point made by Col. Wat sou in his opening argument, which wns ;losed by a peroration based on the story it the relief of Lucknow, the application seine tlic sub-treasury as a means of relief to jeleaguered farmers. Senator 1$ tiller's Speocli. Gen. Butler Spoke as follows: Mr. Chairman, Ladies and (jentlemen and Kellow-clti/.ens: 1 am almost, in that eondl:ion in which my distinguished friend said he tvas in upon one occasion, when lie look a jite of that old white meat imported from Tennessee, from Kentucky or some place jlse. J believe I could eat some of that meat, ipw, and 1 am afraid that there are a good many In the audience who have their minds :urned to tlie dinner table rather than to the speaker, but. I will occupy a short portion of he time before we adjourn to respond, ns ivell as I may, to the observation of the dlsIneutshed gentleman who lias Just taken its seat. He reproached me. as I have been reDroached before, with discussing what is cnown as the sub-treasury bill at Prosperity. [ was invited there to discus . the sub-treasjry plan on its merits, and ti<e only plan I lave ever seeu or heard of being in the bill I irentured to discuss it. I have been berated, lefamed and derided because, forsooth, I exjrcised the right of an American citizen to llscuss in public a question of interest to the icople. That bill was presented to Congress! >y the friends of my distinguished friend. I I was purauuu ui-iun; uic- nunu ns tuc williummation of all the wisdom, of all the statesmanship ot America. In the National >conomist, by the lobbyists to put It through Congress, by the orators upon the stump and jfl' the stump, in I he press and everywhere, ,ve were told that it was a consummation of ,he sub-treasury plan. Hut it seems to me ifter all the sounding of eongs and blowing >f trumpets, which is a matter of public re:ord in the department at Washington, that [ committed some great crime, and that I vill commit a great crime to day if I venture ,o discuss it without the consent of the bosses irkoarc trying to domineer over and dominate every man who chances to ditrcr with hem. [Cheering and applause.] Fellow-citzens, I never expected to live to see the day n this State when any citizen of the Comnouwealth of the State of South Carolina should have to go to the bosses of the subreasury to get authority to discuss any pubic mensure of interest to the people. THE BOSSES AND THEIlt UAXTLIXfi. From what I can observe the dosses themselves have became ashamed of their bantling; they have become ashamed of the Jill; and because I ventured to discuss It iavo accused me of bad faith, when, as God s my witness, I had no more intention of jeing cruilty of bad faith than I have this lay. I will do my friend the Justice to say ine thing to him, that ho litis the manhood tnd the courage to say to my face, tc state ,he misrepresentation of what I have said, while otheis waited until my back was ;urned before they plied the tongue of slanler and defamation. My friend says that I said at Prosperity that the man who would sorrow money at 2 per cent. did not intend ,o pay It back. I say to you, fellow-citizens, ipon my honor as a man, that was a hase alsehood, a base misreprjientation. The gentleman says that I said that no other nan who borrowed money would pay it jack except the man who porrowed It at 7 jer cent. I soy that THAT IS NOT TKUK. So that my friend had a good deal of fun; le told a good many anecdotes; he created a ^ood deal of laughter upon premises which ,vere wholly erroneous and without a parWcle if foundation. No, gentlemen. 1 have stood jy the side of too many ot the good people of l>lu S5tntr> vvlipn tlipir snnls lind pmirni'p wore .ried to say here or at Prosperity, or anywhere, that there were forty thousand farnisrs In South Carolina who wero thieves and :coundreis, and I brand the author of it as a lar. [Great cheering and applause.] I have ived too long, 1 have seen too much of this ife at this day of my existence to pander to lemngogues and charlatans lor the highest ifiice in the gift ot the people of tills State or my other. And now one word, purely of a personal ;haracter. I believe my fellow-countrymen. ,vi II do me the justice to say that when South Carolina called upon mo for my services 1 tave contributed them in war and peace, ind I have done so without stopping to count lie cost of that contribution. They have lonored me perhaps a thousand-fold moro hail I deserved, but they have never yet put ne in otlice upon conduct on my part which ivould create the belief or impression that I lave ever stated one fact to the people of this itate that did not meet the approbation of my judgment and conscience, [applause,] tnd they never will put me in ofliee If I have :o pay as Its price the advocating, the sustaining 01 maintaining of any proposition which my judgment or my conscience will lot approve. Tf?n QTi'iirii rnw aVL'VhXfWT My friend rather rebuked me because I hud not amended the sub-treasury bill. Why, fellow-citizens, I have those two bills here uid 1 will submit them to the candid judgment of any Intelligent and Impartial man n this State, and let him say whether or not n that form they were susceptible of amendment. I might as well have tried to amend i proposition to pontoon the Atlantic Ocenn. >r to build a bridge to the moon. [Laughter uid applause.J The bills were introduced by Jovernor Vance, and they were through the isual course, being referred to the committee m agriculture ana they were buried in the tomb of the Capulets 1 had no opportunity of imending them if they were susceptible of amendment, so, then, I have been reproached becaused I did not amend the'bill, uid I am asked to discuss the sub-treasury plan. If my friend will pardon me I would jc under the profoundpst. obligations to him f he will only tell me what that plan Ik. I liave not heard it, and he spoke for an hour ind a half by the watch, lie talked about the battle of Lucknow, about the Encyclopaedia Hritanica. He talked about the reforms of England, about the Duke of WeiIngtnn and the Duke of Newcastle, about :he abject poverty we were all in, and leadng up to that particular flight of ills eloquence, from which we would have thought that every man, woman and child in this tudlence was crawling on his knees in abject poverty with not even the white meat of which he talks to satisfy his hunger. kik.'ekikl.d not starving. Well. I see before me about as healthy and well-dressed an audience as I have seen in a ong while. The ladies seem to be reasonably well attired. If they will pardon me for referring to that, nnd the men are not entirely ragged. I expect if they woufd go home they would tind a sweet potato or a bit of bacon, ilthongh not so white as he talks about; a little dust of meal, home made, to the manner born and not imported from Tennessee or Seorgia. [Laughter and applause.! But my friend studiously, conspicuously avoided to liscuss the very plan which he says I did not ilscuss, and when he had finished I was inclined to jump up, clap my hands and say that- the political Millennium had come.1 Laughter and applause.] Anil I say It without Irreverence that the political Messiah mil come. [Laughter and applause, and hurrah for Butler!) I was about to exclaim, with folded hands, that this generation and day ol jur Lord had brought In the electric tele:raph, the Trans-Atlantic cable, the flying machine, the electric light, the telephone, ;he phonograph, Til K (ill A 1'H A I'll ON K ANII TOM WATSON. Ureal laughter and applause.] A voice: Hurrah for Watson." (ien. Butler; And I say so, too. lie is a new man, [laughter,] just come to life, lie Is going tt? Congress, and he Is not ouly going Lo pass the sub-treasury and put money on these trees, where you all can get It by shaking them, [laughter.] but he Is going to] smash the national banks, get pay for our larkeys, get a return of the cotton tax, and ?well. If that is not enough for one man to Jo I do not know what Is, jgreat laughter and upplause,] and when he goes in for all that lie will llud mi; with him. He jumped on the national banks and he destroyed them, but I do not think he was correct in his statement of the history of the hanks. ("ol. Watson : In what particular? Gen. Butler: You said that they did noli Imylhe currency, that they got, say one thousand dollars, deposited them In tlie treasury and got ninety thousand in eurrcnCol. Watson : Hut whoeels the Interpst ? I opinion. He adverted to Col. Watson's argument about the land loan banks of Norway and Swedcu and said the Government did there lend money direct to the people, but the banks, and that the same thine was possible in our country under the present system. STAND 1IY THE I'AllTY. Gen. Butler: Why the national ban 1c people, ot course, just as a man must pay interest on his note. Where would you get bonds If you did not buy them ? Col. Watson; But where do the bonds come from ? Gen. Butler: I said they were bought from the Government. But let me point out your inconsistency. When X say that we desire to repent the bill laying a tax of 10 per cent, on the .State banks in order to paralyze t lie national banks, he says oh no, that will not do. Col, Watson : I did not say that, for I understood you to say that you object to It aa a remedy. What is your bill ? Gen. Butler: May plan would be to repeal the tax on State banks. Bull need uot discuss the bill. I am to furnish the plan and yon the bill, for that is your logic, (1/uighter and applause.) Col. Watson : That is all right, liut I will make this trade: I will come in 011 the state batiks If you come in 011 the sub-treasury. Geu. Butler: Well, that is a fair proposition. gentlemen, and I will do It. bnt on this condition, that I will tell him what my bill is if he will tell me what his bill Is, and I tell him now that the bill, which I tried twice to have passed, Is to remove the 10 per cent, tax 1 on State banks. ('ol. Watson: What is your plan ? Geu. Butler: Just keep quiet now: have patience, and I will tell you. I waited on you. I would say to the farmers of this country?go to the Legislature and apply for a inm inin tiio bnnkiiie business. de | posit a hundred thousand or fifty thousand dollars, as we did before the war, when the banks of Columbia and Hamburg enjoyed a very high credit. Cien. Butler here explained the method ol | procedure before the war of putting in a eiven amount and issuing double the amount In bank notes. A voice: "How are you going to get the capital?" WORK KOK IT! Air, THERE'S THE RITB! [ Gen. Butler: Work for It, sir. How else would you expect to get It? (Great laughter and applause.) Under that system there was no contraction of the currency, and the gentleman should remember that In the Instances cited from Holland, Sweden and Norway as precedents for the sub-treasury, the money was disbursed through the banks and not directly to the people by the Government, which is the sub-treasury plan. Hesides the Constitution prohibits sub-treasury legislation, and he must swear to obey It as I have sworn to obey It. I should have been glad, said Senator Butler, to have heard my distinguished friend on TIIK SUBJECT OK DEMOCRACY. a little. If the newspapers are to be belteved, nnd of course they are, he has been ilolng some very energetic work against the party. As the distinguished gentlemen said in Introducing my friend, Georgia has often aided South Carolina in her political troubles. Her distinguished men have crossed the river to aid us in times of need, to maintain the Integrity, honor, character and perpetuity ol our Democratic party. (Great applansc.1 i Now 1 understand that this distinguished j gentleman hod come to us toput In the knife, the entering wedge for Its disintegration and destruction. I A voice?"You wrung him that time." Col. Watson : Are you discussing the sub' treasury plan or not i j Gen. Butler: I am not to be governed by i your ideas on that subject i Col. Watson : I would like to say if you go I in to a general talk on my record I would ask for more time to reply. [Cheers for Watson and counter cheers tor Butler. I Gen. Butler; I do not think he wants to discuss my political record. Col. Watson : Well, you opened the list, and I am not going to show the white feath er. [Cheers and hurrahs for Watson.] Gen. Butler : 1 understand you to take my ! record in hand and discuss It without reseri vation. I Col. Watson : I did not Criticise your record, ; but let usg>> back, the only reference I make j was to your speech reported In the News and Courier, ahd I merely wunted you to say whether It was correct or not,and you did not answer.Gen. Butler : Because I did not wish to in terrupt you. He says, gentlemen, that he did not take liberties will) my record, hut he did criticise a report which did not purport lobe i stenographic. j Col. Watson: I asked you to point onl I where were the errors. ' Gen. Butler: And I did, but I will give you till HID UI1IU Wi IWJMJ. Col. Watson : Go ahead. I'll be able to take carc of myself. A voice : "Now go on, General, and tell us about the Third tarty." Gen.Butler: Ab to that, I say lhat the departure advocated and maintained by the gentlemen if presevered In a spirit which he manifested must result In a Third Party, i suppose that Is a legitimate conclusion. A voice: "Where did the Third Party conn from last year? Wasn't it Jlaskell who led 1 It?" Gen. Butler. Yes, and I hope It. will bo a lesson to them, |applause,| for there Is no room for a Third Party; never has been and never will be. Gen. Butler expressed the hope and the belief that th* Farmers' Alliance would not be lonnd in line with the Third Party. Uecotnplimented It on Its work when confined within Its original lines, and referred particularly to the successful fight made against the Jute Trust, and this brought up the subject of the tarltr, which Gen. l'utlcr discussed at some length, explaining its exactions and how they operated. (Jen. Butler's speech was interrupted here by the hour for adjournment. Kesumlng h1? speech, Senator Butler began by showing that the sub-treasury ofllclals meant Federal interference in local atlwirs, and he said it would put us, body and soul, back again under the Federal power. He mill II iui IH-U niiv lilt; UIII nun u <iw;iiiiuu wi the tlrst Article of the Constitution, lie said tlmt the loans in the New Orleans nml Philadelphia exposition cases were in pursuance oi approximations and were of doubtful validity, and were Justified partly on the general welfare clause. lie denied vehemently thai the Democratic parly was derelict in its duly. Senator liutler referrrd again to the tact that I Colonel Watson wanted the national banka ; abolished, and when he, Butler, suggested the I repeal of the tax on Slate banks as a remedy C'ol. Watson said It wouldn't do, I have | come to the conclusion, said he, that If I were I to suggest a remedy announced by Inspira^ | Hon from heaven lie would reject It. (Apj platise.) AlMiUINft 1'OK STATE HANKS. Nevertheless, Senator Butler went on and ! explained the operation of the State bankt jberorethe war, their integrity and success, | and thought that they could now be operat i ed as successfully. He maintained that there ! could be no run upon the banks or no sacrl' 1 ticca to speculators if the condition or the I banks ;were subject to official examination as was the rule in the national hanks. He held that the nntiona! banks were it wai measure, although not Instituted until JSffl because Mr. Chase could not' borrow money I elsewhere, and he had to float the bonds o the Government by the national banking plan. Senator liutler said that the land loan scheme was proved to be a failure in Florida. In general terms the scheme could only result in a monopoly of lands and mor^agf-s 'on lands in the hands of a few. Senator ! liutler. In this connection, explained the {distinction between bank currency and j loans and discounts. Referring to the succor given the Kngiish by l'eel and Castlerengh. Senator Butler reminded Col. Watson I that such speedy relief was a possibility only I under a constitutional monarchy, and that I this Government was one of the people, by the people and for the people. Our Constitution, our written gospel, prohibits things possible to British statemen. [Appiause.J Senator Butler continued as follows: A M ATT Kit OK KTlUl'ETTK. I regret, fellow-citizens, that anything |should have escaped me In my remarks which might In the slightest degree mar the courtesies of this occasslon to our distinguished friend. He remembers perfectly | well that last night when we met. for the first time I went to him and said: "You are a stranger among us : choose your own positioo in tills debute. I will either open and reply, or you can." Iliad every Inclination | to extend to him every courtesy for which i tills suite Is celebrated, I referred to his political relations Jto the parties in Georgia iu response to what I thought were liberties lie had taken w it.li my political record. I have nothing whatever to be ashamed of, so fur as my record is concerned, and I am sure that lie hns not. (Applause and cheers I for Butler and NVat-son.) Referring to TIIK MASK KM. MOVEMENT I Gen. Hutier said: My friend, Hardy, wanted to know ii littie while ago if there wasn't a Third Party last year in this stale. Weil, [ there was an effort to run a ticket, which I thought very ill-advised, and so expressed myself then, but the power and influence of one man are of little avail. 1 thought it was I a great mistake and I think so now. (Applause.) 1 voted the Democratic ticket straight out and out, because the majority of my fellow citizens nominated the ticket, and I shall do it again. They had aright to their opinion and wo had a right to ours, and I have lived too long to bo olt'cinled with u man because lie differs with me iu nciliuor liUlier appCllll-U IU lite miuimv >w eland liy the Democratic parly, now that its prospects of success were so bright. He was pained' to hear it sni<l that Jrhe Democratic party had done nothing for the people. Snob a statement could only have been made through ignorance or design, and when the party lines were drawn he expected to see all the Democrts together except a few Hessians. He said: Whenever ihe lime comes let us agalu lock our shields lor the battle, and when my services shall be culled fori shall not stop to count the cost. If the people 01 this Slate, when my term expires, shall conclude to send someone else lo the United States senate. In God's name let them do It It is their right and I shall not comp'alu, but u i nm 10 ue expcuieu sit mm into k? vocate measures Which my consclcuce does not approve yon musi send sdme one else to tlie United States senile. A good deal has been said about wljpt Senator Hutler thinks and says, hut I aril not In this controversy as Senator Butler. I am plalix M. C. Butler, and I have never presumed for one moment to oppress the humWest citizen by reason of the li!gh station to which I have been elevated. II I have done anyone wrong, as God Is my witness, I stand here prepared to make the proper amends. Senator or no Senator, I have always expressed my honest Judgment, and when this country reaches that point when I shall not be permitted to tell the truth an 1 understand It, let my friends lay me uslde and I shall retire without a murmur. (Applause and cheers for Butler.) The foregoing, of course, Is only a synopsis of Senator Butler's speech, which was widely and enthusiastically applauded as he closed. Col. Wntoon't Reply. Col. Watson then rose to reply and there was a second storm of hurrahs and cheers. He said that Senator Butler had accused him of trying to pontoon the Atlantic and build a bridge to the moon. He, Watson, bad failed in this, but he was sure Gen. Butler had succeeded, and Gen. Butler was still with the man in the moon, with his old friend, Bill Spencer, playing on the fiddle. (Great laughter and and applause, In which Senator Butler heartily Joined.) If there was anything he did not debate It was certainly the sub-treasury, but he had talked about tragedy and comedy to keep his spirits up at tbe other end of the bridge. (Laughter and applause.) He thought that his speech whs very much speckled, like the butter In a cer-i tain old lady's pnntry. which the old lady says was speckled, but that hor Jersey cows were a d d'sight more so. (Renewed laughter and applause.) He denied that he had . not discussed the treasury f>lah. He had discussed it as he.would discuss any other grave measure or remedy on the line lie had laid down In his opening speech. He said distinctly it was desired to get money direct to the people at 2 per cent: that the people should not be discriminated against lu favor of national banks. . He had showed that what was wanted was a" medium that would expand or contract only with the necessities of trade. As to the details he thought they could be discussed hereafter, 1 but he had certainly discussed the plan. He would be a pretty fellow Indeed if he came here to talk about a plan and didn't do It. Gen. Butler did not catch his idea about the ' Hamburg bank. They did not issue moDey on gold and sliver, but certificates that de1 posits had been made and the certificates became money. He had shown that the banks of Sweden Issued money directly on land upon mortgages to two-thirds of the value of ' the land. He did not see why that rule could not be applied to cotton, which varied less 1 from century to century than silver. Senator Butler: Will you state whether : the money in Norway and Sweden is issued bythe banks or by the Government? Coi. waison: ine money 01 wig DnnKS is Authorized by the Government, and it circulates Junt as greenbacks circulated here. That is, that the certificates are convertible into 1 money as good ns greenbacks. 1 A voice: "Idonitwlsh to trouble the debate, but 1 would like to ask you a qnes' tion." Col. Watson: All right, go ahead. You 1 can't trouble the debate. The voice; "I have no land. How will ' your land loan benefit me?" Another voice: "Oh, don't mind him ; ha. 1 is a preacher " Col. Watson : Suppose you have no land, will the change have you in any worse oondi! tion than you are now? If a man has noth1 ing and don't want to make anything, he Is unfortunate and we can't help him. Now. ' boys, I think he Is trouble, isn t lie? Hut I ' do say that if the neighbors around you make plenty of corn and cotton and get money at 2 per cent., they will take care of ' the non-armed people of this country. (Ap' plause and cheers. Co*. Watson, In answer to another question, said that the tenants would be benefitted be' cause they could get money on the surplus over the rent. Anyhow, said Col. Waison, I have been compared to the Messiah, and he came to heal the sick and not tlie will, (laughter and applause,) and besides, you must remember that when one of you asked Oen. Hutler how fo get money to put in State banks, lie told him to go and work for it. (l.i?.ughter and applause.V How do you feel now, sonny? (More laughter and applause.) A voice: "Are yon going to vote for Crisp?" fVil Wufcnn ! rinnllomnn Hint fallrtu/ j sounds exactly like a last year's April fool. ' (Laughter.) I The voice: "I want to know who you are ! going to vole for for Speaker?" Col. Watson: The man that stands nearest j tlie Ocalu plat form. * ! In answer to a suggestion from Mr. James i P. Bean, Col. Watson said that there would be no expense in Issuing the certificates, except In the paper and the ink. As to the dispute between Senator Butler and Dr.Stokes it was question of evidence,! some people artlrmed what he Is reported tot 1 have said, and the Senator and others denied 1 it. He thought It stranso that Senator Butler had not corrected it In his fuvorlte paper, the 1 News and Courier, which was Anti-Alliance ! and a supporterof the Senator. Senator Butler: I did correct It in the Cot ton Plant. Col. Watson, continuing his speech, said that he did not know much about politics in South Carolina, hut he knew the Alliance I was Jefferson Ian Democratic In Georgia. (Applause.) He claimed that the force bill was i killed through the orders of Ihe National Alliance Convention at Ocala. Col. Watson devoted a great part ol his argument after this to the needs of an Income tax. Recurring to the > per cent, ditllculty at Prosperity Col. Watson used this language: "Yon have admitted, General, that your own paper on that reported an Infamous lie." Senator Butler: "No, sir. I did not. I said that whoever said that I charged forty thousand farmers of South Carolina with being I thieves and scoundrels were infamous liars. . Col. Watson, with the assent of Senator i Butler, took a hand primary as follows: "Those men ia this audience who believe j that the OjhIa platform is pure Jellersonian ; Democracy hold up your hands." Here the 1 right hands of about nine-tenths of those , who voted declared it was. Then a similar vote was taken on the sub-treasury plan with . I the same result. Col. Watson: Now, I hope the reporters will put down that an overwhelm!* majority of the audience voted for the Ocula platform. Near the close of this speech Senator But lcrsaid: I would like you. Col. Watson, to come down more practically on the subjeetof Democracy. I would like to ask yon if the I Ocala platform Is submitted to the National Democratic Convention and it is rejected, I will you stand by the National Convention ? WATSON TUIK-Vro OOIHJK. Col. Watson: Sullicient for tho day is the evil thereof. Voice: "Oh, no, that won't do, that won't do." j Col. Watson: Well, my people are my bossj es, not you. They told me to stand by the j Ocala platform, and I am going to do it if I I meet my political death by It, and i shall die with colors wrapped around my body. (Applause.) Continuing, Col. Watson attacked the record of Cleveland, said he would not vote for him and tlie farmers could not expect the abolition of national banks so long as a Wall street banker was chairman of the national executive committee. Col. Watson subsequently took a hand primary as to who was right in the debate, he or Senator Butler, and it resulted pretty much as before. Col. Watson : I think, General, yon are In . a minority here to day. t <?en. Butler: O, no, I am not. I Voice: "He will get there all the same." | Col. Watson: Tills crowd is with in e. sure i as you live. I can swear to a crowd like i this. I Shortly after this Col. Watson concluded his speech, his friends cheering vociferously, land (Jen. Butler s friends hurrahing for liut| lor. and everybody to all appearances lnja very laudable and lovely good humor. | M. ! '. T. WHAT THE REPORTERS SAY. Tplo^rnphio Iteportorinl Comment* on the Great Debate. Tlie .State. Batksmiu;, Sept. ii-?Four hours and u half of the sub-treasury tails! And Senator Butler and Congressman Tom Watson, of Jeoryin are responsihle fur ii?especially the virile young Georgian who has cast aside his law hooks, lor the time was three to one in favor ot the latter. But nobody was tired?except the correspondents, who used uencils enough to start a lumber factorj^and consumed note books galore?lor the speaking was of the prlmest qusillty: There was attention for the brave words and stern logic of Carolina's magnetic son of Edgetleld, and there was almost enthusiasm over the witty, ringing and eloquent talk of the newly elected representative of the Tenth district In Georgia who came to champion the sub-treasury. It Is impossible to do either speaker exacl Justice, but the epitome given below will give a fair Idea of the debate. The day was a perfect one. and the speaking was under auspicious climatic conditions. The morning trains brought accessions from the neghboring towns, 'and the -home folks turned out early and in large numbers to do honor to the men and the occasion. Superintendent Talbert was present hut did not "blow his mouth" on his pet scheme, as It had been agreed that none but the two speakers mentioned should be called upon. The meeting was opened by Professor Nash, who read a letter from President J. Win. Strokes, of the State Alliance, saying that he regretted his Inability to be present; that he was prevented by rea*on of professional engagements thathe^could not break. Charleston World. Batesburo, Sept. 9?Butler and Watson have met, and the debate between Carolina's sturdy, magnetic senator and the virile young Georgian is over. The sub-treasury was the. slated issue on which they clashed swords, but, measured by the express Judgement of biicubiici, QUV-U MCH biic biaun. numc vcr/ fine things regarding that ever-present bone of con ten Ion were said on each side. Mr. Watson made many friends, and It Is but the truth to say he had the demonstrative portion of'the crowd with him. He Interspersed his discussion of the matter with some fine flight of eloquence, and with apt anecdote. On the other band, Senatoar Butler's br?*ve words and steady talk brought ringing cheers from allslde8. ; Newberry Herald and News. Batesbuk?, S. C., September 9.?The much advertised debate between United States Senator M. C. Butler, of South C'urol|na, and Congressman Tom Watson Is In progress here today. The crowd, which so far seems goodnatured, is not as large as expected, numbering about 1,500, all told. The meeting was held in a dellghlfnl grove about one hundred and fifty'yards west of the depot. The meeting was opened at 10:30 a. m., in the old-fashioned camp meeting way of winding a large tin horn calling the dans to order. . At this meeting no Just judgment can be made as to who has the advantage. t Columbia Register. Batrsbukg, S. C., Sept. 9.?Alllancemtfn are Jubilant over the victory won here by the brilliant young Georgian, Tom Watson, Congressman-elect from the Tenth District, In the debate with Senator M. C. Butler on the sub-treasury plan. The vote taken at the close of the debate showed that the audience was overwhelmingly in favor ol the Dlan and the arguments by which it was supported. The discussion commenced at 11 o'clock in the morning and lasted until late in the afternoon, with an hour's suspension for din- ' ner. Mr. Watson opened the debate, speaking for about two hours. General Butler occupied about the same time in reply, and in closing Mr. Watson spoke for nearly three hours. Many prominent Alliancemen were present from all parts of the State and from Georgia. The meeting was called to order and presided over by Professor Nash. Prayer was offered and Professor Nash then read a letter Irom President Stokes, of the State Alliance, regretting that other engagements prevented him from attending. Professor Nash then made a short speech saying that people are apt to reqd only on their own side and their own papers and thus become narrow-minded in matters which demand the widest information. These meetings and discussions give us an opportunity to hear both sides of the questions. "Georgia," he said, "lias always responded to her call. We are to have the pleasure to-day of listening to one of Georgia's most eloquent orators, Thomas Watson." Augusta Chronicle. Ratrsih;kg,S. C., Sept. 9.-At the conclusion of the speaking this afternoon 1 asged an old gray-haired farmer who chanced to be near me, as the crowd dispersed, what he thought of our Georgia speaker. His reply was unique and heartfelt, and if anything can be Judged Irom attention, np- ' plause and the showing of hands, it may be taken as the sentiment of the crowd. Hesaid In answer to my question : "Why he's the peartest young fellow we've got here yet. He s the ouitalkinest fellow I ever did hear." The debate on the subtreasury bill between Senator M. C. Butler, Carolina's honored and uuie UIIHCU nuucn mrii?uuitUMU huii, i IIOIIIH* E. Watson, itteorgia's mettlesome ami eloquent younj? Alliance congressman elect, which whs set for to-day at Batesbur-' attracted a large crowd here. Bv mil and prlvute conveyance they came from miles around, old Edgefield and Aiken furnishing large delegations, while Messrs, .Mel Branch James Barrett and W. R. Hadley accompanied Mr. Watson, and with your correspondent represented Georgia In the gathering. The speaking was In the open air, and a platform and benches were arranged in a pleasant grove right in the town limits. The newspapers had a well-known corps of correspondents here, and from Allantu to Charleston and Augusta to Charlotte the papers were represented. Quite a number of ladies were present and the crowd was a representative audience of this tine argi {cultural sec- , lion of Caqpllna. The sreaklng lasted all . the forenoon, beginning at II o'clock, and with an hour's Intermission for dinner was resumed again and occupied a large port or the afternoon. It Is a compliment lo the speakers that the crowd was larger aiier dinner than before. The crowd numbered at least 1500, and was attentive, appreciative and demonstrative. It is no injustice to .Senator Butler to gay that in the natural order of things he had the advantage of Mr. Watson before the debate began. Carolina's honored, able, fearless and beloved senator. It was only natural that the ' odds should be in Ills favor hi a contest on the political hustings against a young man from another state, unknown to everybody in the audience, and practically unknown In national politics, to say that in spite of nil this Mr. Watson captured the entire crowd, and at the conclusion of the debate had them overwhelmingly in his favor, is no small compliment, but It is an unquestioned far). Senator Bntleradmitted this when he (old Mr. Watson good night, for he said, "I had the argument, but you bad the crowd." The Methodist missionaries it) China ' number eighty-one?from M. K. Church thirty-four; Church South, thirteen. Wesleyans twenty-two, all other Methodists twelve. They have united in the China Methodist Union, and propose a common name for Chinese Methodism, a uniform course of study for native preachers, and one body of rules for natives members. Have you a good patern? Much depends upon it. If you have an imperfect one your (diameter will be misshaped. Copy no human life. It is incomplete. The best man who ever lived w:is wraped. Copy Jesus Christ. He is the Christian's only model. An English paper reports that Rev. I)r. John lirown, pastor of Ihinyan's Church, Bedford, in an address at the opening of a new church, said that a parishioner, who recently returned from Mentone, gave 0 as a thankottering for having escaped the earthquake. "Ah," said Dr. lirown, "I have a number of friends I should like to send to Mentone, for I am sure nothing butan earthquake would move them to give me such u donation."