Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-09-11
GRAYS0N COUNTY.
O'FERRALL ON TIE STUMP.
Hs Meets WISE ut Inds pcndence and has
N Discussion with Him Democratic Nomi-
nation for the House.
lCorreenoudence fthe Richmond Dispatcn.l

HdtioU wv Wv
lCorrespoudence the Richmond Dispatcn.l
INDEPENDENTS, VA,
September 7, 1885.
The Democrats are in high spirits
over the result Of joint discussion
which took place here to-day between
Colonel {. 7. 0'Ferrall aud John ,.
Wise, Republican nominee for Cover
nor. Colonel 0'Ferrall was to begin
his canvass in Southwest Virginia from
this place. On reaching here this
morning he found the Republicans
claimed the day by prior appointment
but expressed willingness to have the
issues of the campaign discussed. The
terms agreed upon were for O'ferrall
TO begin in an hours speech, to be fol-
lowed by Wise in an hour and a
quarter. with a half hour and a quarter
of an hour. respectively, for reply. At
about IL O'Clock the courthouse was
turned over to the speakers, and soon
after the discussion began. The house
was packed with citizens of the county,
anxious to hear the issues plainly de-
fined.
Colonel O'Ferrall, after paying tri-
butte to the people of Grayson, whose
hospitality he had enjoyed on former
occasion. launched at once into the
midst Of the debate. lie began by de-
claring that only few years ago Mr..
Wise and his associates would have re-
scented as personal insult an intima-
ton that they were Republicans d; but
now they have thrown aside the cloak
which concealed their political inlquity,
and make the cloyen hoof Of that party
and the principles which we have been
fighting for over twenty years plainly
visible.
Want OF space prevents me from fol-
lowing Colonel O'Ferrall in the num-
Der of important issues discussed by
him. Suffice it to say, he showed him
self thoroughly posted, and was pre-
pared with documents at hand to prove
his assertions. lie took up the favor
lite topic Of the Republicans-the free
school-and showed that the Demo-
cratic party had been its friend from
the beginning, having established the
system in Virginia five years before it
was required by the Constitution. The
charge made by the Malone party that
100000 Of the public-schOol fund had
been diverted he demonstrated to be
false from statistics furnished BIZ their
own Superintendent (Farr), which show
ed that the sum spent in the State for
free-school purposes was greater in 1884
than in 1888. and that the apportiou-
mcnt for 1885 was greater still. He
also showed, from letter written by
Auditor Marye-whose word is above
SusplclOn-that every cent Of that money
had gone through its Legitimate channel.
Colonel O'Ferral laid bare the (alla-
cious assertion of the MahOneites that
the Democrats were responsible for the
present financial depression by showing
that no opportunity had been furnished
for legislation affecting finance since
Cleyeland's Inauguration. " If the hard
times come from legislation at all,
said he. " the Republicans are reSpon-
sible." lie explained the Democratic
policy on the subject Of tariff and inter
nal revenue in plain and logical man
ner, showing it to be for the best in
terest Of the country and opposed to
monopolies.
Taking up Mr.. Wisc's record. he
picked it to pieces and showed his in
consistency. lie said that in 1850
Wise was so strong a Democrat that
he undertook to write letter in which
he denounced the Republicans Of Viz
GINA as apostates for the price of their
apostacy. Here Mr.. O'Ferrall read the
letter. Has the party reformed: asked
he or has Mr.. Wise changed his opin-
ion; Thus taking Wise up point by
point. he showed the Inconsistency Of
Mr.. Wise and his party. How are the
Republicans great peoples party
when they are run by one-man power:
At the close Of his speech MS. O'Fcr-
rail- challenged Mr.. Wise to answer a
single one of his arguments or to con-
troyert the facts produced. Bat Wise
had no idea of attempting any such
thing. He soon showed that his pur-
pose was not to discuss the issues in
volyed in the campaign, but by clap
trap. by anecdote, and by abuse, to
tickle the fancy Of his hearers. lie
began by drawing CHASTITY picture Of
the hard times, by referring to what he
termed the illiteracy Of the South, and
by dcnouncing the Democrats for the
course they pursued with regard to the
Blair bill. lie charged that party with
keeping alive race prejudices and sec
tional strife. lie abused Mr.. Massey.
lie charged that Mr. Cleveland had
been elected on a promise of favoring
ciyil-seryice reform, but had proven a
traitor to his supporters. And thus.
by series Of yituperations and reck-
less statements, did lie occupy the
time allotted him.
20 many were the rash statements
made by Mr.. Wise that it occupied the
full hali-hour given Colonel O'Ferrall
to answer one half Of them. BY this
time the crowd was so fully in accord
with Colonel o Ferrall that Wise seemed
TO lose spirit. and his final quarter Of
an hour seemed too long for him. For
some reason. best known to himself,
Captain Wise said not a word with re-
gard to the " Danville riot and the
lightweight murders committed in Pitt
sylyania county," a subject of which |
heretofore he has never tired in dwell |
ing upon.
The leading Democrats here who
know say that many changes have been
made in favor Of Democracy by the dis
cussion.
Later in the evening the Democrats
nominated Mr.. Fielding X. Cornett for
the Legislature, and say they will elect |
him by handsome majority. Colonel !
O'Ferrall goes from this place to Hills
vile tom orrow. NJ. VI. G.
The DanyiiIe RiOt-Mr. Wise Contra
dicted.
nANx-TTTV Y, Sonta,nbar q 1919