The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-09-22

The letter from that unnamed Demo
crat. signed by those other unnamed
Democrats, has the following reasons
10 assign why they have left the Demo-
cratic party and why other Democrats
should quit ~. The reasons are:
Ist. That Mr.. Cleveland allowed Col
o'Ferrar "a control the nominations OF
Federal office holders as means OF
aiding him 10 secure the Democratic nom
ination for Governor. There are three
subdivisions OF this reason. but all amount
finally 10 the first charge The subdi-
| visions are only consequences flowing
from the control over the Federal pat
ronage alleged to have been assigned by
/ Mr.. Cleveland to Col. O'Ferrall.
"a. That the Democratic Convention
nominate its candidate for governor be-
fore adopting it's platform.
90. That the convention nominated
! man for governor against whom the
unnamed Democrats have the objection
that he remained member OF Congress
while he was a candidate for governor;
! that he did not vote finally on the bin 10
repeal the Sherman law as the Sun would
have had him to vote; that he did not
! tell the people Of the State before the
nomination that he would vote for the
repeal bill, and that his political record
is "rnarred and shady"
Until we know who the Democrat is
who wrote this wonderful letter and who
the Democrats are who have signed it,
the document Of course carries no sort Of
weight outside OF the influence that 1t
may have as an argument, and, as an
argument, il seems to us TO be about the
fimsiest that we have ever met with.
AS to the first, we suppose it will hard
Iy be expected that The Times shall defend
Mr.. Cleveland from the charge Of
having made corrupt bargain with Col
onel O'Ferrall by which the latter was
to be given control Of Virginia's share
Of the Federal patronage. For this is
what the unnamed Democrats charge
amounts to. If Mr.. Cleveland simply in
terested himself to aid Colonel O'Ferrall
about which we know nothing, II might
be censurable as an act of Mr.. Cleve-
lands, though il would be pretty hard
measure to hold Colonel O'Ferall re-
sponsible for it. We assume, therefore,
that the unnamed Democrat does not
mean this. But If there was a bargain
under which Colonel OFerraIl Is hereafter
to do something for Mr.. Cleveland, that
is different thing. and most serious
one. This, we assume TO be what the UNI
named Democrat means. Are the peo-
pie Of Virginia prepared TO believe this
to be true? We apprehend that they are
not, and that it cannot be necessary for
us to waste time in defending Mr.. Cleve-
land and Colonel O'Ferrall against such
a serious criminal charge made by an
anonymous writer even though described
as a prominent Democrat" indeed, a
"better Democrat than Benjamin HILL"
The second reason is really too futile
and far fetched to be entitled to any Sc
rious consideration The platform when
it was adopted was the platform Of the
Virginia Democratic Convention, and Of
what moment was II. whether the Conven-
ton adopted It before or after the selec-
ton of candidates? The candidates had
to stand on 1t whenever adopted, or re-
nounce their nomiDation, and that is all
there is in 1t.
AS for the third reason, that concerns
Colonel OFerrall, personally. We see
no reason whatever why a member of
Congress may not seek the nomination
for governor while he is get member Of
Congress. Colonel O'Ferran did vote for
the free coinage Of silver at all the ratios
from 16 to 90 and, when he saw that q
free silver bill could not be passed, then,
and then only, he voted for the repeal of
the Sherman law The Times does not
approve of his course In this. The Times
thinks he should have voted against free
coinage and also for the repeal of the
sherman law, but The Times sees no
reason that it should quit the Democratic
party because Colonel OFerran took u
different view Of his duty in respect to
this.
AS for the unnamed Democrats filings
of a personal nature at Colonel O'Ferrall.
The Times replies that he has served Vir-
ginia faithfully in war and in peace, that
he has deserved well Of his State, and,
when a majority of The Times brother
Democrats declare that they prefer him
as the partys candidate for Governor
The Times thinks that every principle Of
order and good government calls upon ii
egixr.
him its loyal support for the place