The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-06-07
A REPLY TO COLONEL o,rERnALL.
Mr. William X. Alexander Answers His
Open Letter.
WINCHESTER, VA. June 3. 1898.

mr. william X. Alexander Answers His
Open Letter.
WINCHESTER, VA, June 8. 1893.
Editor Richmond Times:
1 see in your paper Of to-day a letter
written by Colonel Charles T. OFerrall.
70 which l ask space 20 reply. as l am
evidently the person to whom he refers.
1 am, and have never denied my respOn-
slbiiity for the articles sighed ~ Demo-
crat' and "Hayseed Democrat" published
In recent issues Of the Winchester Times,
but no others unless my name was signed
20 them. That the stones Of truth thrown
struck the mark the howl proves. AS to
the iac smile OF the regular Republican
ticket OF 1872, that IL is the genuine one
cal not be denied. l have several OF the
Vri5lhals now in my possession. as 20
now the name Of Colonel O'Ferrall got
there is question between him and the
republican managers of that year. one
thihS Is certain that no published demand
was ever made for an explanation or
apology and none given to Colonel O'Fer-
rail- by those Republican managers for
putting his name upon their ticket as a
candidate Tor Congress against Hon. John
l. Harris who was the nominee OF the
democratic party I'm 1872. and not
branch OF the party. Colonel O'Ferrall
turther states. list. That | ran for Con-
gross in 1874 This Is false" This state
ment is a wilful INSTRUMENTATION Col
onel OFcrrall was an independent candi-
date against the regular Democratic nom
inee for Congress IN 1874. have a copy
OF his card published az that time. dated
August !, 1874, announcing his indepen-
dent candidacy In which. among other
things. he says. II am aware that n con-
VentiOn has been called 10 meet In Staun-
ton on the lst day Of September next for
the purpose of nominating a candidate.
but I propose 20 take a new departure,
and submit my claims 10 the people Of
this district. and not TO any convention.
If my claims are worthy 10 be considered
I prefer the people passing upon them
and not a convention claiming 10 repre-
sent the people" Again. he says I'm this
card. announcing himself as an indie
pendent candidate outside OF the Demo-
cratic party and against the nominee to
be made by II. II appeal TO all Of my
friends and those who favor free. UNI
trammelled expression upon the part Of
the people 20 remain clear Of primary
meetings. caucuscs. conventions, &c"
but before the election was held. seeing
Inevitable defeat ahead Of him. he with
drew from the contest These are facts
which the records prove. and their denial
IS n wlful. deliberate faiseh00d. The
other charges are admitted 10 be true by
Colonel O'Ferrall. although be attempts
10 excuse himself. II seems that even I'm
minor matters he is unable 10 tell the
truth. as I never was n candidate fer
Congress -four" times. When Colonel
O'Forrall uses this language I'm regard 10
my candidacy last fall for the nomination
1T. Ia Is
political record: what was the resut2
The Democrats drove him ingloriously
from the field. and his home city and
county sent solid delegations for me-
no one knows better than Colonel Charles
II. O'Ferrall that n baser, more deliberate
and wilful falsehOOd was never penned by
the hand or issued from the lips of man.
He knows that I withdrew from the con-
test before either the city Of Winchester
or the county Of Frederick selected their
delegates. sending word TO the other coun-
ties i'm the district also before they SCI
lected their delegates, except perhaps one
or two small counties Instead of being
driven from the field ingloriously by the
Democrats Of this district, Colonel OFer-
rail- knows what my reason for withdraw
ing from the contest was; that 1t was his
dishonorabie conduct. proving both his in
EIdIlIuiA- anu LlfANAAEAN w. N'AAIitAh' A'" tAi
publishing parts Of my private letters
written him IN his interest as HIS friend,
and marked CONFIDENTIAL" which pro-
vented me as an honorable man from al
lowing nv name to go before the same
congressional convention with his. The
mass convention I'm my city was assem-
bling on the evening designated, when.
after consultation with some fifteen or
twenty of my friends (all believing. as |
did. that II I remained In the fight l
would secure the nomination I'm which I
was afterwards assured by my friends
throughout the district, | went into the
Court house Hail. whore at least ten 10
one We're supporters OF mine. / there, I'm
q few words. informed them. before the
convention was organized. that since the
dishonorable conduct Of Colonel OFerrall
I could not with sef-respect allow my
name 10 be further used in the contest.
I then left the hall followed by the hallful
of voters except about a bakers dozen cr
O.FerraITs friends. and this IS the way
I was driven ingloriously from the fell
When a man processing 10 be honorable
Stops to such dirty uisrepresentations
as that letter contain" we would orii-
rarily be Surprised but when the man Is
one who receives letters written in his
interest and marked CONFIDENTIAL thus !
trusting his honor, and ne punllshe5 parts /
OF those letters in order to cause III feel
ing between friends, as Colonel O.FtrraH |
aid last year, the sunrise ceases, for |
there Is nothing too dish0norable and UNI |
gentlcmanly for such a man To- do. II Is /
Z ardly necessary for ME 20 say That |
never branded my statements !
as base Wlful. wicked and malicious /
and when he makes such /
statement he knows he is a base and de-
liberate falsiher. as Well as am migrate |
and hyp0crite. I send with this copies OF /
all letters published last year in the con- /
test for publication. Crhe Grant and VIII |
son ticket had not been used al the time |
my private confidential letters were pub
ished) SO the public can see what eX-
,use, il any, a man processing 10 be a |
gentleman had OF so basely violating !
private confidence. ! am firm I'm the belief
hat n man who would violate private /
confidence would betray a public trust,
and is morally unfit 10 be the Governor
IL this grand old Commonwealth. The
Election returns will show that Colonel
)'Ferran has never gotten the fun party