The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-06-29

net direct representative of the farm
ing interests.
"These are evidences Of an intelligent
regard for the interests of agriculture,
and an effective zeal in their behalf, un-
surpassed by any of his Congressional
colleagues; and his own district, recog-
nizing Col. O'Ferrall's fidelity, has in
six consecutive conventions composed
almost exclusively Of farmers renomi.
mated him by reclamation.
"But while ever alert to the interests
OF farming constituency, Col. OFFER
rail- has consistently opposed those Wis.,
ionary schemes of cranks and dema.
| gogues that are founded on the as.
sumption that the government
must support the citizen rather than
the citizen the government. He has
held to the belief that the best gov
erned people are those that are governed
least. He has therefore opposed the
| irrational propositions Of the Third
party. which would result. il carried to
logical conclusion, in the destruction
of the constitution and the degradation
of American citizenship.
DEFENDER OF HIS PEOPLE.
mo feature of Colonel O'Ferralrs
career reflects greater distinction upon
himself or inspires greater admiration
among his friends than his readiness at
all times todefond his State and section
| against the malignant attacks of Re.
| publican South haters. His collisions
| in Congress with Speaker Reed, Bou-
telle and others of their school have
been frequent and violent, and in no
instance can it be said that the Virginia
Congressman came out worsted in the
encounter. He was among the first to
rebuke Speaker Reed for his brutal
In, {bo 80
nority in the Fifty. first Congress, and
was the central figure Of an exciting
scene on the floor Of the House on the
night OF February l, 1890, when the
celebrated contested election case OF
Smith vs. Jacksonville first of that
memorable Congress-was being rail-
roaded through under the Speakers
arbitrary code. On that occasion
| Colonel O'Ferrall warned the autocrat
from Maine in the following pointed
language:
Sir, antocrats can never live in this land:
this is no cline for them. They never live
under the rays OF the sun of constitutional liberty
applause on the Democratic side
"'Sincc the head of British tyranny was bruised
no man so 1ar as my memory serves me, has ever
until now assumed the role OF dictator in any
branch OF this Government. II has been reserved
for the year $50 and for the Fifty-irst Congress
"'But, sir, am now done.
'''Lct the finger of autocratic power in this
House direct the way to those who will follow it.
Let the voice OF autocratic power sound through
thcsc nails aud command those who nav obey 1t,
out az Tor me and my people protest against
this usurpation. against this outrage, against
against this cruel and wicked and unconstitu-
tional violation of the rights OF the minority.
Applause on the Democratic side.
Let II go out, and let all give to the de-
caration that necessity, the tyrant's plea, Is
oncred as Inc only excuse for this unscemly, un.
| prccedented and unconstitutional proceeding of
| him who for brief season will preside over the
deliberations OF this body Applause on the
Ibid say for brief season: Yes, for MS
sure as sense OF Justice still dwells and an In
OF the American people, as sure ae the citizens
or this land arc still Jealous of their rights and
look with alarm upon the slightest encroach-
mcnt upon them, just go sure Will the Democrats
return to power In this house in the Fifty-second
CoaaETress and there will be no usnrper, autocrai
holding the gavel Applause on the Democratic
| side.
I've will then bear with patience though
NOT without protest, earnest and deep, tho pres
ent condition OF affairs, looking forward to the
early dawning OF better day, when the law and
aud held Ms sacred by the party in power-thc
Democratic party, whose principles and record
States, by the popular vote OF your masters Mr.
Speaker, as well rs my masters Loud applause
on the Democratic side
Col. OFerrall's loyalty to his people
and his jealousy for their const Gu tional
Liberties were strikingly exemplifed by
the part he took in resisting the in
famous force bill. The people OF Vir-
ginia can not forget his plucky fight, as
the solitary member on the Democratic
side of the House against overwhelming
ODDS, in resisting the unseating of the
Hon. e. c Venable of Petersburg, and
his manly contention for the right of
! the people to be represented by their
duly elected representative.
THE SECTIONAL CLAIM.
1--WE deprecate as injurious to the
Democratic party any C aim that the
gubernatorial nomination should be
awarded to any particular section. The
| sectional line should not be drawn, and
| no man should be nominated because
he belongs to the Southwest, the Val
ley. Piedmont, Soutaside, or Tidewater
| sections
THE question should be confined to
the man, not to the section.
| However, in an address by the
friends OF one Of the aspirants for this
nomination much is said about the
claims of the Southwest in disparage.
ment of the claims of the Valley. 1t
declares that there have been forty.six
| governors OF Virginia since 1876. This
is mistake. There have been forty.
two, including the reconstruction gov.
ernors. The address referred to states
land correctly) that the Southwest has
had only three, but it fails to mention
that they were all from che present
Ninth district. The Valley. from the
Potomac to Roanoke, has had the same
number, while the Valley portion of the
| Seventh district. in which Col. OFFER
rail- lives, has had only one.
I The addr IS fails utterly to give
som other facts, which, in the light OF