Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1894-09-20
GOLDsBoRo. N. c.. THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 20 1894
A FITTING REBUkE.
By Gov. O'FerralI, of Virginia.

By Gov. O'Ferral1, of Virginia.
RICHMOND, VA, Sept. I'm
answer to an invitation to address
the Afro-Americ an Press Asso-
citation, in session here, Gov.
O'Ferrall wrote as follows:
Messrs. John Mitchell, ". Cabin
Chase, John G. Da1acy and Others,
Committee Of 4 4fro-4me,ica1e Press
association, City.
DEAR SIRS-In response to
your invitation to address Or at
tend the convention of the Afro
American Press Association, now
in session in this city, beg to
say that I would not think of &C
cepting an invitation to address
any convention or assembly that
endorses, as your convention did
last evening. the course of Ida
Wells in her ISLANDERS of the peo-
pie and civil authorities Of the
South.
Il condemn lynch law as much
as any one, and as long as | am
Governor of Virginia, every man,
whether white or colored, what
ever the charge against him may
be, shall have a trial by judge
and jury, if I have to exert all
the power given me by the con-
stitution and laws of Virginia.
and should any case of lynching
occur, | shall endeavor to enforce
the law against the lychers, but
it strikes me that the action of
your convention in endorsing the
misrepresentation and slander-
Gus utterances of Ida Wells is
calculated to do harm rather than
mollify the spirit of violence
which so frequently mar1ifests it
self, not only in Virginia, but
throughout the South, when a
certain crime is committed. The
brutes who commit this crime,
too horrible to mention, and are
summarily dealt with, seem to
elicit sympathy from Ida Wells
and her supporters, as though
they were murdered innocentS,
while not word of sympathy is
expressed for their victims, who
have suffered more than death.
Il believe that if your Conven-
ton would condemn the crime
which has caused all the lynch
ings in the South, with rare eX-
ceptions, and the leaders of the
colored people would frown upon
it and cry out against it, and not
exert their energies and devote
their time 60 a denunciatiOn Of
the lyching, there would be fewer
outrages, and if SO, certainly
fewer instances of mob VIC
lence.
Il do not know, but it looks
very much to me as though the
work of Ida Wells was deep-laid
scheme to check as far as may be
the progress of the South, ano
every good citizen, white and
colored, should feel an interest
in refuting her villifications
rather than sanctioning them, as
your convention did last evening
| She and her supporters certainly
stirred up a feeling against hel
race which did not exist prior tc
her crusade. The people of the
South, who have labored SO as
siduously for nearly a generation
now to recuperate and build uI
their waste places will not take
kindly to the efforts which thi'
| woman and her followers arr
making to bring reproach upon
their section and create the i'm
preston that it is a land of law
} Iessness and disorder.
Il have most friendly feeling
for the colored people. They
have my sympathies in all thei
struggles and laudable undertak
: ings, as l think I have shown il
! my private and public life, and
was indeed deeply panied when
l read this morning that your con
, vention composed of representa-
tives of your race, had strucl
1 the South blow which she di
a not deserve.
L While 1 thank you for your in
e vitation, l must decline under tn
l circumstances to address you
. convention or attend it's sessions
Respectfully,
: CHARLES T. O'FEKEALL.