The Washington bee., 1894-09-22
TH E GOV. REFUsES.
WOULD NOT ADDRESS THE NE
GRO NEWSPAPER CONVEN-
TION.
HE COULD NOT ACCEPT THEIR INvI-
TATION BECAUSE THEY ENDORSE
IDA WELLS-REPLY TO HIS
VERY "CANDID' LETTER.

A committee from the Afro Ameri-
can Press Association called upon Gov
}ernor O'Ferrall at his Office yesterday
afternoon to invite him to attend OF
deliver an address before their conven-
tion last night. The colored ''journal-
ists," who were headed by John Mitch
ell, Jr., were courteously received upon
their arrival at the executive chambers
and were Individually introduced to IL
EXce]lency. One of the delegation in
a rather creditable speech, explained
the object of their mission, and urged
the Governor to appear at their meet
meeting, even though he could only
stay few moments. The Executive
told the Afro-A merican visitors that
he could not give an answer to their
invitation at the time, but that he
would respond by a letter. to be deliv-
cred to them in time to know his de-
ciSion.
THE GovERNER's LETTER.
The following is the communication he
sent to John Mitchell, Jr., president of
the AfrO-American Press Association:
Richmond, Va. Sept. II, 1884
vitation to address any convention or
assembly that endorses, as your conven
tion did last evening the course of Ida
Wells in her ISLANDERS of the people and
civil authorities of the South.
[ condemn lynch law as much as any
one, and as long as [ an Governor of
Virginia every man, whether white or
colored whatever the charge against him
may be, shall have trial by judge and
jury, if [ have to exert all the power
given me by the constitution and laws
of Virginia, and should any case Of
lynching occur, shall endeavor to en-
force the law against the lynchers, but
it strikes me that the action of your
convention in endorsing the misrepre-
sentations and slandering utterances Of
Ida Wells is calculated to do harm
rather than good, and intensity rather
than molIify the spirit OF violence
which so frequently manifests itself,
not only in Virginia, but throughout
the South, When certain crime is com
mitted. The bruteS who commit this
crime, too horrible to mention, and are
Summarily dealt with, seem to solicit
sympathy from Ida Wells and her sup
porters, as though they were murdered
innocentS, while not word Of Sympa
thy is expressed for their victims who
have suffered more than death. / be-
lieve if your convention would con-
denim the crime which has caused all
the lynchings in the South, with rare
exceptions. and the leaders of the col
ored people would frown down upon it
and cry out against it, and not exert
their energies and devote their time to
a denunciation of the lynchings, there
would be fewer outrages, aud, if so,
fewer instances Of mob violence.
A DEEP LAID SCHEME.
| do not know, but it looks very
much to lie as though the wOr k of Ida
wells was deep laid scheme to check,
as far as may be, the progress OF tue
South, and every good citizen, white and
colored, should feel al interest in refut
ing her villitications rather than sane
tioing them as your convention did
last evening. She and~.her supporters
certainly stirred up feeling against
her own race which did not exist prior
to her crusade. The people of the
South, who have labored 50 assiduous-
ly for nearly generation now to recup
crate and build up their waste places,
will not take kindly to the effort which
this woman and her followers are MAX
ing to bring reproach upon their Sec
ton, and create the impression that it
is land uf lawlessness and disorder.
| have the most friendly feeling for
the colored people. They have my
sympathies in all their struggles and
laudable undertakings, as | think l
have shown in my private and public
life, and was, indeed, deeply panied
when read this morning that your
convention, composed rof representa-
tives of your race had stuck the south
a blow which She did not deserve.
While l thank you for your invita-
ton, must decline, under the circum
stances, to address your convention or
attend it's sessions.
Respectfully,
(Signed) CHARLES L. OFERRALL.
Governor of Virginia.