Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1894-09-13
Governor o'Ferrall Writes a Lette.

Governor O'Ferrall Writes Letter.
In answer to an invitation TO address
the Afro-American Press Association in
session in Richmond, Gov. O'Ferrall
yesterday wrote as follows:
Messrs John Mitchell, W. Calvin Chase, John
c. Daney, and Others, committee OF Afro
American Press Association. city:
In response 10 your invitation 10 address or
attend the convention Of Afro American Press
Association, now in scs>ion in this city. beg
TO say l would not think of accepting al III
vitatiop to address any convention or assen-
bly, that indorses as your convention did last
evening. the course OF Ida Wells in her Stand
er of the people aud civil authorities oil the
South.
condemn lynch law as much as any one.
aud rs long as / am Governor of Virginia
every man, whether white or black, whst-
ever the charge against him may he, shall
have trial by judge and jury, if have TO
exert all the over given me by the cons;i-
tuition and laws of Virginia, and should any
case of lypching occur, l shall endeayor TO
enforce the law against the lynchers, but il
strikes me that the action of your convention
il indorsing the misrepresentation and sland-
erous utterance of Ida Wells is calculated 10
rather than modify the spirit of violence
watch SO frequently manifests itself, not only
i / Virginia bnt throughout the South, whell
certsin crime is committed.
The biutes who commit this crime. too hor-
,ibie TO mention, and are sumnaTily dealt
with, seem to elicit sympathy from Ida Wells
aud her supporters. as though they were muir
dered innocents, while not word of sympa-
thy is expressed for their victims, who have
suffered mora than death. believe that If
your convention would condemn the crime
which has caused the lynchings in the South.
with rare exceptions, and the leaders OF the
colored people would frown upon 1t and cry
out against il, and not exert their energies
and devote their time to denunciation OF
the lynchings. there would be fewer outrsgeS.
and, if so. certainly fewer instances of mob
violence.
do not not know, but it looks very much
to NE as though the work OF Ida Wells was a
deep laid scheme TO check as far as may be,
the progress of the South, and every good
citizen, white and colored, should feel an in
terest in refuting her villifications, rather
than sanctioning them, as your convention
did last evening. She and her supporters cer-
tainly stirred up feeling against her race
which did not exist prior to her crusade. The
pc ,ple of the South, who have labored so
GsS'duously for nearly generation now 10 re-
cuperate and build up their waste places. will
not take Siadly to the effort which this
woman and her followers are making to bring
reproach upon their section and create the
Impression that it is land of lawlessness aud
d!sofd,r
have most friendly feeling for the colored
people. They have my sympathies in ali their
struggles and laudable undertakings, as
think | have shown in NV private snd public
life and was indeed, deeply panied when
read this morning that your convention, COM
posed OF representatives, of your ruce, had
struck the South blow which she did not
deserve.
While thank you for your invitation
must decline, under the circumstances, TO adj
dress your convention or attend its sessions
Respectfully,
The association last night replied to
Covarror OiE'arra IL. lattor The oo,p