The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1894-09-17

To the Negroes Declining Their
Invitation to Address Them.

To the Negroes ON Declining Their
Invitation to Address Them.
Richmond, Va, September 13.-In answer
to an invitation to address the Afro-Ameri-
can Press Association, in session here, Gov
ernor O'FerralI wrote as follows:
Governors Office, Richmond, va, Sep
TENDER T. 1854.-Messrs. john Mitchell. w.
Calvin Chase John G. Dancy and Others,
Committee of the Afro-American Press As
sociation, City. Dear Sirs: In response to
your invitation to address or attend the
convention OF the -Afro-Amercan Press AS
sociation now in session in this city, L
beg to say l would not think of accepting
an Invitation to address any convention or
assembly that endorses. as your convention
did last evening. the course of Ida Wells
in her Islander of the people and civil au-
thorities of the south.
Il condemn lyncn law as much as any
one and as long as l am governor of Nir-
ginia every man, whether white or black,
whatever the charge against him may be,
shall have a trial by judge and jury if
have to exert all the power given me by
the constitution and laws of Virginia, and
should any ease of lynching occur | shall
endeavor to enforce the law against the
lynchers, but it strikes me that the action
of your convention in endorsing the mis-
representations and sianderouS utterances
of Ida Wells is calculated 10 DO harm
rather than good and intensity, rather than
mollify, the spirit of violence which 50
frequently manifests itself, not only in Viz
ginia but throughout the south, when
certain crime is committed. The brutes
who commit this crime, too horrible to
mention, and are Supmarily 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.
II believe that il your convention would
condemn the crime which mas caused the
lynchings in the south, with rare exceptions,
and the leaders OF the colored people would
frown upon ii and cry out against II, anu
not exert their energies ana devote tiislF
time to a denunciation OF the lynchlngS.
there would be fewer outrages, ana IL 50,
certainly fewer instances OF moo violence
Il do not know, but it looks very much
TO me as though the work of Ida Wells was
a decp-Iaid scheme to check, ~ lar a. may
be- the progress of the SOUTH and every
good citizen, white and colored, should leeI
an interest in refuting her NliltleatioHS
rather than sanctioninS them, as your con-
yenton Gid last evening. she ana her sup
porters certainly stirred up a feeinS against
her race which did not exist prior to her
crusade. The people IF the south, VINO nave
iabored so assiduously for nearly genera
tiOs now, to recuperate and bulil Np thSIF
waste places viii not take kindly 70 the
s,gorL Whicdh this r X9n2n 45a her ,1pa 5 r.
section and create the impression that Il IS
\ land of lawlessness and disorder.
~ have the most friendly feeling for the
rolored people. They have my sEnrathies
in all their struggles and laudable under
tatinrs as I think ] have shown in my
private and Iuoilc life, and was indeed
deeply panied when / read this morning
that your convention, composed o. repre-
sentatives Of your race. had struck the
SCUM a blow which she ala not deserve.
while l thank YOU for your invitation, l
must decline under the circumstances 10
address vou, convention or attend its ses-
Sions. Respectfully, .