The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1896-09-10
Ff1jiHD'S MANIFESTO
His Defeat for the GoYsrnoTship
Again Related.
His RELIGION The CAViE
He Will Support the Man Who
Defeated Him and will Work
for the Others Who
Were Instrumental IN
His Eefeat

aspirhnt for tho Governorsh lip Issued the
following manifesto this m orning to the
Democratic electors Of Della ware 1t Is:
"In view Of tho false imp ression that has
been put forth throughout the State by In.
dividuals and some Of the public press, I
deem 1t q duty owe to m yself and my fol.
low citizens. both Protes tant and CathO.,
lie, to eradicate any error or missappre.
tensions that may prevail, regarding my
defeat for the nomln alton for Cover
nor; in advance may say, In no sense
offer this as an apology for any resent.
co.religlonists or my friends Of other
oreeds, who I am sure honestly believed
they had just grievance, neither do I
mean to imply that would not DO ami
mated by the same spirit Of resentment,
II tho action OF that or any convon- .
tion In tho future led me to
believe, was Of u prosoriptive nature,
of one iota Of principles which l prize
more than any office or consideration
within tho gift Of the people; for no Office
or promises that could be made by any
body under any circumstances would In
duce me to write this communication but
| do 1t being prompted solely by duty
feel owe our people and our party: I
will never stultfy myself or my friends to
tho extent of condoning any affront to my
faith now or hereafter; Furthermore l sh all
always reserve to myself the right to re-
sent any ahront to our people as CT ass
or to myself Us an individual and VIII lie
speaking on this question, let me say, tn at
remarks such as have been used In our
conventions, eulogistio or condemnatory
OF candidates, creed or genealogy shall
meet at least my strongest opposition.
The Democracy Of Delaware has no inter-
est In any mans creed.
The only essential qualifications are hon.
esty, capability and genuine Amerlcanism,
and believed 1t Is a fundamental right as
we'll as duty every man owes to himself,
his creed and his conscience, to resent at
the polls or otherwise, any aspersions OF
any character on his faith As to the rea-
son Of my defeat, must confess on my
honor rs man and a Catholic, impelled
only by sense OF duty to our people, that
do not ascribe my defeat to my faith,
every instance in my candidacy down to
tho close Of the ballot only confirms this
conclusion. In the first place, while the
impression wal tried to be created, that
was in tho position of seeking the Office, I
desire to say, from the first day the sug-
gestion was made to me by party Of lead.
ing Democrats from the different counties,
all Of whom were Professionals. I never ap-
preached man in this State for the pur-
pose Of influencing him In my behalf.
In regard to the treatment Of mysefby
IhU ptDple VI hcilt anu touSscAi 1 IuNC,
neither could have, other than the grand
est recollections. On number Of occa.
sions had reason to test their friendship.
have gone to their representative in the
Legislature at different times, q stranger
and opposed by the strongest political and
paid Hobbies ever known In this State, and
while not always successful, l have never
had reason to bo ashamed of the result Of
my endeavors; my staunchest and most
~ fripnIq n
to this day, am proud to say, without ex.
oeption, wore members Of the Protestant
faith, OF the most pronounced type
Again | had the assurance, verbally and
by letter. from most Of the came gentle
men, who supported Mr.. Tunnel, that
should he not be & candidate, would be
their choice a fact that would have as
sured my nomination, had Mr.. Tunnel not
been mentioned, as well as demonstrating
that my faith did not influence their ac-
tons; therefore my Catholic fellow citi-
zens, you whom I particularly address,
hope you will credit me with the only de-
sire that anlmates this letter, that Is to
be just to people among whom the rays
OF intolerance have not penetrated.
The people OF this state, particularly of
Kent and Susscs, have been maligned, not
by you,you only Judged Of the facts az they
appeared on the surface, but you say re-
ligion was injected into this contest true,
but not to an extent that would Indicate
any considerable sentiment Of bigotry and
| believe not sufficient to defeat me; you
furthermore say we (Catholics) and our
fathers have voted the ticket for years, and
at times. ten to one, when not solitary
Catholic name graced it, and never gayo
a passing thought as to the faith of candi-
dates.
In answer to this, will say, that that Is
true, nevertheless the first intimation that
my faith would be bar to my nomination
or election, was advanced by man who
processes to be a Roman Catholic and
whose repeated assertions that the Metho-
dists Of Kent and Sussex would prescribe
me owing to my creed believed then, and
still believe, is foul libel on the manhood
and American!sm Of our Protestant fellow
citizens.
In his efforts to spread this support, he
was ably seconded by another character,
who claims to be a Catholic Il would not
accuse him OF being Of any faith; these
with other individuals. regarding whom
shall take liberty to inform the people of
mainly responsible for the present condi-
ton Of feeling In this state but have sutti-
Gent faith in the manhood of Delaware to
believe when the time arrives, they will
put such a seal Of condemnation on these
men and their methods that time will not
eradicate fellow citizens, The party must
not be rent asunder, for the acts or ex-
press!ons OF these irresponsible people.
a few words more will show my exact
feelings: shall by all means in my power
advocate and support Mr.. Tunnels election
and earnestly beg my friends to set aside
all feeling Of resentment and do what be-
ieve Mr.. Tunnel would have done, had I
been honorsd with the nomination OF our
party, which has been. and always will be,
if can accomplish It, invincible and uudi-
yded. SO long as its acts are consistent
with the time-honorcd Democratic princi-
Pies and doctrines. Respectfully,
PETER j. FORD.