Evening journal., 1896-09-10
FORD'S MANLY LETTER
He Urges All Democrats to
Support Tunnel.
TOO BIG A MAN TO BEAR MALICE

IHH GJbkhNAlOltlAL NOMlNA-
TION WILL DO ALL IN HIS
POWER TO ELECT HIS SUCCESS
FUL RIVAL.
When Peter J. Ford was defeated for
the gubernatorial nomination at the
Democratic State Convention. the
Evening Journal declared that he
would support the successful nominee
in spite of the unbecoming fight made
against him by some men who should
have been first in the field in support
of the contention that it was New Cas-
tie county's turn to have the nomina-
ton. This prediction is verified by the
following open letter which Mr.. Ford
addresses to the people Of Delaware in
! general, and to his political friends
and opponents in particular:
'To the Democratic Electors of Della
ware.
"Gentlemen:-1 view of the false
impression that has been put forth
! throughout the state by individuals
and by some of the public press
/ deem il a duty | owe to myself and my
fellow citizens, both Protestant and
, Catholic. to eradicate any error or mis-
apprehension that may prevail, regard
ing my defeat for the nomination for
governor. In advance ! may say, | in
no sense offer this as an apology for
any resentment, expressed or felt, on
, tho part of my cO-reigionists or my
friends OF other creeds. who | am sure,
I honestly believed they had a just
/ grievance neither do ! mean TO imply
that ! would not be animated by the
same spirit OF resentment, il the ac-
tion of that or any convention in the
future, led me to believe, was of a
prospective nature nor is this to be
understood as a surrender of one iota
of principles which l prize more than
any office or consideration within the
gift of the people; for no oifice or
promises that could he made by any
body under any circumstances, would
induce me TO write this cOmmunica-
tion, but / do it. being prompted
: solely by the duty / feel / owe our
people and our party
81 will never stutify myself of my
friends TO the extent of condoning any
anront to my faith now or hereafter.
Furthermore, / shall always reserve TO
myself the right to resent any aflront
to our people as "a class, OF to myself
as an individual, and while speaking
B., on this question, let me say, that re-
! marks such as have been used In our
conventions. eulogistic or condemna-
3 tory of candidates, creed or genealogy
d shall meet at least my strongest oppo-
d sition. The Democracy of Delawar,
It has no interest in any mans creed
l. The only essential qualifications are
Is honesty. capabiity and genuine Ameri
e canism, for / believe il is a fundamon
d tai right as well as a duty, every maI
owes to himself, his creed, and his con
science. to resent at the polls or other
q wise. any aspersions Of any character
on his faith.
"As to the reason of my defeat,
: must confess on my honor as a man
and a Catholic. impelled only by a
= sense of duty to our people, that / dc
not ascribe my defeat TO my faith
| Every instance In my candidacy down
to the close of the ballot only confirms
, this conclusion. In the first place
! while the impression was tried TO be
u created that ] was in the position OF
e seoN~r the office / desired 20 say
Z, from the first day the suggestion wa'
made to me by a party of leading
Democrats from the different counties
all of whom were Protestants, ] never
z approached q man in this state for the
3. / purpose OF influencing him i'm my be
l. half Ia regard to the treatment oil
e myself by the people OF Kent and Sus
r sex. have, neither could ! have, othel
e than the kindest recOllections. On
e number of occasions / had reason e
test their friendship. / have gone C
/ their representatives in the Legisla
IN ture at different times, stranger an,
| "a Ltl Itn afranunDf n0IIFiIII Wnf
~ paid lobbies ever known i'm this state
and while not always successful,
m have never had reason to be ashamed
4 Of the result OF my endeavors, M
4 staunchest and most unyielding friend
= In the Legislature, even TO this day,
!, am proud to say, without exception
i were members of the Protestant faith
Of the most pronounced type
h Again / had the assurance, verbal.
- and by letter, from most Of the SAM
- gentlemen who supported Mr.. Tunnel
" that should he not be a candidate
would undoubtedly be their choice,
fact that would have assured my nomi
nation. had Mr.. Tunnel not been men
" toned. as well as demonstrating tina
'e my faith did not influence their ac
AZ tions: therefore. my Catholic citizens
ie you whom I particularly address,
le hope you will credit me with the onl
ie desire that animates this letter that
0l to be just to a people among whom
Oh the rays of intolerance have not pene
g. trated. The people Of this state, par
pa ticularly of Kent and Sussex hav
is been maligned, not by you, you onl
ia Judge OF the facts as theyappeared OF
la thesurface, but you say religion was In
a. jected into this contest. True, but nc
to an extent that would indicate an
considerable sentiment of bigOtry, an
1 believe not sufficient to defeat me.
oil you furthermore say, we, (CathC
s. lics) and our fathers have voted tn
r. ticket for years, and at times, ten
be one when not a solitary Catholic nam
NJ graced it. and never gave a passin
Is. thought as TO the faith of candidates
*. In answer TO this, Iwillsay that thati
,i- true. Nevertheless, the first intimatio
d; that my faith would be a bar to m
lie nomination or election was advance
T. by a man who processes to be a Re
man Catholic, and whose repeated as
sertions that the MethOdists of keI