Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1896-10-17
THE GOVERNORS DEFIAHCB.

Gov. CHARLES T. 0'FKRRALL, in his
capacity as a citizen has replied TO his
critics and traducers through the col
umns of the Richmond, Va DAILY
TINES of the 18th inst.
1t is one the ablest political docu-
ments which he has yet written. 1t
discards all figures of speech, and dis
plays of imagery, deals with facts and
appeals to the sober, impartial Judge
ment of the voter for fair and inn
partial adjudication of the questions
at issue.
1t is a caustic arraignment of those
who would debauch the credit of the
nation. dispassionate argument in
favor of sound currency. calm de-
Tense of the guarantees of the consti-
tuition and the laws and telling re-
buke to the Richmond DISPATCH,
which journal he proves to be guilty
of the rankest kind of Inconsistency,
so pronounced as TO avor strly OF
political prostitution
The Governors statement that he is
as yet Democrat, true to the princi-
pies and tenets of his party, and that it
has been those who ruthlessly assail
him that have changed is forcefTll and
emphatic.
We have more than once called at
tention to the inconsistency Of the So
called Democratic leaders, but the
Governor places it in language SO
ringing that it may be we'll to repro
duce it here. He says:
In 1892, 1898 and 1894 denounced
with all the earnestness of my nature
the Ocala and Omaha platforms of the
Populist party, and so did every other
Democrat who was on the hastings,
and you, my fello w-Democra5s, by
your voices at the time and your votes
at the polls, endorsed every utterance
and condemned every Populistic doc
trine. In 1898 you supported me in
my fierce struggle with the Populist-
Republican combination, and elected
me to my present high position. Nc
language was too severe, no words
were too bitter for you in your denun'
citation OF PopuIism. / am the same
Democrat now was then. i am stand
ing where j stood then ! have moi
budged an inch, What / condemned
then condemn now, Populism is M
more acceptable TO me now than il
was then. But my critics have chang
ed front and are hugging TO the ir DO
SONS that which they then shrani
from as they would from the mos
noxious thing. Recall the disc LssicD
to which you listened four, three an'
even one year ego between Democrat
and Populist speakers, and tell M
If you could have imagined for mo
ment that some of these Democrats
and Populist speakers would in fey
months be in a truckle-bed. Recall tn
scathinR editorials of Democratic new
papers and tell me fit everlentered yoo
mind that possibly before the summe
of 1895 had passed some Of them wCul'
be commencing RCpoEstic principles
Gould the Eraignment be more Sc
verey 1t is said that 1.-The same meas
ure you mete to others, the same shall
be measured to you again"
In reading this distinguished states
mans portrayal of the intolerance Il
which the sound money" democrats
are now being subjected, think of TIA.
time when we too.-colored people
and white Republicans were accorded
similar treatment Read what Hi,
Excellency says:
But, as impossible as you had nc
doubt supposed these things 10 be
they have come TO pass, and some OF
these same gentlemen and journals
are now far more intolerant and pro
| carfnffua orrc anti t1rr,,1rcfa thar
they ever were towards Populists. In
fact, during no period of my life have
. l seen the spirit OF unbridled zealotrI
more manifest than in this campaign
Lifelong Democrats, men who have
grown gray in the service of their par
ty, who have devoted their time and
! talent to the promotion of Democratic
principles. and raised their sons up il
Democratic faith, are derided and jeer
ed by some who have forsaken the hal
; of Democracy and enlisted under the
: Populist banner, but upon which they
have inscribed the glorious word
Democratic Freedom of opinion i
not tolerated and freedom of speech il
prescribed, even in 'liberty-iovini
Virginia"
A sad condition this. His analyst
of the Chicago platform is as Hnmerci
full as it is unanswerable in the field o
logic and of fact.
He takes bold stand against mob
lynch-law, and shows it's evil effect
in PARKWAY Illinois. In his discussion
of this subject Senator JoHNW DANIEL
politically speaking is ground t.
: powder, and his support of MR.. BRYAl
: upon the Chicago platform made t.
: appear ridiculous and humiliating
He discusses the platform as follows
First. 1t condemns the Presiden
for sending Federal troops to Chicago
to suppress a riot, and when a mol
was not only burning the property
I plundering houses, and numbering cit
, liens. but threatening the destruc tiOl
of the United States mats. This WIS
/, in the opinion of the convention AN
= bitrary Federal interference with loea
affairs" No candid man will risk ri
reputation by denying that this is
: proper construction of this plank i
the platform.
. Is this Democratic? If so, it is no
the kind of Democracy have beel
= taught. Is this Democratic2 If 80,
Is contrary W VIC ItSOluJlOI OMCIc'
by Senator Daniel in the Unite
. states Senate endorsing the Presi
. dents course and commencing him 70
! his prompt action. and which Resolu
= tion passed both houses of Congress
without dissenting voice.
d He sets forth the obligations of til
k President in language roo plain to
it misunderstood and has construction
d his powers is in accord with the view
= of the ablest constitutional authorize
y which this country has produced.
We have always held to this viev
+ Here is what he says:
q Fbe President is bound under h
l. oath of office to maintain the laws
d the United States and protect II