Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1896-10-23

men they should do Just what they
have dOne-embrace pOpnlistic
faith with zeal and fervOr. | have
no complaint to Law at their door
as much rs may regret their de
pArlurP. butInsist l shall he as free
TO renOunce my adhesion to a doc
trine which. if put in practice,
would | believe, wreck and ruin tue
The business aud material interests
OF this country.
THE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE.
Having now stated as briefly as posi-
BILE some Of my objections to the Chicago
platform, l will indicate my objections to
the candidate for the Chicago conven-
ton for president. | object TO him upon
the ground that he is net a democrat.
here assert and challenge contradic-
ton that William Jennings Bryan was
endorsed by populists for congress and
elected by their votes in 1890. here
assert and challenge contradiction that
he voted for the pOpulist electoral ticket
for president in 1897 over the regular
democratic electoral ticket which re.
ceiyed the support Of the loyal demo
Gratis Of his state numbering 24,943. /
here assert and challenge contradiction
that he refused recently to support q
regularly nominated candidate OF the
democratic party for Judge in his state.
further assert and challenge cOntradic.
ton tina. in '93 his sympathies we're wit i
the pOpulists in the gubernatorIal eou-
test in Virginia and that 80 we'll was thi:
understood that he was requested by the
populists OF his congressional district in
Nebraska and invited in person by the
chairman OF the populist party Of Vir-
ginia to canvass the state for the popu-
list nominee and against me, the demo-
cratic nsmincS. Why he did not come
let him say.
AMI now, Gaping the climax, he has
accepted the populist nomination for
president with all that an acceptance
implies.
As have said, have never voted for
any man who was not demOcratin the
thirty-iour years have been a voter,
and will not break my record by cas-
ting nv ballot for William Jennings
Bryan, for his political principles AID
his affiliations and sympathies with the
enemies of democracy render him un-
worthy OF democratic support.
Nv fellow democrats, have now an
swered my critics through the medium Of
this letter, aud have given you my rea-
sons formy course in the pending pO-
ltical campaign. have addressed you
without reserve, as have always done.
Many of you nv differ with me; if so,
have no quarrel with you, however much
l may think you are wrong. accord
t. you honesty and sincerity and | am
sure those who have not allowed your
passion to become infamed will cOncede
to me the same devotion to democratic
principles as when | stood shoulder to
shoulder with you in the fierce struggles
Of democracy with republcanism. Ma
honism and populism. | need not say
to YOU that hurl back with the contempt
which it merits any insinuation or it,
timation. come from whatever source il
may, that | am anything but what have
always been, democrat, pure and sim
pie unpoluted with pOpulism, untainted
with republicanism-a democrat so firm
in my faith that there is 10 power under
heaven that could draw me into the
ranks OF either, and no hope OF gain
personal or political, that could induce
me to ally myself with the one or to at
tach myself to the other.
Concealng nothing, withholding
nothing from you as to my purpose, ]
declare that shall cast my ballot for
Palmer and Buckner. | will not assist
with my vote in the election OF either
Mckinley, the republican, or Bryan
the populist candidate for president OF
the United States.
INDUCING the earnest hope hat the
day is not distant when he democratic
party of Virginia and of the nation will
stand forth stronger than ever upon
platform OF Jeflersonian demOcracy-a
platform clear OF the heresiss and va
carries OF populism. / remain, your
fellow democrat,
CHARLES Z. O'FERRALL.
October 10, 1896.