Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-09-26
0'FERRALL T0DANIEL
THE GOVERNOR REPLIES TO THE
SENATOR'S LAST LETTER.
TAXES SILENCE As ADMISSION.


his reply TO the letter OF Senator John
vs.. Daniel. printed In the Dispatch and
other papers OF Sunday last. The letter
would make about six columns in the
Dispatch and covers in great part what
has already been printed IN the interest
ing discussion between these two promi-
ucnt Virginians. The Governor begins:
MIR. Edltor-I trust you will pardon
me for again seeking some space in your
bright and popular paper. in order that
/ may reply 20 the letter OF Senator
Daniel. which appeared in the papers
OF Sunday last. / cannot plead in justi-
Gcation Of the favor ] ask that / regard
an answer as absolutely necessary, for
the Senator has involved himself in such
a labyrinth OF difficulties that ] might
submit his letter 10 the candid judgment
OF a discriminating public without COM
ment. lie has, however, so wired in
and wired out that the people may re-
quire some assistance in ascertainng
whether he is going North or coming
South
Before entering upon my reply, I
want 20 refer 10 the opening paragraph
Of the Senator's letter. lie says, re-
ferrng to my letter of recent date, that
= heJ will not answer in detail. The
game is not worth the candle This
shows how very towering and transcend
emily mighty the Senator stands in his
own estimation, and draws forth the in
voluntary exclamation:
Upon what meat doth this our Caesar
feed.
That he has grown so create
The game is not worth the candle!
Then. why was the Senator so prodigal
with his candle; why was he such
spondthrift Of his time? Why devote so
many days 10 his useless task, and i'm
pose upon the papers for so much space?
Il suppose the Senator, while descant-
ing loarnedly upon the benefits he has
derived from his superior knowledge OF
grammatical construction leading him
10 construe the Chicago platform diffe-
ronty from twelve millions OF voters,
throws himself back and folding his
cloak OF senatorial dignity about him,
cries Behold me I'm my sacerdOtal robes.
Think not, speak not Of me, but in reve-
rental awe
"The game IS not worth the candle"
Really. the Senator has a case OF
1ropsy. which ne mistakes for substan-
tal immensity OF stature; it is pity ne
ldbOTs under such dciuslOn.
"He says ] display ignorance OF cur
rent political matters and happy-go-
lucky style / trust 1 am not wise in
my own conceits. but II does seem to me
that ! have been sufficiently informed
10 pierce the cutcle of the Senator until
ne shows evidence Of his celestial temper,
and is restless under the operation.
My 'happy-go-lucky style may be the
result of the easy task l have had.
Though feeble In ability, ] entered upon
the work of defending myself against the
onslaught Of the Senator and of carrying
the war into the camp of the enemy with
"a confidence born Of "a consciousness of
right, and a belief that my work could
be accomplished without serious trouble.
] did not feel that had a mighty fortress
to storm. nor giant to meet. and now
that 7 find l have succeeded fairly well,
/ am not az all elated-in fact, l feel like
the girl said she felt after the minister
had performed the marriage ceremony:
1t was not such big thing after ALL
CLEARING THE DECK.
"Now as l proceed modestly to answer
the letter of the Senator. ii may be well
TO clear the deck Of unnecessary things,
all matters that need no discussion. so
] will, in a 'happy-go-lucky style group
the admissions Of the Senator
The Governor then takes up seriatim,
the twenty-five charges that he made
against Major Daniel in his previous let
ter. 10 each of which he adds, "by his
silence he admits the charge and he
continues:
with all these twenty-five admissions
grouped the people can see at a glance
the result. so far of my encounter with
Virginia's senior senator. 1t has become
so fashionable Of late 10 attack me, that
the Senator concluded he would try his
hand. and. perhaps, draw off attention
from his recent escapade at the Roanoke
convention TO the handsome manner in
which he was lambasting me- Taking as
a pretext the simple mention Of his name
In a connection in which 1t had been
mentioned by thousands Of persons and
printed by hundreds Of papers without
rufIling his temper or heating his blood,
ne made his dash 'neeter than the wild
horse Of Burger TO hew me down with
his Damascus blade. Self-preservation,
the first law of nature. rebelled against
this unprovoked assault, ana In my hum
Bile way / ventured to defend myself
with the weapons at hand, and l find /
am still unharmed and ready and willing
to continue the combat, should ii be the
desire of this supposed mighty gladiator.
so j say lay on and defeated is he who
FIRST cries Hold, enoughv
stiu before me- l shall endeavor to re-
plv 10 all that my fierce antagonist has
advanced in his four-cOlumn letter.
SPEECHES ON THE TARIFF.
"The Senator asserts that l did not
study the platforms of my party on the
tariff until after my interview of the
ist instant. ! am not surprised at this,
for he has cared nothing for tariff re-
duction, and has given the subject so
little thought that he could not imagine
how / could be so well informed az 10
the planks Of the various Democratic
platforms The fact is, my recital OF
the various tariif planks was taken
from notes in my campaigns of 1883 and
1892. All the people know that as far
back as 1883 / was discussing tariff re-
form while the Senator was denouncing
the internal revenue tax, and insisting
upon it's repeal, and allowing the Repub-
lican tariff TO remain intact
"Why. so befogged is the Senator now,
that ne does not understand even the
planks Of 1854 and 1855. He thinks the
words in these planks. we demand that
Federal taxation shall be exclusively for
public purposes are not equivalent 10
the words. tariff fer revenue only
However II he can. with even his re-
markablc facility at hair-splitting draw
a distinction which win be satisfactory
10 Democrats, he will have performed a
feat even as wonderful as his many,
double. back-handed political somer-
saults.
"He asserts gravely that have