The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-09-02

OF our city can each share III the posi-
D'.ities of the future.
State Issues had been adopted. In tina:
evcrt. II would have made nc difference
to ne nor TO those who share my views
whether the nominees were silver men,
gold men or grcenbackers."
"But you object to beng asked to in
dorse the platform which you could not
support last fai?"
C~12ITICISIcS THE ROANOKE CON-
NENTION.
eve do object, and will not be CO.
creed into doing So" was the emphatic
response. There was not the least nee
cssity for adopting such a platform as
was laid before the delegates. The
leaders of the Roanoke convention,
crazed with temporary power" n here
Governor O'Ferrall spoke with great
d~eliberation, seemed determined TO ride
booted and spurrcd over the &C. 900 Demo-
Gratis IN Virginia who refused to up
port Bcyan."
What led you to %repudiate Bryan
and the Chicago platrorm?"
II have no other REASONS to give than
those which seemed to me to be suni-
Gent in the last campaign. The Chi
cago platform was not Democratic. and
infinitely worse than the Greeley plat
form of 1872. and Mr.. Bryan was not a
Democrat. The Chicago platform will
be searched In vain nOr Democra tic
learcn. 1t abandoned the time-hcn-
ored principle Of tariff for revenue only,
enunc!ated by every Democratic con-
vcntion which mentioned the tariff ut
MI. from 1910 to 1892, and this ~ineXcusa-
bic and deliberate departure was simply
for the purpose Of ca;cn:ng the votes
or the silver Republicans, who were
for free coinage, but who were also
for protection"
VIRGINIA DEMOCRACY AND
SILVER.
But the Virginia Democrats have
always been for free ruinage?"
mot all. The convention which nom
mated me In 1891 r%epudiated the doc
tr.ne of free, unlilmitec. and indcperl-
dent courage of silver, and declared
for himetail.sm 10y and through inter-
national agreement. as you will remem-
Der. for you were present, by a vote so
overwhelming that the voices of the
free silverites could only have been
heard with al ear trumpet. That was
good Democracy then. Was 1t not In
1896?
And then" the Governor went on, ~
could not endorse the condemnation OF
President Cleveland for protecting the
malls and property Of the United States,
when threatened by mob violence. Nor
could ] forget that 1t was Senator Daniel
OF my own State. who offered IL resolu-
ton In the Senate of the United Stateo
commencing Mr.. Cleveland for his
course In connection with the suppress
sion of the mob at Chicago. This resolu-
ton was adopted without a dissenting
voice. Yet, If / remember Alright, SEN
ator Daniel was a prominent member
or the on resolutions at the
Chicago Convention when that commit
tee denounced Mr.. Cleveland for doing
tn very thing for which Senator Daniel
had praised him in the Senate. If SEN
ator Daniel raised his voice in the com.
mittee or In the convention against this
plank Of the platform, ' have not heard
of It,"
but you say that Bryan was not a
Democrat 2"
Governor O'Ferrall. Who had been
speaking earnestly, swung around in
his chair. II charged during the last
campaign" he said, and I reiterate the
charge now, that Mr.. Bryan was not a
Democrat. A mans politics must be
judged by his expressions and acts. Mr..
Bryan refused to support a regularly
nominated Democratic candidate for
Supreme Court Judge In his own State,
he voted for the Populistic electors In
1892. he accepted the PopulIstlc nomina-
ton for United States Senator. and he
did not decline the enthusiastic and
unanimous nomination Of the Populists
for President. But, if this is not sufi-
Client. I know he Is q Populist from my
" experience"
Your own experience ?"
BRYAN AND VIRGINIA POPULISTS.
Yes" said the Governor. He had
arranged to come into Virginia when I
was running for Governor anal stump
the State for my Populist opponent. /
know this for a fact. for I went to him
about II. He M I were In Congress
at the same time. For some reason he
thought better OF his determination. and
did not come. 1t is 4 fact though. that
the populists of Nebraska requested
him TO canvass Virginia for the Populist
nominee for Governor, and the Popullst
State chairman visited him in Wash
inEton. and had an interview with him
on the subject. I have been critlclsd
without mercy and condemned beyond
measure by partisan speakers and par
tisan press. ] have been called Judas
lScartot. a traitor. f. desertcr, and every
other kind OF eTdthet has been applied.
Advantage has been taken to hurl ana
thomas at my head by men whose pri-
vate lives are not above reproach,
whose personal courage has been dis
counted. II whose voices have been
potential simply because they were for
free silver and Bryan. ! am willing"
said the Governor, with q wave of his