The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-01-01
SATURDAY, JANUARY l. 1898.
o.vrKRALLANp HIS SUCCESSOR

Charles r. O'Ferrall has retired from
the executive chair Of virginia WIN" ~
has occupied during the past -FOUR year
- /, seems TO Us right and proper 10
.av a word through these columns aoou'
,bo manner in which he has conuuc'eu
.,u,.0i, during the term Of his official
service. ,,..
7, nrst be conceded and we believe
that n is conceded even by his politicai
onponents. that he has given the people
Of Virginia d wise. courageous ana pa
,rlotic administration, entirely free from
even the whisper of scandal.
When he went into office it was with
the resolve that he would MAINTAIN 'ne
dignity of the law at all hazard ana lie
has faithfully adhered to that resolutloh'
Ever alert to the condition OF anairs IN
the various sections Of the state ne mas
heen with military instinct prompt 10
.c, whenever there was threat OF mon
violence. We do not hesitate to say 'hat
the good order which has prevaiieu
throughout this Commonwealth during
Governor O'Ferralis administration was
due in no small degree to the courage
and diligence that he showed In antici-
pating disturbance OF the public peace
and his action in this regard commands
The respect and entities him TO the graf
itude OF every law-abiding citizen.
We say. too. that he has been a most
industrious Governor. Naturally a man
OF great energy and enterprise. he has
riyen his whole time and attention 10
the affairs of state. being almost con-
tinually on duty from the time that he
went into office until the time or MS
retirement He has watched the hnances
Of the State; he has watched the work
lnps Of the public institutions of the
state; he has given attention 10 the oys-
Ter industry: to the agricultural and me-
,hanical interests of Virginia; and he
has lost no opportunity, we believe, TO
promote the material welfare of this
commonw ealth.
A man easy to approach, he hes been
accessible az all times TO all Sorts and
conditions Of citizens who would confer
with him, and those who have called
upon him have invariably received court
cous and conslderate treatment. While
never parading himse.f ostentatiously
he has never failed to respond upon pub
lie occasion to the demands OF the &C.
caslon. and has given due attention TO all
public functions. In short, Governor
.O'Ferrall since he assumed the duties
Of his office, has been faithfully and un-
selhshly the servant Of the people. and
has been obedient 10 the peoples wish
In private life he has been genial and
social. taking part In the social affairs
Of the city. and thoroughly exemphfying
at 'he executive mansion that hospital
iiy for which Virginia is famed. His
personal life like his public life has been
pure and clean lie is a model husband
and father and has set an example in
his home life that all men may we'll emu
late. lie has also been a member in
good standing OF one OF the city churches
and n is no small tribute to him that
among those who most respect. admire
and love him is his distinguished pastor.
Rev. Dr. Moses d. Hoge.i
But Governor OFerrall has not es-
capped censure. lie has been condemned
and abused for refusing in 1896 TO give
his support TO the nominee OF the Chi
cago Convention. In passing judgment
upon that act, We confess that we speak
as those who are prejudiced in the Gov
ernors favor for in that contest The
Times occupied the same position. But
however partial We may be. we believe
that we are competent TO Judge fairly,
and we speak the exact truth when we
say that. In our opinion. the Governor
action in the campaign of 1896 was
prompted entirely by honest motives and
was a trying sacrifice OF personal feel
ing and political ambition to political
principle. We believe that one OF the
ruling principles with this man is 10y
atty. We have found him ever loyal 10
his friends. ever ready 20 serve them, and
never fcrssiang . friend until his con.
hdsncs Ia that friend was shaken. We
believe too that he was and 10 loyal 70 the
Democratic party a. representing true
Democratic principles. He has been Pc
esltasly ,syai and grateful to the Demo-