New-York tribune., 1879-01-03
GILL LIn PEr nn COOKL.


CaLL IHE RET. DG. C0OHf.
The Rev Dr. l.. Cooke, President of Clattn
University, III South Carolina, seems to be
swift witness. TIE TRIBUNE's correspondent
"Z L. w." in his leiGcr published November
%, mentioned the fact that he voted the
Democratic ticket openly at The late election,
aud in connection with tnat circumstance, alter
relating story, which was certainly current
in South Carolina at the time, concerning the
treatment the reverend gentleman received at
the hands of the chivulTy in 1876, said, " TIE
" Republicans here would be glad 10 know
" if he was converted by the BuldozerS in
"1S76." Our contemporary, The Nation, will
no doubt be glad to correct its statement that
''thC writer said tlat this painful sight was the
result of dreadful Il-reatmeut which DIR.
Cooke had received at the hands OF roughs
"on a railway train at the time OF Governor
" "IIampton's election i'll 1876, which treat
"ment had frightened him into complete sub
EMISSION to Democratic wishes" We have
great admiration for the candor and indie
pcndeuce Of our contemporary, but III this case
its desire TO divest itself of all prejudice
against our Southern brethren, has tlnged its
gentle sarcasm with eXaggeration. THE
TRIBUNE's correspondent simply related what
was currently reported, and made the
comment above quoted. The reverend gentle
man subsequently, Ill letter to TIE
TRIBUNE, denied the truth Of the report and
ouI contemporary. Ill its zeal for truth, hastCnS
to inform its readers that he " denies eXplic-
"itly that his political action has ever been
"inhucnced by intimidation, and adds that
"althOugh a Republican himself, he claims no
"poliucal fraternity with many Republicans
Gin the South" 1t was an oversight, perhaps,
that our contemporary neglected to mention
that our correspondent gave his authority Tor
the report, and referred to the testimony OF
an witness of the occurrences described
in cOrrO10ratiOn of their truth. In any other
than an independent newspaper, the chasing
of the Rev. Dr. Cooke, upon the strength
of what THE TRIBrYE's correspondent
said of him, among E" the prosecuted ones y
who disclaim the crown Of martyrdOm
" which is thrust upon them, and fatty deny the
" accounts of terrorism which correspondents
"have been at such pains to collect might
he considered disingcnuOus. The facts hardly
warrant the inference that THE TRIBUNE
awarded him the crown Of martyldOm," or
But the Rev. Dr. Cooke has has gone further
than to deny that he was ever i'll person in
timidatcd. In letter TO a Northern friend
about the politics Of South Carolina, which
has lust been published, he expresses the be-
lief that there was no bulldO2ng OT intimida-
ton to speak of anywhere III the State. Nearly,
cor quite all the reports about bulldOz'"g
land breaking up Republican NEE, )
"before the election he says, "were N
"crcatIons and cOloringS of those men whose
"trade it il to keep up sectional hate" 1t Is
the Rev. DR.. Cookies misfortune in this par
ticular, as in his denial Of having been hIm-
self the victim of personal insult and outrage,
to he cOntradictCd by several persons who
speak from personal observation, and narratc
what they have seen, not what they merely
hope or believe. But as he claims to
be Republican, though voting the Dem
0cratic ticket, and as he diSclaims the
"cIown of martyrdom' for having been
huldOzcd, he must be accepted Is Il good wit
ness, We presume though contradictcd in gen
era and in detail by any number OF indyldu-
ais tcstifying to what they have personal
know ledge of. That seems 10 be the only
way to continue the era of reconciliation and
prevent any revival of the anlmOsites Of the
war The Rev. Or. Cooke, however does adj
nit that when we come TO the charge OF
- filling the bailot-bOxeS with tissue ballots
" somebody undoubtedly ought to plead
"guilty." But" bc says, "bcforc we pass
sentence Of the deepest condemnation on
"the act we ought iii justice to con-
" slider the poverty and deep humilla-
:" ton which the Southern people have
"suffcred; and also take into account
- the irritation which these have produced"
Negro rule" lac says. has been failure in
" all the States. And under the leadership of
unprincipled adycntreIs in the North il has
" been worse than Il failure; it has been down
fright robbery, amounting 10 millions, which
the people are now taxed to pay. To pre-
went the recurrence of such an event frauds
were, | SUPPOSE peTpetratcd at the polls,
such. for instance, ~ the tissue-b1llots.'
| That's all there Is to it. There were
frauds, 10 be sure, but only 10 pre-
vent the recurrence Of such caam-
ity rs negro rule. IOn wouldn't con-
"dcmD the South Carolina Democrat, for n
little thing like that" Gays the Rev DR..
| Cooke, President OF the Clahin University foi