New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-01-10

contained i'm the contradiction cOmmunIca-
films of the Rev. Dr. Cooke, of Clailin I'M
versty. in South Carolina, referred TO Ill
Yesterdays TRIBUNE. The files OF lions Her-
aid furnished an easy key III the shape oi
the Rev. Mr.. W ebStcr's letter describing the
treatment of DR.. Cooke on the railroad tram
And il was not only the key to that gentle
mans conversion, but to some of the methods
Iv winch the South is made solid rs well.
I'm October. 1876, DR.. Cooke was an
uphoder of Governor Chamberlain and the
Republican party in the State. In letter to
/ions HerdH of that date he had spoken III
the highest terms Of Governor Chamberlain
administration, and denounced in the strong
est language the straight oul-and-out
"Southcrn policy" which was advocated
bv those who said, South Carolina must
" be- rescued from Republican rule and come
9" into line with other Southern states Tor the
National Democracy at all hazards" and
who resortcd TO "cOaXing, Intimidation, force
"and blood" to carry ont their purpose
On the 9TH of December, 1876. we ilnd nm
a passenger with the Rev. MI Webster on
the South Carolina Railroad, and the ohPct
of attentions which Mr. Webster described In
his letter 10 /iOh's H0dld, copied INTO yeater-
DAYS TRIBUNE. "Thc insults and abuse he
saws. "cannot be described" lie was called
"a d. son of b., ana all the vulgar and
"iDsulting epithets that can be ralcd from the
slang phrases of those low Srog-shop politi-
"cilu,." Their language was " too foul and
"borid to be repeatedly And M Webster
adds that "os all the pd>se"gcgS IN ne ear
"secmiagjy approved Of this oiic'" ne
went forward into the ) 'nd-ca-N
car to avoid them. Here he man
aecd to send back word 70 the hulldoz"rS
that he believed DR.. Cooke had voted Tor
Hampton. THIS apparently quicted them ana
thcy told him - that was right but ne must
"crt ont of that id niger school or they
would come and give him Il Subse-
oucntly We find the Nv. d. Cooke
voting an open Democratic ticket, Gu
Iogizing Hampton, dcnouncing aS "carpet-
"baggcrs," Northern Adventures" and
"dsappointed hatcrs" his former friends,
and Indignantly denying all reports OF IN
timidatiOn. The key to this conversion Is be-
leycd to be furnished i'll this extract from
the Rev. Mr.. Webstel's letter; Il have
''bccn told by those who claimed to be
"my best friends, that tho only way
"for me to live in the South was
"to 90 with the Democratic party. From
"clcven years residence in the South, and
defensive observation, positively know that
&" it is of 10 Use for man to undertake to do
business here, in which he depends Ill the
"lcast on the sympathy on cooperation oil the
Southern people, unless he will indorsc their
"potical views"
Now DR.. Cooke has a perfect right to vote for
whom he plcases and hold what views he
plcaSes about the political condition III South
Carolina, but when he runs III such hot haste
to deny the reports of intimidation, and offers
himself as 50 willing and swift witness to the
lovely condition Of affairs IN South Caro-
lima, we desire that this plain and truthful
letter of the Rev. Mr.. Wcbstcr-do sci Ding the
Doctors treatment and pointing ont the
comfy way to live in the South should
20 on all foUrs with the Doctors
indignant denial and rOse-cporcd de
scription. For. as we have said, il
not only unl0cks the mysteries of
the Doctors conversion. but furnishes the
key to one of the method, by which The South
j. made solid for Democracy. They did
not prevent this gentleman from voting
they did not intmdaic or threaten him
before he NtHl 10 lHt ppliN, anu lh'y
may not only have allowed him to
vote hui permitted his vote TO be counted.
But they gave HIM to understand in the most
unmiStakable Southern fashion that such a
vote virtually outlawed him; that he was sub
icct to insult abuse ANA outrage, to rough hand
linz and personal violence, without remedy or
redress, if he continued that sort OF thing.
For very significant passage III Mr.. Web
star's letter which we have italicized above,
shows that public opinion III South Carolina
su~tains the bulldozng of Republicans. " All
"thc passengers i'll the car saws Mr.. Webster,
"secmincly approved of this attack" There
is a fine illustration, as well of South Caro-
lima chiyaIry and love Of fair play and
bnightv courage, as Of freedom OF opinion.
harmless old clergyman who was
SUSPECTED of having voted the Repub
Ijcan ticket, was insultcd and abused
in the most outrageous manner by a
marcel of ruilians who called themselves
Democrats, and call the passengers IN the
Gear seemingly approved of the attack
They were teaching him the short, sharp
lesson that 1.-THE only way to 1--we III the
South was to go with the Democratic party
The poor man learned it. There was no martyr
stuff in HIM. They converted him. We have
no rcproachcs for him on that account. Mar
tyrdom is not easy by any means. But hav-
ing been so converted, he should not forget
the process or Indignantly deny facts so easily
substantiated.
And this case is probably only one Of
thousands. Citizens who sympathzc with the
Republican party and desire to vote for its
candidates are gwen to understand that
by doing SO they forfeit social posi-
ton and expose themselves to coarse
insults and rough treatment. Mr.. Perry