The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1884-03-01
CHARCOAL SKETCHES.
CAPT. OCTAVIUS COKE.

The biggest voice in North Carolina
without a doubt comes up from the lungs of
Captain Octavius Coke. Yet it is not harsh
or unmusical or frightful to children; it
simply bears the same relation to the av-
erage human voice that March whirl-
wind bears to the recent cyclone. It is
not always deep-nOt one of those voices
that come from mems boots with the
squeak of soleleather in them. It is pure
and honest having power from broad
chest. do not know of Captain Coke's
musical accomplishments; but if it had
been a musical rather than q political soci-
ETY. in the South, he would hare made
fortune and lasting fame in the musical
world as a basso.
Instead of this, the plain fact is Gas a
good many thousand of his fellow citizens
hope and believe) he is simply candidate
for the nomination for Governor, and his
lung power Gf the Wise Men will it) will
be put to use in lashing the other fellow-a
use, by the way, that is not unknown to it
already.
Nearly a. years ago Capt. Coke was
born in Virginia-an accident that he took
so solely to heart as to induce him to become
a North Carolinian and he became one in
dead earnest, for he moved to Edenton,
which is the severest test surely. There
he married a daughter of Mr. Edward
Wood-an accomplished lady who died in
1876. 1t was in 1871 when the delusion
of politics threatened first to lead him
from the law. In that year he was a can
didate for seat in the State Convention,
| which, however, did not meet. The next
year he was before the people as an cleo
| tor on the Greeley ticket. There seemed
| hope, then, that he would eschew politics,
but in 1876-having already been spoken
| of as a probable successor of Mr. Yates in
Congress became the Democratic can
| didate for the State Senate from the First
district, and won the election In the
| Senate he was member of the judiciary
committee and chairman of the committee
| on County Government. He NAV indeed
be called the father of the present system
of county government, that being the
main portion of his work and his main pur-
| pose in that session. He was conspicuous
| in his opposition to the motion (Which was
carried) in the Legislature in 1875 to in
struct our Congressional delegation tc
support the electoral commission.
In 1880, having on the wear previous
married daughter of the late Mr. jeff.
Fisher, of this city, and become citizen
of Raleigh, he was chosen chairman of the
State Democratic Executive Committee, and
he conducted the campaign with less mon
| ey (given by other parties) than has re-
Gently been known on either side in North
Carolina. In 1882 he issued the now
somewhat famous Document Number T.
the Democratic campaign book; and Of
| fered the resolution which became a plank
in the platform in favor of the repeal o1
the internal revenue law and modifica
ton of the tariff.
Since his residence in Raleigh Capt
Coke has become thoroughly identified
with the city and he has taken and held q
place among our foremost citizens. He il
a lawyer, a farmer, and a father and
spends his time in interesting talk about
the weather (and now and then in an in
nocent way about politics. in legal bust
ness and in playing with his baby. Suct
versatility as is required to do all these
successfully, he has
II he is not very happy man, his look
belle his inner feelings, and he is amon1
the most popular men in the central par
of the State. Handsome, happy, in tn.
prime of life-if Capt. Coke becomes Gov
ernor Coke, he is rich enough and hospit
able enough and public spirited enough
to make the new mansion feel very PROUD
of its first occupant, and rich enough an6
philosophic enough also to enjoy life al
ways simply as lawyer, farmer, father ant
good citizen. He comes of a politica
family and knows the game as well a.
most of the players. The sturdy ani
strong United States Senator Coke, from
Texas, is Capt. Coke's brother.