The Washington critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1885-1888, 1885-08-18
CAREER OF EDWARD STOKES.

In q recent number of the Jackson
vile Fla) Times UaioH appeared u
statement referring to returning board
operations in 1876, and the connection
Herewith of Ex-Governor Noycs of
Ohio and other Republican leaders /;
also incidentally rejecting upon the
integrity of Judge Cooke, one of the
best known and most honorable Nir-
ginians living. Mr.. II. Bcrricn Bur
roughs of Jacksonville takes sharp
exception to this injustice and writes
the Times Union rs follows
Under the caption of u Strange APP
pointment,' in speaking of the manipu-
lation of the Florida Returning Board
by the visiting statesmen of the Re
publican party, after charactcrizing il
MS an astounding piece of successful
political ChiCanefy and sCoundrelism
the author says: The means they took
to accomplish the end they had in view
are disclosed in the testimony of
Samuel b. McLin, Judge Cooke and the
late j.. G.. Dennis, before an invcsti-
eating committee of the House of Rep
rcscntatives, to which was given the
task of inquiring into the matter II
appears that the power to reverse the
vote of the State was in the hands OF
these three men, assisted by Dr. Cow.
gill. After mentioning the advent OF
Chandler, General Wallace, Noycs and
others of the Republican leaders, tho
author goes on to say that 'Noycs was
represented to McLin as Mr.. Hayes
confidential friend, and all three of the
consprators were told that they could
rely on what he said as coming direct
from Mr.. Hayes. He was very init
mate with all the members of the Re
turning Board; was frequently seer
coming out of their room when in Sc
crct session engaged in cooking tho
returns For this great ser
vice Hayes made him Minister t,
France, but neither McLin, Dennis
Cooke nor Cowgirl ever got adequate
payment for his dirty work in putting
the pusillanimous Hayes in the Whit,
House. Though, leading life totally
disassociatcd from the turmois of 20
litical strife. and loving for its own
sake the shade and retirement of pri
waite life, | cannot allow the stigma 81
positively, though | trust ignorantly
fixed upon Judge Cooke of an aisOcia
ton with the most stupendous villainl
of the century, and cowardly indeed
would that friend be who would hest
tate to raise his hand to blot the name
of Cooke from the blacklist page in the
history of the State, and disassocatc
his name now and for all time from til,
names of Cowgirl and McLin, for such
an association is dishonor. | asscr
that do know that William Archer
Cooke was then, and is now, rs in
corruptible as Cato; that he stood lilt
the sentinel ut llCrculancum, with the
dust and ashes of IN empire fallin.
around him. unawed and unmovcd, ant
TO the very last hour faithful to hi
trust; that when the very seas of cor
ruption were boiling and Kissing arount
him, and its black and might,
waves dashing in fury over him, HI
stood stalwart and pure and uncor
rupted to the very last. | was ut tina
time and am now his intimate, persona
and confidential friend, and no man il
the State knows better than the Cour
age, the fortitude, the character he dis
! played. From the great love ] Dor
him went each day during thos
dark, and as many of us imagine,
would be, bloody days, to the Capito
and to the Office of the Attorney Gen
cral, knowing and fearing that the ran
cor and hatred that followed his ever,
step might lay his lofty head at tn
foot of POmpCy's statue, and no man il
this State knows better than | that h
would have been sacrificed had tn