The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-08-24
LETTER FROM COOKE.
An ADDRESS FROM hlM TO THE PEo-
PIE or VIRGINIA.
Defiaes the Obisess ef 0ovsFsnssA Dls-
essses the Financial Questtoa sod
Appeals for Home ProtsetiouA

Capt. Edmund II. Cocke, OF mOortsno
county, the Populises nominee for Gov
ernor was IN the city sbis week and lefs
for publication. In the Peoples Party
organ. the following address to the voters
Of Virginia
To the People OF Virginia:
Having bean placed before you an q
-anddate for the high and honorable po-
,ition OF Governor Of Virginia, I ask you
o consider what I shall nov say TO you
Cet us lay aside partisan feeling ard look
u the questions that confront US IN
talm and dispassionate way. meeting
ach other upon that common ground.
where every Nirginian can and should
meet every other virginisn. In fair and
,onest consideration Of the great ques-
ion: What is best for the common good
VI all7
Government WAS not formed for
,arty, hut for the protection. benefit and
advancement OF all of its s'ixens. An In
ury TO one will, sooner or later, be felt
oy all, for we are all members OF that
great body, the Commonwealth OF Vir-
ginia.
without hesitation or doubt I say that
the cause Of our present distress. which
has been OF long and steady growth.
has at last eliminated In the effort TO ut
terly destroy silver az money OF redemp-
ton, We have two classes in this coun-
try to-day; one advocates gold as the
only money, the other advocates both
gold and silver supplemented by cur
rency based upon the untold wealth OF
a great nation and n mighty country,
a country whose credit cannot be IN
iured. even by those whose highest duty
Il Is to preserve IL. and a currency that
at this late date it will not do to decry
or dlsparage, for II gave unbounded
prosperity in the midst OF war.
With one or the other OF these two
classes we are now alisnng ourselves.
The men who tell you that there Is pIen-
ty OF money are almost without ercep.
ton. advocates OF gold money, ana gold
money only. The great body OF the peo-
nle not only see and feel the need or,
but demand a larger volume or money
To give them living price for the
fruits Of their labor.
The demonetization OF sil-er intersi-
fed the situation and proved the grown
OF the money power, showing tne,r aDiii'y
to increase the value OF their money by
making money scarce. This has gone on
until today. throwing of all disguise. the
money mower demands gold, ana goio
alone. as money.
Submission to this demand means toT
us and for our children a slavery
more CALLING than was ever uresneu
OF under chattel slavery Nor 90 1 pc
l,eve for moment that the people VI
VIRGINIA will acquiesce in this demand.
To there anv reason why Virginia,
blessed as she Is In so many ways above
and beyond many other States In TINS
great country. should not 40 forward
should not take higher position on the
rou of the glsterhood OF Statesy she
can never do IL so long as she mas 20
nav tribute. unlawfully and unjusuy
levied upon her by the powers no"
working so secretly, 80 silently ana ~
TbIs great. overshadowing money ques-
,tor must he settled, and settled unher
constitutional limitations. before We can
move forward. Virginia can never tnove
forward 40 long as hundreds or 'hou-
sands Of her native born citlzens a!e
recorded as residents OF other states IN
the census returns Of the country iou
cannot have immigration untll you sup
emigration. Then we must De apie W
guarantee every man who comes With With
Our horders. whether he comes WIN
..n,,ev IN INV and build up our waste
nI.ceo or whether he comes with oniy
The labor OF hts hands TO eat bread IN the
sweat OF his brow, that he shaii nave
everv right given 20 him under the Con
s,,,ution Of Virginia and the Constitution
~ the United States sacrediy respeceea'
And this right must be guaranteed 10
every citizen OF this State to-day, without
regard To It's effect upon political parues'
,or only by being honest can you pr"'e
.hat you are honest. We must nave II"
rraud stains. no dark spots shading on.
man NJ virginia. for IL Ii known anu reaa
~ all men that those spots are there,
aod unless public sentiment IL aroused
and stands jealously on guard Tor ,n7
no,or and integrity of our state, 'hose
5,ots will grow and grow, until ciNliiHa-
lion itself goes down into the oiaeAness
OF darkness.
ror myself I ask nothing. but ear.
nas,lv ardently pray for prosperity ana
,ssce within thy borders, dear OLD Vlr-
ssnia for they shall prosper that ioVs
,eee and when the time comes 10 mo
90 Law aside the responsibilities ana cares
~ ne. | ask no higher rewaru tiiah W
have said OF me that / was IN so"'s
degree the means OF calling my s'a,e .'S'
bep people back to the OLD ianhms,ns'
20 her fundamental principles Oh JUSTICE.
of right and OF truth, ns naio uvmn "a
that great Magma charta OF our hoerue''
the Virginia Bill OF Rights. -.
The aims of our people are h'sn. ous
..,rnoss noble. We mean To preserve our
p and our home life IN its purity,
o. ,his IA the life-b blood OF our Stats'
ioi ns,,le-hvmn is Home. sweet
sweet home. 1,,,..,
EDMUND X. COOKE.
..A Cumberland County, Wa.