Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-08-24
LETTER FROM COOKE.
AN ADDRESS FROM HIM TO THE pEo-
PIE OF VIRGINIA
Defines tho Objects of Government. Dis
cossss the Financiai Question and
Appeals for Home Protection.

Capt. Edmund r. Cooke, of Cumberland
county, the Populist's nominee for Gov
ernor wns in the city this week and left
for publication. in the Peoples Party
organ. the following address TO the voters
of Virginia:
To the People OF Virginia:
Having been placed before you as
candidate for the high and honorable po-
sition OF Governor Of Virginia, j ask you
to consider what shall now say TO you.
Let us lay aside partisan feeling and look
at the questions that confront us In
ralm and dispassionate way, meeting
each other upon that common ground.
where every Virginlsn can and should
meet every other Virginian, in fair ana
honest consideration OF the great dues-
ton: What Is best for the common good
OF all?
Government was not formed for
party, but for the protection. benefit and
advancement OF all OF its citizens. An IN
jury to one will. sooner or later. he ielt
by all. for we are all members OF that
great body, the Commonwealth OF Viz
ginia.
Without hesitation or doubt ] say that
the cause of our present distress, when
has been OF long and steady growth,
has at last eliminated In the EFFORT to Ut
terly destroy silver as money Of redemp-
ton. We have two classes In this coun-
try to-day; one advocates gold as the
only money. the other advocates Doth
gold and silver. supplemented by n cur
rency based upon the untold wealth. OF
a great nation and mighty country
country whose credit cannot De IN
jured. even by those whose highest duty
IL is to preserve 1t. and a currency that
,t 49, Ia. I,ta mil M do 10 nnfTV
or disparage, for It gave unDounueu
prosperity in the midst OF war.
With one or the other OF these two
classes we are now allgning ourselves.
The men who tell you that there IL plen-
~ Of money are almost without excep,
ton, advocates OF gold money. and gold
money only. The great body OF the poo
pie not only see and feel the need or
but demand a larger volume OF money
TO give them living price for the
fruits OF their labor.
The denonetizaton OF silver inteasl-
fed the situation and proved the growth
Of the money power. showing theF aplll'y
to increase the value Of their money by
making money scarce. This has gone on
until today. throwing Off all disguise, The
money power demands gold. and Eold
alone, as money.
Submission to this demand means fo'
us and for our children slavery
more CALLING than was ever dreamed
Of under chattel slavery. Nor 90 De
lieve for a moment that the people Oh
Virginia will acquiesce In TINS dehlahu'
Is there any reason why virginia
blessed as she Is In so many ways aDoHe
and beyond many other States in this
great country, should not go forward
should not take q higher position on the
roll OF the sisterhood Of States? she
can never DO il 80 long as che has TO
nav tribute. unlawfully and unJustly
levied upon her Ivy the powers now
working so secretly, 50 silently ana 80
stcalthilv.
This great, overshadowing money qucs-
ton must be settled. and Settled uhder
constitutional limitations. before we can
move forward Virginia can never move
forward so long as hundreds OF thou
sands Of her native born citizens are
recorded as residents of other states IN
the census returns OF the country. You
cannot have immigration until you slop
emigration. Then we must be apie 10
guarontee every man who comes within
our borders. whether he comes with
money to buy and build up our waste
places. or whether he comes with only
the labor of his hands to eat bread IN the
sweat of his brow. that he shall nave
every right given to him under the Con-
stitution OF Virginia and the Constitution
Of the United States sacredly respected
And this right must be guaranteed TO
every citizen Of this State to-day, without
regard 10 its effect upon political parteS'
FOR only by being honest can you prove
that YOU are honest We must nave TO
fraud stairy, no dark spots shadlng our
man ~ V,,vioia. for II is known and read
there.
and utlses punlic .estimsH - aroused
and stsros ietjousy on gunrd for the
honor aed Integrity eli our state. thoSe
snofs viii crna ard grow unui clVlllZd-
ton its-t eoss down INTO tns blackness
of darkness
For myself ask rotning. but ear
Lii, oroNntly prag ror prosperity and
peace within thy baresrs, dshT o." IT
p,nia for thav shall prosper thar love
thee and when tina ttmr coruNH 10 me
to Law aside the respousipi'"e' anu cares
Of life. | ask 40 higher reward IMAM 10
have said OF me thst was IN some
degree the means OF calling my S'ate anu
ber neopla back TO the old LANDMARKS,
IN her fundamental principles Of justice.
Of right and OF truth. as laid down IN
that great Magma Charta OF our hberties'
the Virginia Bill OF Rights.
The aims OF our people are hlgh' our
purpose noble. We mean to preserve our
homes and our home life In its purity,
for this is the nfe-blood OF our state
our battle-hymn IS Home sweet
sweet home" ,,,
EDMUND II. COOKE
Penrith. Cumberland County, Va.
August q, 1893.