Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-08-20
norRI<E CoCKnAN,s SPEECH.

Kinley who can command larger OF
more thoughtful audience OF American
citizens. But we must say that with all
OF his winning words. with all OF his
grace Of elocution. with all Of his Wit,
he IS often wanting In good judgment.
not 20 say political sagacity. And now
we ind him standing up before one OF the
grandest audiences ever assembled In
Madison Square Garden and uttering SEN
timents which do the grossest injustice
TO the masses Of the southern planters.
As for Virginia and Virginians, we
utterly repudiate mis- suggestion that our
free silverite farmers are moved by a dis
honest purpose in their desire for free
coinage. Speeches such as Mr.. Cockran's
showing so much ignorance Of the charac-
ter Of our farmers and doing such gross
injustice 10 their purpose must arouse the
Indignation Of our whole population.
They will not be endorsed In Virginia boy
the Republicans Of this State nor by the
disaffected Democrats, nor by any other
body OF sane men. Mr.. Cochran has
spoken Of US as no reputable southern
Republican would have done, and 1t may
be presumed that southern Republicans
have as accurate knowledge Of the south
ern people as Mr.. Cochran, or any other
resident Of the city Of New York.
Mr.. C0ckran's reference to us as ''un-
reconciled Shareholders" who were never
used TO paying any wages to our farm
laborers is very offensive. Brilliantly
endowed as is Mr.. Cochran with natures
choicest gifts. We may be permitted to
doubt II he understands the slavery ques-
ton and is prepared TO sit in judgment
upon us in relation thereto. The slaves
which English and northern cupidity
caused 70 be landed upon the shores of
Virginia were naked sayages, sold TO
slave traders by their chiefs. They
found here better homes than they had
ever before known and from that day TO
this. whether in times Of slavery or in
days of freedom. the African has always
preferred to remain in his Virginia home
rather than go back 10 his native land.
To-day he finds his truest friends, his
happiest environment, his best chance for
remunerative employment among the
planters who Mr.. Cochran would have us
believe desire free silver In order that
they may rob him Of his hire.
Mr. Cochran must be ignorant Of the
fact that throughout the South the prac-
tice Of farming on shares is quite gene
raj Under this system the negro is given
a cottage and certain fields and the pro-
prietor furnishes him with teams, seed,
and fertilizers. and the negro does the
field work and gives the proprietor GER
tain proportion Of the matured crop.
And so the negro comes TO have a part
ner's interest in the selling price of the
wheat, tobacco peanuts, OF cotton, as the
case may be. So. 100, we find thousands
Of negroes favoring free silver. Yes, sir;
if the Republican boss would keep his
hands off the negro farmer we should
see him going to the polls on November
80 and voting for Bryan and free silver.
II is clear that Mr.. Cochran does not
understand this question as it bears
upon the average farm laborer in the
South. else he would never have used
the following language:
Men Of New York toilers Of America,
guardians Of your own homes, will you
allow your rate of wages TO be affected
(Cries Of Never" "Neyer) by any man
who never has paid wages at all If he
could get out Of it? VIII you submit 10
this conspiracy between the professional
farmers. the farmers who cultivate the
0uaIrels OF their nelghbors, farmers VINO
labor with their jaws, Populist agitatOrs
Of the West AND THE UNRECON-
CILED SHAREHOLDERS OF THE
Al Il. he
professional farmers who want to pay
low wages ana the UNRECONCILED
STAKEHOLDER WHO WOULD LIKE
TO PAY no WAGES AT ALL ZAP
plause) Here is the real root Of this
! conspiracy.
This is a direct charge on the part Of
| Mr.. Cochran that the southern planters
| favor free silver because they wish TO
rob the negro Of his wages. See how he
/ speaks Of us as "the unreconciled slave
holder who would like to pay no wages
at all
If Mr. Cochran has given no better
study TO the coinage question in other
/ directions than ne has in its effect upon
/ the plantation negro, then MS views are
utterly worthless. In this respect, az
/ least. the tone and temper of his speech
/ have astoundcd thousands OF his old ad-
mrers in the South. lie has made a most
| cruel and baseless accusation against a
/ great part Of our people. and while pro-
/ Tossing to be Democrat has out-heroded
/ the Republicans in incorporating our
motives His sentiments may he en-
| dorsed by the men Of the North who have
/ always hated and reviled the South, but
/ he need not expect TO have them approved
/ by the disaffected Democrats or reputable
Republicans of the South.
Mr.. Cochran has been engaged 10 speak
| in Richmond. but those under whose
auspices he will appear here would do
| him a friendly service II they would ad-
wise him TO pursue a different line Of
argument when addressing our people.
Madison-square Garden. New York,
Tuesday evening, when Bourke Cochran
spoke. was ablaze not only with cleo
| tric-llghts, but with diamonds, we are
! told Doubtless there was paste there,
also. and, in all probability, fair repre-
sentation OF campaign dough" But
the people Of the country are not to DO
diverted by any Of these things from
their settled purpose themselves TO re-
| sumo business this year"
/ II Is worthy OF mention that whilst a
/ good many Democrats have manifested a
/ disposition to slight the Chicago plat
form. the Democrats Of Goochland coun-
! - ~ an. r-uhIln rnnnAlnn aaann1hlnA DO