The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-07-24
! MAJOR MsMiHoN's ANSWER.

' = ...--..,,. STAUHTON, July 70, 1910.
General W. c. Wickhan and others !:
Gentlemen,-Your favor of the 21st iu-
slant has been received. In it you express
the desire to know whether I will accept
the nomination for Governor of the Repub-
Iican party of Virginia in convention assem-
bled in Lynchburg, Virginia, on the Both
instant, should it be rendered fne, and my
views ofnational and State policy should my
answer to the first inquiry be in the
affirmative. . AS you are well aware,
gentlemen, have never been an active
politician, nor an aspirant for party fayors,
nor could l now be induced to consent to
the use of my name for any position in the
gift of the people were only my personal
interests and wishes to be consulted but
believing, as honestly do, that the pros
perity of Virginia is intimately a associated
with the success of Republican principles
and the alignment Of the State with the Ma
tional Administration, and having been ap-
preached both by letter and personally by
a number Of prominent Virginia gentlemen
with the inquiry whether 1 would accept
the nomination of the Republican party in
a lvance of your formal letter this day re-
ceiyed, I have after mature reflection ar
rived at the conclusion that if in its wisdom
the; Lynchburg Convention should deem it
proper and for the best interests Of the party
and State to confer the honor in question
upon me, to accept it. ,a.
In giving an affirmative answer the first
part of your letter, it follows that l. should,
as briefly as possible, state the general views
entertain as to o,nati0nal and State policy.
These may be comprehended in few words.
I recognize in the present National Admin
,istration the representative thought of the
American people. l believe that the true
interests of Virginia, and the South espe.
cialIy, are intimately associated with
generous, manly, and impartial sup
mort of that Administration and a sin
cere determination to carry out in
rood faith the Constitution and laws of
the country, as we have solemnly pledged
ourselves to do. Following closely upon
this recognition of the palpable duty of up.
holding the Government that throws its pro-
lection over us are to be found, according to
my comprehension, the genuine interests OF
Virginia. Even superficial knowledge Of
the wonderful wealth that lies buried ia our
State would at once suggest that the
growth and prosperity of all her great
interests depend upon the successful pro-
'secution of the enlarged enterprises. Of
public improvement now attracting the
attention Of the country. Prominent
among these is the completion Of the
James River and Kanawha canal. 1t may
not be amiss, and hope it will not be re-
garded as at all egotistical, when state thas
some of the best energies and years of my
life have been devoted to the furtherance of
the great enterprise, and that / shall regard
il as the prepdest event in the history of the
material advancement Of Virginia when the
all.powerful aid of the National Government
shall be controlled in its behalf. A glance at
the map will present the fact that Virginia
is the great central territory through
which much of othe commerce between
the East and West and North and South
must find transit; her climate, her 2sois her
mineral and agricultural capacities, constl-
'tnte elements to attract enterprise and tapi.
tai from every portion Of our common coun- ou
try and with the predominance Of 9 healthy
national sentiment, we may reasonably ex-
spect the intrepid energies Of this progressive
age to concentrate here to participate in lhe
formation Of the, arteries that WIN bind
.toeasher the different sections of the
Union md throw news;ga ps Ife e,intoslsoar n
newTevtying CemmD mDnWeaith The ntellec-l
stlaf development Of the people must
keep pace With the material improyements |;
and to accomplish this; they Of the State
must;he educated through the means Of the.
public free schools, where the children Of the