The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1878-07-13
GfE Atlttpttaf,

was forcibIy reminded Of the spirited
discussions, tho pleaiiugs aud the clo-
qrcus appeals by New iOrk's most
gifted sons il behalf Of measures similar
in character to tho one which am now
cndCavOrins, tough fccbly, to present
for your consideration. After speeding
some timo in tho State House, | went
into the city hall. In. tho west room Of
that hall, on the first aoor. and hung OIL
its wall,, arc elegant lifc.sisc portraits
Of every Governor Of tho State but onc'
I venture to assert there cannot 10
found more elegant array iu paintius
Of intellectual looking zen in the
United States th an is to bc seen there.
Martin Van Buren,, Silus Wright, Will
liam L. Marcy. William II. Seward, ct
III Omne-com:ug down &, tho then act
ing Governor, Samuel J. Tilden. 1n
tho centre Of the hall. on granite pc
dcs.al in marble, with paysiquc look.
ing as though tho elements bad not on
ly been nicely but strongly mixed,
stood tho missing Governor. For tho
moment, I involuntarily cuquircd.
"who is that?7 When my eyes fell
upon the inscription, "Dc Witt Clin-
ton, the founder Of tho New York and
Eric Canal" Tho opposition he Gu
cOuutcrcd 10 tho iucipicnt stages of that
wonderful work-his heroic conduct
during the long struggle for State aid
to construct it-tac ultimate victory
and successful completion by which tho
waters Of tho great lakes of tho North
aud tho Hudson with tho Atlantic
Ocean, were uEitcl, and these, together
with tho rich trade, commerce and tou-
uago that is borne upon its bosom from
dis,an. States Of the mighty West to
the great monicd and commercial centre
of these United States when bought
in review, seemed TO obscure and dim
tho lustro aud fame Ct tho great ,nep
who surrounded him. The mind is
completely captivatcl and carried away
in tcholling along its whole line from
Albany to Buffalo, clcgaut trains Of
canal boats laden down with commerce
"a continuous town Of brick houses,
and external evidences Of a thrifty aud
Lappy people. This great cnterpri.o
upon the part Of its founder was op.
posed at every step taken in its early
progress, and himself dcrided aud called
d madman for proposing such work.
New Workers to-day, with their mill.
ion Of voters aad billions Of treasure.
set higher estimate upon its value, and
look on it with moro pride thau any
other Of their public improvements. 1t
is .ruthfully New York's great horn of
plenty, and has contributed moro to
enrich that great State than all her 9th
er public works combined. Go to any
State Of this Union, and look where you
will, you will see that the public in-
provcmcn,s Of tho State make it-bui!l
it up, populate it and enrich it. Upon
the discovery Of the gold fields of Cali
fornia, in lS4S, il took o citizen from
this State six months 10 60 overland to
Sun Francisco. To-day, by tho work.
ings Of enlarged views, broad aud lib.
eral ileas and governmental aid, citi-
zen Of this town eau leave here now and
be in San Francisco in six days. Tho
rude cliffs and wild pla.eaus Of tho
Rocky Mountains and deep gorgcs Of
tho Pacific slope, havc been made to.
yield to geuius-the demands for pub
lie improvement, and the westward tide
Of civilization. Encouraged by the ua-
tional government, the Nortlman aud
Wcstman laid their heads together
erected States, established territories,
built cities, dug down mountains, got
rich, and arc now coming to Washing
ton to take their seats iu tho Senate and
House Of Representatives Of tho Amc,-
lean Congress. Whilst West Virginia
statesmen and politicians arc debating
whether measure or proposition is 60
Ing to benefit them or not, or what po-
litical Office they can step into by sup.
porting or opposing it, tho go.a.hcal
live mcu OF tho traus.Alississippi build.
Empires; and where's tho statesman Of
any note, in the United States who to.
Gay would dare hold up bis head and
condemn the work which produced
these mighty results. Thc old idea Of
10 Internal improvements by the gen.
sraI government has bOen exploded by e.
m, h,l,iposs and sucnoss oF tho on,o-