The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1880-08-26
HUBBARD AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA.


The STATESMAN acknowledges the
receipt of printed copy of the late
address of Hon. r. b. Hubbard be-
fore the literary societies of the
University of Virginia, and it is an
other one of those many beautiful
orations which our ex-governor has
given TO the literary world. The
subject was addressed to the young
men of this great Southern insti-
tuition of learning, and treated of
the political apathy which has
shaken the foundations of the re-
public of our fathers. and the duties
of the American citizen in relation
to government. 1t reviews the polit-
ical history of the age, and shows how
a liberty-loving people have escaped
imperialism. 1t is shown that in the
presidential election of 1876 over
three and half millions of voters
failed to exercise the elective
franchise, criminally avoiding that
greatest of duties vouchsafed to
freemen. He enunciated as the chief
duties of citizen of this govern
ment: Political education; in
struction of our fellow-eitizens in the
purposes and policies of govern
ment; the fearless exercise of the
right of suffrage, and the consci
entious and impartial selection of
capable and honest representatives
in the state and national councils"
To young men of the South Gov
ernor Hubbard said:
1t is our privilege and our duty to
cherish and practice loyalty to the
restored Union of our fathers; but
we will not be taunted by our coun-
trymen with sectional prejudices
when I.tell you that, above all other
considerations, your first duty
should be to cherish, honor, love and
serve with honest devotion these
states of your nativity, whose fame
and history have contributed so
largely to the glory of our common
country. If we would rebuild our
broken temples and make glad our
waste places, we must be careful OF
our rich inheritance, cheerful and
of brave heart. Do not repine
over misfortunes, but go forth like
strong men nerved for the race, look
ing never behind! Historic memo
ries of the olden time-of the early
colonial days; the cavaliers and HUI
guenots, from the Maryland line
to the land of Oglethorpe; the revo.
lutionary war, with the great deeds
of our Jeffersons and Madisons and
Lees and Henrys and Randolphs and
Masons and Pinckneys and Stump.
ters and Marions and other bright
names, surrounding in peace and
war that central figure, the peer
less Washington; our contribution
of valor to the war of 1912
and our splendid civic history
made immortal by our Clays, anC
Calhouns, and Crittendens, anG
Jacksons, and Polks, and Taylors
and Tylers, and Livingstons, anC
Berriens, and Troupes, and Kings
and Mangums, and Macons, oul
Rusks and Houstons-
"Names which were not born to die
these are the men and these the
deeds of your Southern ancestry
which should be an inspiration for
ever to love, honor and protect the
inheritance which they have be
queathed to their sons.
Nor would have you forget how
in later and darker days your faith
ers, your brothers and our sons fel
at Manassas, and the Wilderness, anC
Gettysburg-at Corinth, and Shiloh
and Chickamauga. and on hundreds
of other fields of strife from the Po.
tomac to the Rio Grande-feU con.
tending for what they believed "was
for right and for native land.'
Neither would l have you forget
that the brave men by whose hands
sleep, fought for what they, too, be
lieved was for their country and it;
cause. In this spirit of renewed de
votion to the Union L would, as al
imperative duty of citizenship, have
you entwine with immortelles, the
patriot names of Thomas and Nc
Pherson and Sumner, with our owl
Sidney johnson, StonewaH jackson
and the great Lee-forever! Tht
time aDiU come, and rapidly ap
proaches, when our countrymen
without reference to sectional lines
or to who wore the blue or the gray
will cherish as a common contribu
ton to the American name and fame
all the models of heroism and glory
which unbiased history shall gather
from the great conflict between the
states.