The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1886-06-03


We publish elsewhere the remarks of
Gov. Lee and Gov Foraker. on the occa-
sion of GOV. Lees visit to Cincinnati to
attend Festival, to which he had been in
vited,i in the Queen City of the West. The
cordial reception and words of generous
and fraternal welcome extended to the
Governor of Virginia by Gov. Foraker
and the people of Ohio, present quite a
contrast to the vile abuse and coarse Wilt
ficatiOn which greeted Gov Foraker when
he came to Virginia on invitation two
years ago TO speak his sentiments ON the
great public questions which then engaged
the public mind, and the more recent ma
lignant ISLANDERS and bitter denunciation
which were heaped upon him by the Vir-
ginia press because he felt it to be his duty
to speak of the recent ideas uttered by
Jefferson Davis, in his several addresses at
Montgomery, Atlanta, Macon, &c. Gov.
Foraker in what he said then. addressed
himself to the principle involved in the
remarks OF Mr.. Davis, a principle which
is recognized as having been settled 10y the
arbitrament of the sword. as testified in
the Constitution of Mr. Davis own State,
and every other Southern State that had
attempted to practically enforce it in the
destruction of the Union. He had no un
kind words for the Southern people. but
it was natural for him to enveigh against
the revival of an issue, whose determine
tion had cost the N orth and the South so
much Of blood and sutfering-an issue that
both sections have formally accepted as
obsolete, and which to resurrect would
only have the effect to open afresh old
wounds without any possible compensa-
ton.
| Probably there is no man in the North
who has broader or more catholic views
of the duty of American citizenship than
Gov. Foraker-no man who has kinder
sympathy for the people of the South, and
no one who more earnestly desires that all
the bitterness Of the past should be for
gotten. He is too brave and too great a
man to harbor petty spites or indulge in
personal defamation ; and this his Wilt
fiess know very we'll. 1t suited their pnr-
pose for political effect, however, to
pervert his language and comfort his mean
ing. and present him to our people as an
| imp lacable enemy. Their fierce denuncia
tions even influenced members Of the Gen
eral Conference of the Methodist Church
! South, which recently met in Richmond,
and to which he was fraternal delegate.
| to notify him in private letters that his
presence would be embarrassing, and thus
to cause him to foregO the anticipated
pleasure of representing the Ohio Confer
ence in that body on mission of christian
| fellowship and determination.
! His response to these indignities was
given in his hearty greeting to Gov. Lee,
manifesting nobility of character that
would scorn to retaliate in kind for the
| unjust treatment he had received, or sug
gest by word or action that the people OF
his great State should reflect upon the
people of Virginia through discourtesy or
indignity to Gov. Lee. The Governor of
Virginia was met and welcomed by the
Governor and people of Ohio, as became
the citizens of the Empire State of the
! West, and as was due to the Governor and
people of this historic Commonwealth
He was met in the spirit of national
brotherhood and as representing a brave
people whose destiny is now indissolubly
| linked with that of the Union and who must
| share with the citizens of Ohio the glory
and renown of our common country. He
was met as the Governor of one great
State should be be met by the Governor of
another great State, and in the meeting
and the greeting was found the rcbuke to
the despicable partizan spirit with which
Gov. Foraker was received by the Demo
| cratic press of VIRGINIA