Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-10-04

terest which BY your prasence to-day you
manifest in our first Virginia Exposition.
We gratefully appreciate your coming,
and in the name Of all the people of
Richmond ] bid yon welcome. TAP
plause.l
Governor Lees Address.
The Mayors speech was well received
and elected liberal applause. Governor
Lee now delivered the Grafton Of the
day, saying:
Ar. Presidept, Ladies, and Gentlemen:
Two hundred and eighty.one years
ago our beautiful river for the first time
proudly bore upon its bright bosom yes
| sells many times larger than ever seen
upon It before. The Discovery, tho
| Good Speed. and the Susan Constant
one of twenty, one OF forty. and one OF
one hundred tons-had arrived safely
! from London, and their anchors wero
"let 20 }" near tho shores Of the island
which, in honor Of their King, was
called jamestown.
The bark Of the paleface was about TO
replace the canoe OF the savage, aud tho
crack OF the rifle Of the Engllshman left
an echo in the feather OF the Indians
arrow. Before the axe of tho settler
| trees fell too large to be shivered by the
/ tomahawk, and from the loop-holes OF q
rude fort of logs on jamestown island
| glistened the barrels Of the guns OF It's
defenders.
The l0j passengers whose feet touch
ed the new land. aud who had 30 sue
cessfully crossed the storm tossed bill
lows, marked the event by calling tho
peaceful river rolling 40 mNestically by
after their ruler across the soa. and then
aud there wrote the first limo OF the hrst
! chapter Of the first volume Of Nirglnia's
| history.
From that period TO this hour ia pages
as colony and State have been radiant
with renown. The CLEAN OK the new
| light which broke upon the primeyal
forest has widoned and deopened. and
great people have reached, with the sun,
| the summit of the mountain. and sleep
peacefully in the shade at the foot Of tho
valley.
The courage displayed by John
Smith and many Of his companions
amid constant disaster and the fortitude
thus planted IN the breasts Of the first
Vireinians have ever since characterized
her men. while the loving disposit on
anj tender nature If the Indian maiden
has forever left its imprint npon tho
hearts Of her women.
Tho brave colouist, looking firmly
into the face of death and danger, dis
ease and famine. after many years of
sore trial grew and prospcrcd. Tho
roots of the plant were driven deep aud
strong. and to-day great tree of state
stands, whose protecting branches arc
thrown over ., U0O. 900 people and cover
-. 800, 600 acres of land.
The red man disappeared before tho
settler; ard IA the white man ioadlngau
army of civilization, with its agricultural
infantry. mechanical artillery, and IN
dustrial cavalry marched from the sen IN
land, the fragrance Of tho Wild Hover
was no longer thrown over the wIgwams
Of the braves Applause
THE PRESENT.
To-day the sun touches ond tints with.
. its golden glorcs = city Of near. oug
hundred thousand inhabitants rising iir'
lofty emincnce upon the ute Of QUO T.
the seats OF King lOwhaton, nnd butTS.
small remunnt OF his Tribes rcmaln to re- Z
mind MS Of the grim majesty OF bis saw
age reign.
A proyidontial hnnd in human history
pOipted out freCman's inheritance 30
the oppressed OF MI nations and ,ho
auce.to of the men who Afterwards
, made our State great among her Ameri-
can sisters, cast eager oyes across tho
; blue ocean 10 find home where liberty
and freedom, hand ia hand, r0yed with
, pence and prosperity.
The flag Of oli England flew over
people who were hreakng away from
tho hndmarks oi the past. determined
10 develop III the future Royernmcnt
free from its oppressive features. Tho
transfer Of the land from the Indian b
ihc English King had been daily made.
hut the increasing strength Of those
, who made the change brought increasing
restlcssncss. 1he Wild and picturesque
scenery Of their adopted land and tho
new life opened 10 them filled their
, hearts with liberty and the very brcezo
that swept over the hills and valleys and
, lifted the mists from the mountain tops
was ladened with the priceless blessings
Of freedom. Applause
Under the genial rays of the American
! ! sun tho problem Of human government
grew clearer and clearer and the hrt
whisper Of "giyo me liberty or give n.o
death was already breaking upOn 0l.-
ing ears The power Of tho people n
, supphnt the power O the King
upon the stage Of events stepped "
h men. demanding that the curtain r1Y.
dro, Oh foreign interference with their
affairs.
The heaviest portion Of the yoke ~
U oppression WIS lifted from the Beck5 OF
3 the American colonies by Virginia Tho
+ pen N one Of her sons wrote declarI-
tton Of Their Independence, The sword Of
another gave 1t practlcel eject whilo
6 both pen and sword were saaoined by
the voice Of another, whose mighty tones
: shook tho throne % EDghnd's klng and
q kept brightly burning the ires OF the
n Revolution. On her soil, over one hum
= dred wears ago at Yorktown, the flag Il
n the invader YVES furled, and clasping tho
|. hand Of the Goddess Oi Liberty, fhe
Is united her fortunes IN peace with those
by whose side she had battled 20 grandly
in war.
1t A written constitution replaced the az.
tices Of confederation. aud form ~
general government for all wa signed by
the delegates At Philadelphia Do Way.
It 1871, and afterwards ratified Dy The
~ States.
IS Asa member Of the American Union,
n Virgnia's whole duty was faithfully rer-
,. formed to her sister states and a. tho
u Government she had done so much To-
J wards establishing. She has seen greai
/ republic spring into life, whose popnla-
l. ton IN a century has increased RON
d 1900, 900 to 60,OJ,O00 Of people, and
whose banner floats over more square
/. leagues Of land than Rome after seven
d centuries of growth.
l. The power OF three departments Of i.s
st Government is derived from the people ;
n and under tins Wise provision 10 seemi
rs now ~ if the possibility Of free popular
le government would be proved upon