Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-08-10
yirgiuia-Day mt Chicago.


Thousands OF Virginians. Of Virginia,
and as many more Of those who now
dwell elsewhere in this and other lands,
yesterday assembled at Chicago and
feasted upon the memories of the Old
Dominion's past while celebrating the
27ith anniversary of the organization
atJamestown OF the first elective Legis-
lature In America.
1t was a day of orstory OF historical
reminscence of glorying in the past
of generalization in the present. There
were three addresses and an ode read by
its author.
Colonel 4. S. BUFoRD. president oil
the Virginia World's-Fair Commission,
acted as master of ceremonies, and after
n speech happily stating the Significance
OF the occasion and giving welcome to
oil, introduced General FITzHUaH LEE,
The General blszcd the path for the
orator of the day, giving an account
OF the arrival of the first Eng
lisbmen in Virginia. speaking of the
torch of liberty they lighted here by the
organization OF the jamestown Assem-
bly,, and dwelling with eloquent enthu-
siasm upon the glorious work OF this
Commonwealth in every period OF the
couDtry's history.
Then followed the reading OF the ode
by Rev. BEVERLEY ID. TUCKER, pastor
of st. Pauls Episcopal church, at Nor
folk. The title of his verses was "En
dat Virginia QuintoDe the legend
on the seal of the Colony OF Virginia
when our arms were quartered with
those OF England, Ireland, France. and
Scotland. and ante dating that other seal
I'm DIT V1rgtRiG QDGrtam) when our
arms were quartered with those OF
Great Britain, Ireland, and France.
Considering the brief time for prepare
ton which ne had, Mr.. TUCKER's verses
give evidence of the possession by him
of gifts of high order. They tell in
poetry tho story the orators tell in
prose.
The chief feature OF the day was the
Grafton Of Senator JOHN ". DANIEL.
1t was such a production as might have
been expected from an orator who is q
close student of history and an expe-
rienced legislator. The Senator is
always at his best when Virginia is his
theme, and yesterday his deliverance
was successful effort to award her JUS
tice for radiating to other quarters OF
the world the light Of that liberty which
had its origin in the first legislative as
sembly at Jamestown.
The Senator spoke OF Virginia as
"the birthplace of the American peo-
ple," and of Virginians as "the first
Americans" of the jamestown Assem-
bly, as the cradle of freedom and oil
BAcoS's sword as "the first sword that
ever flashed for liberty in America. "
WASHINGTON he eulogized with great
power OF expression and he was happy
in referring to the Virginia Building at
Chicago as q facsimile of WASHING
ToN's "plain, planters mansion" Nor
did he forget to mention the expedition
to the West of LEWIS and CLARKE, and
that Illinois was once Virginia colony.
But the drift Of the Grafton was In the
direction Of showing what benefits had
been conferred upon the world by repre-
sentative government, and he declared
that "no nation that ever possessed il
ever voluntarily abandoned il"
We dare say that some unsympathetic
persons will declare that there was too
much OF self-glorifcation in yesterdays
Virginia celebration but they must re-
member that ii was family gathering,
where ancestral boasts are always admis-
sible-where, indeed, they furnish the
chief charm. Governor MCKINNEY had
apart in the programme as it was first
srranged-among other things he was to
hold a reception in the evening-bui
sickness compelled him to deny himself
the pleasure Of going TO Chicago.
The appropriation made by the
General Assembly for Virginia's repre-
sentation at Chicago was but S25, 900.
andit was not expected that with this
small sum any "big things" could be
done, but it seems to US that the CON-
fort and convenience to Virginians Of
having place Of rendezvous on the
World's-Fair Grounds is worth all that
We have spent IN this direction, in
GLIDING the sumssdded TO the State fund
BY tho hbaaaity Of private individuals
We not only have our Virginia Building,
but We have In Ii and elsewhere on the
grounds exhibits representing the re-
sources OF tho Commonwealth.
President BUFoRp and his associates
have done vast deal OF work for us.
We can but comanend their public spirit
knowing that il demanded no little OF
self-sscrifce on their part. They may
considcr--as tho pubic considers--Yes-
terdsSA celebration their browning
work.