Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-08-06
vireinIa-pay at Chicago.

In point of that display which always
impresses the unthinking masses the cele-
bration of Virginia-Day, the 9th of August,
at the Columbian Exposition does not pro-
mise great deal. Even had the Virginia
Board of World's-Fair Managers boen de-
sirous Of resorting to on elaborate pro-
gramme in order to draw a crowd they
did not have at their command the funds
necessary TO that step. The Virginia
worlds-Fair appropriation was made by
General Assembly charged with settling
finally the State-debt question; and whIlo
many think that the body might have been
more liberal it must be credited with the
virtue of recognizing the principle that
Commonwealths. like individuals. should
be Just before being generous. The OPP
preparation was 80 meagre that If it had
not been supplemented by subscriptions
from counties and municipalities and
money raised by entertainments tho board
would have been seriously embarrassed in
carrying out their plans for the Virginia
exhibit. to say nothing of Wednesdays
celebration.
For this reason, as well as in Difference
to the question OF appropriateness. tho
Virginia-Day demonstration will be. CON-
paratively speaking, modest affair. In
respect Of significance. however, it will
oyershadow any celebration that has been
or can be made by any other State. The
event it will commemorate is one Of the
most important-o OF the most pregnant
with resuts-in the history of this coun-
try. not to say in the history of the Anglo
Saxon people.
On the sOth of July. old style (the 9th
of August, new style), 274 years ago there
was held at jamestown the first legislative
assembly ever elected in this country by
universal suffrage. Here was the genesis
of true representative government, not
only on the American continent. but,
strictly speaking, with the Anglo-Saxon
race. BY that historic gathering, sum-
moned by picturesque ola Sir GroRoE
YRARDLEY and composed of two burgosses
from each plantation, chosen by the peo-
pie, was laid the cornerstone of the Ameri-
can governmental system.
This happened year before the Pill
grims left Southampton harbor. and Is tho
epoch Virginia proposes to celebrate on the
9th by addresses. the recitation Of On ode.
and reception. To the demonstration
Virginia bids the citizens of all other
States who may be in Chicago at the time
cordial welcome. She does this not only
IN obedience to the dictates OF hospitality,
but for the reason that IN view OF
the seed sown by "Ye First Assemble"
and the fruit it has brought forth, not
only Virginia, but the entire confedera-
ton of States has right to claim the
day. 1t il true that after the first assem-
bly, the colony of Virginia passed through
another season of oppression, but the
spirit that asserted itself in the
legislators Of 1919 could not be crushed
out. 1t lay dormant awhile, only to re-
awaken and grow stronger and moro per-
sIstent. until it's influence spread to the
other colonies and opened the way for the
achievement of American Independence.
Each advance of the colonies III the direc-
ton of liberty is phase OF development
of the spirit that was exhibited by the
Burgesses who responded to YEaBDLRTs
summons. To YEARDLEY and bis COM
patriots can be traced the piinci-
pie, which manifested itself IN act
if not in words. that oil power is vested in.
and consequently derived from, toe ntope,
and which is the great underlying support
of the fabric of American freedom and tho
right of self-goyernment. These facts
must be apparent TO every student of
American institutions who has traced the
inspiration of tho nations development 10
its fountain head and should vest the cele-
bration with interest throughout the
couutrv.