The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-07-09
THE GOVERNOR or VIRGINIA.
nuAIrrrEsTnAT SHOULD BE POSSESS
ED BY THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE.
Some People Erroneously suppose That the
once n Limited In Its Powers-The
Right Man for tho Place.

| To the Democratic Voters Of Virginia:
II has been quite the fashion OF some
persons to suppose that the Office Of
| Governor of Virginia Is so limited In It's
powers as 10 be comparatively unim-
portant and 10 adopt the idea that It
! may be lightly given for considerations
| that do not respect as first and para
mount those qualities and qualifications
| OF the candidate which are conceded
10 be the most important and helpful 10
| the people in their efforts and progress
| toward a revival and restoration from
| their burdens and long borne depression.
| THIS eugrestion Is as mischievous as II
| is untrue. During the four years Of the
| civil war Virginia was ravaged and made
| desolate by the hand OF the most pitiess
| invader that ever harried people. Every
one Of those conditions which had made
| her citizens prosperous and happy was
| destroyed. not excepting her labor sys-
| TEN, so essential to her recovery. which
| was suddenly and totally overthrown OF
perverted. Her civil institutions, In
| herittd from generators Of statesmen.
were forced 10 give place TO new and
untied forms. The capital which is
alvays needed under most favorable
circumstances was either destroyed. or
ny covert methods and sectional Federal
legislation absorbed for uses elsewhere.
ara Nltnne11 from Der people tfthit
went with IL, ana the old State was left
burdened with debt, which her honor re-
quired her 10 respect. while she was
despoiied and dismembered Of that por-
ten Of her territory which had been
overrun.
All that was left 10 her was her peo-
pie These had been the bravest in war.
and were the most tractable In peace.
They had new lessons 20 learn, new
sufferings 10 endure. With spirit OF
devotion TO her true character ana ira
ditions unsurpassed by any portion OF
her great history. her people have Ia
bored and struggled and waited with
out that due reward 10 which their toll
fairly entitled them; but bravery and
perseverance, accomplish all things. even
II the progress is retarded our credit
and condition have been In some senses
improved; and, at any rate, restoration
OF Democratic control Of the Federal
Government gives hopeful reason TO eX-
pect an early beginning OF new dawn
of hope. and renewed period OF I'M
prQvement and restoration.
We are yet, however in the midst OF
transition period towards revival. and
are in the crisis of the need Of leader
ship. guidance and help, the wisest and
most considerate we can command. we
need Il all the more because Just now
new and unexpected danger appears
above our horizon. The President OF
the United States gravely declares 10 us
that. as a result OF unwise laws. which
he more than hints were the product of
Republican misrule, great loss and dan
ger 10 our people have already accrued,
and that we are confronted with peril
GUS condition, which threatens 10 cripple
our merchants. stop the wheels OF manu-
facture. bring distress and prlvation TO
our farmers. and withhold from our
workinRmen the wages OF labor"
He calls to assemble around him not
only those constitutional advisers upon
whom, under normal conditions, he may
very properly solely rely. but fnvokes
the interest and cooperation Of all good
neonle TO assist in averting the danger
which threatens to sap and overthrow for
a season the prosperity and enterprise
Of the country. At such time are we
TO have inexperience at our helm, or
must our wisest be brought into council!
VIII the gesture Of the mere declaimer
strike down the perils Of the hour? Is
yolubility of utterance going to supply
volume TO the currency? Are figures Of
speech going to take the place Of those
other figures. which we are struggling
to create on the credit side Of our ac-
count? The poet may be born, not
made. but the statesman Is the creation
only Of painful efforts and Of n cease
less experience and his ability to take
care OF the fortunes Of people must
have begun in his fitness 10 handle
bravely, strongly and well those interests
which have already been committed 10
his care. He must not only be n lover
of his people but he must have al
ways diligently pursued such methods
as indicate wisdom and inspire conf
dence. He must be willing 10 share
their sacrifices, but he must also show
them out OF his own experience how 10
win benefits.
He must not be ashamed TO be poor,
but he must not plead poverty as
merit or be content with II when some
thing better is legitimateiy to be won.
We present to you I'm Colonel Buford n
man who comes up to the standard we
have endeavored 20 sketch. He has been
In every sense the architect Of his own
fortune. and has carved his prominent
and useful career through the very jun
giles of both early and later dsadvan-
tages He has achieved success I'm the
varied undertakings OF a private and
public nature in which he has been en-
gagged.
His patience. his industry. his system
attic hibits. his extraordinary judgment
and his singular power of enforcing en-
Uehtened views I'm words and In action,
and withal, his weight Of character, de-
rived from his habit of stern adherence
10 his convictions Of duty and public and
private obligations, have not only pro-
duced for him character and moral
power at home. but respect abroad: and
they have left behind him monuments
in the public service. which demonstrate
his strength under circumstances Of ex-
traordinary difficulty and of painful en-
barrassment.
No better illustration OF this can be
found than in the fact that the Rich
mond and Danville railroad coming un
der his care when destroyed by the re-
suits OF the war, and In a condition Of
almost hopeless embarrassment, fnan-
cially and physically, was taken up by
his strong and resourceful energies and
not only enlarged into a system OF i'm
mense value TO the interests Of the
State, but was restored TO a condition OF
benefcence 10 the people OF Virginia.
which none more gratefully acknowledge
than that portion especially interested
in the results which he effected in con-
nection with its administration during a
period OF more than twenty years
He has served you in your
legislative halls at intervals of
many years. representing two great
constituencies Of the State with
distinction and usefulness From
his earliest manhood he has been identi-
fled more or less, and OF late years.
Ia rff, ..sktl