The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-01-02


"Unawed by influence and unbribed by
gain"
with all these reflections crowdng
around. with what pride can this old
Commonwealth look the world in the face
and. when asked for her Jewels. point 10
her sons. and when asked for her pass
port 10 the heights OF imperishable fame,
point to her traditions. and challenge not
only her sisters I'm this sisterhcod- OF
States. but the natonalities OF the earth
In any. century OF their existence TO sur
pass them.
An Eve TO she Future.
But. my fcllow-Nirginians. other peo-
pies and other lands. too. have had bless
ings showered upon them. and have risen
high In the atmosphere OF fame and
climbed TO the topmost point on the lad
der of material greatness and CONNER
cial grandeur and then have fallen from
their dizzy heights and been stripped or
their glories and made TO tread the wine
press Of sorrow and degradation. with no
beauty or their ashes, no oil Of JOY Tor
their mourning. and no garment OF praise
for their spirit Of heav;ness Let US
therefore take warning and resolve mat
We will preserve her blessings ana use
them for her welfare: that we VIII Keep
sacred her traditions and add 10 her
glories.
Let as resolve that her future achieve
ments. II opportunities are equal, shall
equal those Of her past: that her progress
10 come shall surpass her progress behlnd
ne. that the material and commercial
importance OF her present and the years
gone by shall be eclipsed by that of the
years leforc us; that her fields shall be
made to grow two stalks Of corn or TWO
blades Of grass where only one grows
iC
Increase: that her cattle shall grow IN
numbers: that her industries shall SHOW
more yigor and energy. and their fires
GLOW more brightly: that her mines shal
WELD ND their treasures with q more ldN-
ish hand. and her cities. towns. villages.
and hamlets shall expand more rapidly
Onicisl and Persona Responsibilities.
As the chief Magistrate of this people,
I shnll labor In season and out or season
with heart mind. soul and body. TO sup
plement the efforts OF the law-makts
and the loyal citizens OF the common
wealth. 10 make her the grandest OF the
Grand the nOblest Of the hobie' lnc
strongest of the strong commemorative
,bat adorn this great American Union
which is the cynosure Of all eyes tle
admiration Of all lands and the wonuer
Of tho hemispheres.
I'm the Performance Of the functions OF
my high Office / shall endeaVor 10 De
inst AZ all times. knowing no section,
hut only the whole State. 10 class oul
only the whole people. shall take cure
that no discrimination is made IN pun
lie favors, and so far as can IN matters
OF legislation. Equal and exact justice
to all. spoclal privileges or immunlties
10 none. is the doctrine OF the political
school in which | was taught. ana
shall be true to IT,
I shall see mat the laws are rigidiy
enforced in all respects. and that good
order prevails throughout our limits.
hope most earnestly that If there be
any turbulent tendency anywhere II VIII
be subdued that passion VIII always
be subOrdinated TO reason, ana mat there
will be no occasion to resort TO harsh
means 10 insure the public peace; but
IL riot or disorder should occur, whether
I'm the crowded city or rural district
and the local authorities are unequal to
the task of quickly suppressng IT, no
time will be lost by me. as the Executive
officer. in using the power of the COM
monwealth TO restore the supremacy OF
the law. let il cost what ii may In blood
or money.
The certainty Of prompt action, vigor-
Gus means. and adequate punishment Is
the surest safeguard against the vicious
and evil-disposed element Of commun-
itv. and the strongest security 10 life
and property. Sometimes justice travels
with such Iea9en heels aud slow steps
that crime escapes from her taf'iness'
1t must not be 50 with us.
These words come from no feeling that
we have with as a class Of men who
are likely to break the law or render
society insecure. So far as | am in
formed. the State was never more quiet
and peaceful, but in any country that IS
developing rapidly. Adventures livers by
their wits. and even fugitives from the
laws vengeance elsewhere. will gather,
and il is well for all such classes 10
understand that there will be no tenn
porizing here with law-breakers or law
dehers.
The Question of Taxation.
The question Of taxation will receive my
careful consideration. Taxes imposed upon
the people, whether directly or indirectly |
should be limited strictly TO the necessary |
demands of the Government economically |
and prudently administered, and when
levied for any other purpose or IN spirit
Of profligacy or extravaganza II is robbery |
under the form of law. Excessive taxation, |
sapping the substance Of the people eN- /
cept 20 supply the real wants OF the |
whether done by State or !
national authority, is crime-a crime |
against the Constitution, state or Federal, |
against right. against honesty, against |
conscience, against every home. every fire. |
side and every man. whatever be his !
vocation. or course II bears most heavily |
upon the laborng man, for often at best !
his struggle is hard TO keep the wolf |
from his door. and besides. when the ,
wages Of NE wage-earner are drawn from |
him general stagnation and depression |
follow, Just as the draining of the blood |
from the human body brings the chill |
and paralysis Of death
The state debt with its Pandora 5 box |
OF evils has fortunately been adjusted |
upOn terms acc eptable to the creditors |
ana honorable to the State, and never |
again will IT return to plague us or 10 |
threaten MS with increased burdens or /
tho diversion from their rightful channel |
Of the revenue intended for the education |
Of the children of the State.
In my opinion the present rate OF taxa
ton upon property can soon be reduced. /
The rapid advancement OF values in many |
directions. the great strides we are max /
ng I'm our material development, the blaze
Of industries lighting up our sorges. the |
hum of machinery ana the lumberman's
axe breaking the stiffness of our primeviu
forests and craggy rcCesses. the miners |
pick unearthing the black diamond and
lefty coal vein the whistle of the locomO-
TIVE converting quiet and gloom into liz
and chccrfulness, all open up before us q
prospect so bright that taken In cOnLec-
lion with important reforms and reduc-
a..