Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-05-11
SENATOR DANIELS GRAFTON.
the Hose Of EppIng forcst-The Bride Of
wmkeRcid--Tbs Representative Woman.


Following Mr.. washington's address,
the President introduced Senator John w.
Daniel. as the orator OF the day. In 20
doing the President said Virginia was
fortunate In possessing In an orator Tor
the day one better equipped for sueh
occasions than could be found anywhere
else IN the country. senator Daniel spoke
as follows:
Mr.. President OF the United states
Ladies OF the Mary Washington Monu-
mont Association, my countrymeh' SNo,e
Washington was the nobest ngrre ''a'
ever stood In the forefront OK NAHUM
life. -,
We are gathered to-day around MS
mothers grave.
"Aij that | am" said he. VI owe W
my mother" All that we are az nation
we owe 10 him. Ills debt Is ours IL u
many times multiplied. II II ever grow
ing as the ever-growing repuphe "
illustrates IN its virtues and IN i's iapits
alike the merit OF his example anu the
wisdom OF his teachings. Behoidins 'his
monument. We rejoice that TINS uept
acknowledged. and realize that no nmitn-
ion of time can bar renditioh Vi 1"S''~e
10 noble fame.
Our gratitude goes forth TO our coun-
trvwornen who have 40 wortauy achieved
this work. Men ATTEMPTED u, AMI hit
~ baIf accomplished. The State ."d the
Federal governments alike contemplated
discussed. and postponed H. Our noble
women undertook 1t, and II IS done.
We thank you, madame. YOU MIS-.
President. and your companions OF the
Mary Washington Monument Association.
Your success IL your reward, and you VIII
be hencoforth blended In our veneration
with her whose name IS carved upon this
sacred stoae. II was fitting. indeed, thar
YOUR pious hands should rear the first
monument on the earth erected by No-
men to a woman. and fitting too, that II
should bear the name OF Mary, the
mother Of Washington.
WHAT THE MONUMENT STANDS
FOR.
This stone represents two ideals-wo-
manly excellence and patriotic duty. They
are inseparable. Love for the mother Is
the first, rs il IS the most constant and
sacred emotion Of our being Affection
spreads to the family. clan. tribe. or peo-
pie TO which we belong and then twines
around inanimGte objects attracted TO
them by the magnetism or association.
IL fastens 10 birthplace TO living place,
TO home, TO motherland. 10 fatherland,
country. This ia the genesis and evOlu-
ton of patriotism. But love OF country
is only o figure Of speech. We cannot love
the insonsate earth, which can give back
no responsive speech, or glance, or sym
patty. Love must go from and 10 the
living. Our countrymen are our country.
Home is the pure. original fountain from
which all patriotism must fiow. and the
stream can never rise above its source.
AS the woman Is the man is. AS the man
and woman are the home Is. and as the
home so the country Show me refined,
enlightened, virtuous, and Industrious
homes and | will show you a good gov
eminent and n great nation. The nation
is the aggregate, the homes are the units;
man Is the builder woman Is the inspira-
ton. Discuss constitutions, administra-
lions, and policies as we may. the out
come must depend upon the subsoil they
spring from. Make the home ell right
and the rest will follow. This Is woman's
mission. (Applause) our race, the
youngest that has framed n language.
moulded a constitution, and made name.
has recognized that mission and held II
sacred. Other races roam the earth for
pelf and adventure, and cOndescend 10
inferior connections. Our race rOams the
earth only TO find the spot on which to
build its homes. Indeed. IL never quits
home. II carries home with II. Wife and
child. the domestic animals and plants.
the household goods 20 WHERE 1t goes.
over the stormy pillows. into the wilder
ness, ana even to the verge OF battle.
II Is beautiful legend Of the Rappahan-
mock that when Spottswood and his COM
panions came sailing hither the air was
made vocal 10y the English swallows that
they brought with them. The stars might
change. but they would make the skies
r,fA 10. of no al
homes.
MARY WASHINGTON TITLE TO RE-
NOWN.
You have reared this beautiful obelisk
to one who was "the light OF the dwell
inr" i'm a plain rural colonial home. Her
history hovcrs around IT. She was wife.
mother, and widow. She nursed hero
at ner breast. AT her knee she trained
to the love and fear Of God and TO the
kingly virtues, honor, truth. and valor.
the lion of the tribe that gave to America
liberty and independence. This IL her
title 10 rcnown. IL is enough. Eternal
dignity and heavenly grace dwell upon
the brow of this blessed mother; nor bur
nished gold, nor sculptured stone. nor
rhythmic praise could add one 1ot or
title To her chaste glory. Tributes TO the
lofty genius. which Is the rare eiit or
nature. and 10 the brilliant deeds. which
are the rare fruits Of fitting opportunity.
fulfil Il noble function; but they often
excite extrayagant emulations that can
never be satisfied, and individualize
models which few by possibility may
copy. This tribute is not To them. Ii Is
10 one who possessed only the homely
virtues of her sex: but what IL there in
human life that can be more admirable
IN, flp 10 he
divine? She was simply private cti-
zen. No sovereign's crown rested on her
brow. She did not lead an army, like
Joan Of Arc. or slay a tyrant. like Char
loSte Corday. She was not versed In let
ters or In arts. She was not an Angel of
Mercy, like Florence Nightingale, nor
the consort OF a hero. like the mother
of NAPOLEON. She did not shine amidst
the throngs which bow TO the charms OF
wit, beauty. and hospitality but in any
assembly Of the beautiful, the brilliant
the powerful. or the brave of her sex,
no form could awaken holier sentiment
Of reverence than she. and that sentiment
n oil the deeper because she was the
unassuming wife and mother whose king.
dom was her family whose world was
her home. In the shadow and In the
silence from day to day and year to
year she loiioWeN inc guiding star OF
that truth which tells US that ito do that
which before us lies In daily life Is the
prime Vesdom." She was the good angel
Of tho hearthstone-the special providence
Of tender hearts and helpless hands, con-
tent to bear her burdens In the seques.
tered vale Of life. her thoughts upper
verted by false ambitions. and all unlock
ing for tho great reward that crowned
her love and toll Npplause)
MARY WASHINGTON A REPRESEN-
TATIVE WOMAN.
But for the light that streamed from
the deeds Of him she bore, we would
doubtless have never heard the name of
Mary Washington. and the grass that
grew upon this grave had not been dis
turbed by curious footsteps or reyerential
hands. But II does not follow that she
shines only In the reflection Of her of
springs fame. Her virtues We're not
created; they were only discovered by
the marvellous career Of her illustrious
son. This memorial might indeed be due
70 her because OF who she was, but II
Is Tar more due TO her because OF what
she was. II is In her own right, and
as the type OF her SEX her people, and
her race. that she deserves this tribute
stone.
There were ten thousand Mary Wash
ingtons among the mothers OF the Revo-
iution, and honoring her we honor the
motherhood OF heroic days and heroic