Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1894-03-28

section they had their agents and peddlars;
drew vast crowds to their stores and ware
houses; granted extensive credit to chief
tains and tribes despatched their vessels
to Europe and the West Indies, laden with
peItries, furs and other products of the coun-
try; received return cargoes of every variety
of merchandise. and, under the fostering
care of the Spanish government, amassed
immense profits, and welded commercial
power and influence not eqauled by any me
house before nor since in either of the en-
poriums of the South.
"Some of the partners resided 10 Mobile,
during the Spanish possession, living in
style of princely magnifcence. From the
Spanish crown they received large grants OF
ground Towards the termination OF IT. ex-
istence. this opulent hnuse fouud-as usual
with the apostles of that great fraud, the
'creditsystem all of the Indian tribes large
" in its debt, and was compelled to take
from them extensive tracts of land in pay
ment. said tracts being duly coded by treaty
The Choetans thus made compensation for
| n debt of more than forty thousand dollars
and the lower Creeks and Seminoles granted
in liquidation of much larger debt. mil
lion and a half acres on the Apalachicola.
Thus credit conquered easily race of braves
whom it took hundreds OLIVES and millions
of money under Andrew Jackson, Sam Dale
and Others to subdue. How forcbly the
fortunes of this house verify, even in the
primative days of our nation, the assertion
of Carlyle, that commerce is King" it
might be added that "credit conquers even
the king"
Contrast the fortunes ofthese pets OF Roy
atty. not only rich themselves, but related
by ties of marriage with some ofthe wealth
lest families of Cuba-contrast it, | repeat,
with the struggles, and sufferings, and tri
umphs of the friendless Southern COnfeder-
ate sodier-not among his own kindred and
people, but far from home in the land oil
the foeman, and he soars above them as the
summit of the Rocky Mountains above the
hills at the base. He has demonstrated that
Merchants as we'll as politicians and warriors
can come "out of the ease-loving South"
| And vet. oh wondrous and beautiful truth.
AS his millions pile higher and higher, a.
his eagle like vision stretches farther and
J wider over the commercial horizon of the
globe, his heart grows truer and tenderer to
the cries of the helpless He sells his goods
for money, not for mems lands, hearthstoneS,
homes and souls. He has met and defeated
the demon Of credit, and lie is crusade in
behalf of truth and independence"
At recent public meeting held at the
courthouse in Winchester, which was at
tended BY an immense gathering of citizens.
Mr.. Rou>ss princely donation was formally
accepted by the city and its thanks returned
To the donor in an eloquent eulogy pronounc
ed by ex Gov. Holiday, and upon this oc
ca,ion was read the following beautiful lines
dedira,ed tn Mr.. Rouss
| oh the world grows cold and selfish says the
pessmlst to-day,
/
What the critics say.
And the sun now shines as brightly as on Eden
| long ago,
And human deeds still thrill us with warm
and radiant glow.
| There are generous deeds and actions on the
pages of all time,
To enthnse the voice Of speakers and to bios
| som into rhyme,
| And embalm the name Of doer, so that future
ages tell
OF some royal gift or action that has served
his country well.
When magic knot was pulling all the peo-
pie OF the age.
Cut the knot aud stop unweaying," was the
wisdom of the sage,
| And II magic knot was severed, thus our
| Rouss has cut down
This Gordian Knot perplexing all the people
| of our town.
And Rouss. the royal giver, grateful tongues
shall voice his name.
And grateful maids and matrons shall his gen
erous deed proclaim;
And the toiler. worn and weary. and the tray
eler Oh his way
Shall ouatf the sparkling waters while God
bless bm' they will say.
And while these waters limpid are flowing
through our town,
We shall hold him more In honor than had
he worn a crown.
For royal deeds are better than OF royal blood
to be-
For they warm the icy current of humanity's
great sea-
And Shenandoah waters, Daughter of the
Stars" their name
Shall whisper to the ages of his generous act
and fame.
And the unb ,rn generations shall bless The
noble deed.
That sent these sparkling waters to peopein
their need.