The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-05-05

as ecccntricitics- this devotion arises
TO a passion. She still has sons with much
of the spirit of that strange embodiment
Of devotion to all that was Nirginian,
John Randolph--whose requiem the Puri-
tan poet ONhitticD sang in warm ana
just admiration
"Oh, never bore his native State
A truer son, or Drawer,
None trampled with a calmer acorn.
on foreign hate or favour.
"Too honest and too proud - fc,gn,
A love he never cherished.
Beyond Nirginia's border-line.
His patriotism persisted.
"While others hailed in distant skies,
our Eagles dusky piniOn,
He only saw the mountain-hir1,
Stoop DER his Ola Dominion"
This may at times amount TO narrow
ness. but 1t testincs to devotion. And
this devotion, while concentrated at
home, is spread abroad in the land where
ever the children or The old A,O.her are
scattered. No other American name
quickcns such varied interests; no other
root stock is so gladly claimed, even in
the third and fourth generation, as that
Of Old Virginia.
Why L. il, then, that I'm this land where
occasions for memorials abound in num-
Der and distinction exceeding any other
Of our CommOnwcalths. so few 'okens
Of reverence for the great things In fcr
past exist? We are forced 10 confess tfat
this IS So Is there any justlfying eXpla-
nation Of II?
The reason is not to be found I'm pow
crty-nor in the fact that we are indeed
overcropped with worthy demands for
monumental Virginia has never been too
poor to make fitting response 10 that
which appealed 10 her heart. That lofty
pile Of stones in Hollywood where we'll
nigh each rugged fragment stands for
life poured out. bears witness 10 her
power in the darkest hours TO give cf-
fCctive EXPIRE, sion TO her feeling. The
reason for this disparity between the real
sentiment OF the people and the outward
expression Of it, in land so replete
with venerable memories, lies in the ma
ture of that which was the fundamental
institution Of Nirglnia-the plantation.
Virginia is not the product of her cities.
but of her plantations. Her life began at
once TO be DlantatiOn-lfe, and 50 con-
tinued She had no cities. To make
comparison. When the Plymouth Colony
was LOO years old-in 172O-BostOa had
more than 1900 inhabitants. When Nir-
cinia was 125 years old. Norfolk and
pointl Insignificant AT least rs FAR IS
reputation goes. Their founding as towns
is put down respectively as IN 1855 and
1884, And. yet, as late as 100 tho popu-
laton of Virginia was within q fraction
of double that Of Massachusetts, Icing
1850 10 Massachusetts 3lS,Nl, but 1t
waJ almost wholly on the plantations.
Examine the constituents OF any OF her
great conventions, from the first House
OF Bureesscs down 10 fifty years ago. and
10 viii appear that the power Of Virginia
lay I'm the country. II may be doubted if
there was ever another land of the same
advancement of civilization where a great
"a proportion Of the controlling element
lived outside Of cities. TO cite cOnspicu-
GUS instances from one period alone
Washington. jefferson. Madison. Monroe,
the Lees, Marshall. Wythc and many
others of the leaders OF the land in their
day. were country gentlemen and mas
tiers OF plantations. so IL was before
and so il long continued after the RevO-
luton The result was that her force-in-
tellectual, economic. and social-was not
concentrated but broadly scattered
through the land. And her representative
men. living thus lives at once distn-
guished and private acquired certain
reserve and Independence in spirit and
manner which while it was not lacking
in real public spirit. was not al all given
20 public demonstration of feeling. SO
IL was that not only the body OF the popu-
lation, but the sentiment, feeling and
influence Of the land was IN an unpre-
cedented proportion lodged i'm the coun-
try. and clustered about the great pian-
tations These became I'm themselves
monumental In their character but
monumental not OF public but OF private
interests. They were often rich In cul-
ture, I'm traditions. and associations, ard
represented much Of the elegance gcre-
rally found in centres of population; hut
they were none the less isolated and.
after ALL were private homes and net
public institutions.
OUT OF THE PLANTATION.
1t would be interesting TO observe how,
out Of the plantation, spring many Of
the strongest marks Of Virginia l,fc and
character There are other parts of our
broad land where the town hall, with its
frequent public meetings, I'm which al
| things social, political and religious,
were discussed and settled, became the
moulding force; force tending av ay
from indiyidualisSn towards ccntraliza-
| ZION, and a community Of interests. The
| characters which gave shape 10 Virginia
| life were not formed in the town hall
| but in the plantation homes. There the
| but bred TO a sense OF personal independ-
once force and responsibility. There not
| trade, but production Of material was
! the object OF labor Conflicting competi-
| tiOns and contests with his fellows was
| not the rule, but the exception. I'm the
| planters lie. lie grew apart, and, natu-
! rally. like a tree In field, an active
! independent, self-respecting. self-Sup-
porting. responsible man. His chief con-
! test was with nature and she yielded
him sufficient tribute. But there was in
! these men a strong sense OF public re.
| sponsibilty also, and 1t manifested itself
| in all things. Even hospitality was not q
mere pleasure TO be INDUCED, II means
and other circumstances prompted IL, but
| IL was a public duty. to be maintained
| in any event But. along with Astounding
| bosuitality, and the easy and gracious
| manners cultivated therein. would be
| found a reserve which, above all things
| despised ell imperinent curiosity ano
meddling with the affairs of Others. and
which nipped intrusion and interference
4, the hud Liberal home rule was thS
mould and law Of Virginia. and cardi
nal principle was this that every mans
FIRST duty is TO attend 10 his own bus.
ness. This did not mean any unnatura
| lack of interest In others, but II did sig
nify n degree OF independence which Ter
| babe interference, and respected private
rights. whether in matters or cons'ien
| or OF economy. Virginian's conscience
| was "A rule for himself but he "li mo-
| undertake TO force II as rule Tor others
| II would not be difficult 10 trace VIZ