Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-02-22
BISHOP RANDOLPH.
Hs Addresses The A. P. Y. A. On
Our History.
A Treatise Upon Our countrs's
NosIcmen from 1865 20 the Decia-
ration of independence ia IRE
The Part virginia Has Taken.


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A large and fashionable audience nile
the assembly han OF the Chamber o.
Commerce las, evening, the occasion nf
Ing the second OF the series OF lectures
being given under the auspices OF th'
Association for the Preservation OF VIZ
xinIa Antiquities. The speaker was
nshop A. NJ. Randolph. OF the Southern
Diocese OF Virginia, whose discourse was
both interesting and Instructive. IL
many instances the Bishop was even en-
thusiastic and eloquent. lie was accord
ed the closest attention. and his paper
was declared TO be one OF the best ever
read before the association.
Bishop Randolph was introduced TO the
audience by Hon. William Writ Henry,
who had called the body to order. Mr..
Horny. In presenting the lecturer. said
he was sure that the good people OF
Richmond had learned to appreciate the
efforts being made by the association to
instruct them In historical subjects con-
nected with this great Commonwealth.
The ladies had been very successful In
selecting the subjects to be discussed.
None OF the great families. said Mr..
Henry. was more intimately connected
with yirginia's history than the Ran
dolph family. Mr.. Henry then introduced
Bishop Randolph as the most illustrious
member Of this family now living.
BISHOP RANDoLPHS ADDRESS.
Bishop Randolph was very cordially re-
ceived, and in commencing his address.
~ wa Colonial history said
he regarded the efforts OF the society TO
inform AMI arouse the interest OF the
present generation in the history of the
country with profound sympathy. ellie
spoke briefly OF the present engrossing
political and commercial ties, which en-
gagged the consideration OF the people TO
such an extent that the great principles
upon which this government was founded
were not often considered.
Entering upon the discussion Of his
subject. Bishop Randolph said that the
most potent cause OF the Revolution.
which separated the Colonies from Eng
land and established the independence
of tho United States was taxation. II
was question Of money, and ques-
ton Of the authority Of the government
TO require the people to pay money into
its Golfers. Bishop Randolph argued that
this was not matter for the government
to decide. 1t remained with the people.
-. PEOPLE HAVE NO CHOICE.
In all absolute monarchies the kings
Of government, and the people had no
voice whatever. The idea that the peo-
pie had a right to voice IN the ques-
ton OF taxation. the idea that taxation
and representation were indissoluble, and
that In the governmental council that
laid the taxes, the people must have the
right 10 vote, did not originate In the
noble spirits OF John and Samuel Adams;
In Massachusetts, and in the splendid
courage and prophetic minds Of Patrick
Henry and Thomas Jefferson In the years
between the stamp act and the Declfa-
ton of Independence. 1t had been In the
turtles. There had been a gradual rise In
the sentiment Of all nations for this
principle. -
The Bishop spoke OF the driving out of
the French, and then went into the great
question of free government In this
connection he said that when the victo-
r!ous armies Of Germany Numbered at the
gates of Paris they found people and
city that had lost their manhood. Itey
had been governed for long years under
the Third Napoleon. Their Emperor had
built beautiful streets. and adorned the
city, and organized a vast system or
pubic amusements, and they were taxed
will OF the Emperor. While he was
amusing them, they were losing their
liberties, and In losing liberty they lost
honor and courage and sacrifice, which
il born out of patriotism. The mothers
would not send their boys out to battle,
and the women would not soil their hands
nursing the sick and wounded soldiers
The war was an affair of the government,
and the gates of the splendid city opened
70 the conquering army.
FOUR YEARS OF CONFLICT
Bishop Randolph said "You people here
in Richmond stood seige Of four long
years by armies that .outnumbered your
own many times over. When days or
month c during ant those S four four years. your
mothers used to send their 15-yt arold
boys to the ramparts. that are now grass
grown and your r., women were re- a nap IN
flee they poured out so freely upon your
soldiers. happy because they loved your
city. happy because they loved their
State. they loved their country. and that
love beareth all things. believeth all
things. hopeth all things, and never
faileth"
The speaker, in a most interesting way.
then nook up the controversies leading
up 10 the adoption by England of the
stamp act, referred In most entertaining
manner 10 the ovcrthrowlng OF the tea
in Boston harbor, spoke feelingly and In
.structively OF the part taken In the then
approaching conflicts by Otis, of Massa-
chusetts, and Henry, jefferson. Washing
ton. and others Of the great men of this
nation. He told Of the drawing OF the
Declaration OF Independence. saying that
Jefferson and Adams 10 do this work, but
that the instrument had been prepared by
the former.
PEACE HAS ITS SINS. TOO.
In conclusion, he turned his remarks
TO the English Said he: "None OF them
knew what America was fighting for.
The ideas of free government had not
dawned upon them and the doctrines pro-
claimed by Patrick Henry and Thomas
Jefferf on and John Adams they looked
upon rs ptrnicious heresies. TO be stamped
o1t under the iron heels OF war. You
cannot tame the Wild passions OF men
by q political device. There are times
when you cannot count upon arbitration
as an absolute remedy for war. unless
you destroy the anatomy OF nations, un-
less you give up 10 congress of nations
the right OF each nation TO judge its own
cause. and when you have done that
sou win have lost far more than you
will have gained, for nations must be
free. That Is the responsibility Cod has
put upon them, and they are educated
In the discharge OF the duties. War has
its horrors. and the heart and the con-
pcience OF Chrstendom should pray that
81 may be ayerted by all honorable means
But we must remember that peace has
fts sins as well as war