The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1898-01-02

ideals Of onr political sy stem have not de-


parted from them
AND rs stand here to day, virtually In
the eyer of all Virginiaus, would say to
the young men of my State, resist the
insidious increepings of the schem.ing
demagegue. and the imported barter
81 public suffrage; remain true to the
best traditions of this noble State. Com
NIT your ways in purity of sife to your
fellow citizens, and let all your public as
pirations accord with an honesty of pub
lie purpose. This you will find the only
sure road to the permanent &c cd will of
this people.
Virginia would set noble example to
her sister States of this union aud be
worthy of leaders, place in the future
which she so grandly held In the past. il
she would forever set the seal of her con-
domination Upon the bold effrontery of
those who will dehauch the peoples
suffrages ana pervert their will by tie
shameless use Of money and the power of
combination influences. Here lies the
greatest menace to our republic. And
In taking upon my self the exacting duties
OF this high station, l would feel derelirt
| In those duties at the very outset if did
not ask the legislature of my State to co.
operate with me in making offenses of
this kind so clearly within the penal code
as to deter all would-be offenders Thus
only can we keep clean the fair name of
our State and make public questions
worth our debate and Investigation. Thus
| only can we keep in the councils OF the
State her upright citizens. know ex-
press the views OF you who have come up
with me to these halls of legislation to
devise measures for the best interests of
| the people. And kno wing that the peo-
| pie of Virginia are in such hearty accord
| with us, let us do what we can to see that
the voice Of the people and not the man
dates OF these combines are spoken At the
polls. In this way only can we keep the
| political atmosphere Of the State pure
and sweet and wholesome fit nourist
rnent for race of lofty men and noble
| women.
| There are D,any things claiming our at
tention as the commissioned heads Of the
people. There is feeling of unrest and
disappointment throughout the land.
The burdens of taxation are excessive and
unequally distributed. The people are
restricted in the exercise of their just
rights. There ars too many officers and
too wasteful expenditure of public funds.
Whenever man calls attention to the
burdens of the people, and urges economy
in the expenditure of public funds lie is
met by the cry of "demagogue. as
sure yon that no such nippant charge
snail deter lie from the path of duty, and
trust that the members Of this legisla-
tilre VIII CO operate with me IN earnestly
seeking ways and means to cut down the
expenses of cur government, while at the
same time carrying on the great public
ana charitable institutions that have
gwen Virginia the name OF bountiful
mother. And trust that the gentlemen
whom shall call upon to take charge of
the public institutions of the State will
exercise In the management of those in
stltutions the same frugality and sensi-
tive care they would exercise in.the man
agement OF their own private affairs
Nothing chills the peoples desire to help
our public institutions 30 much as a fool
ISM or wastetul expenditure of the States
appropriations, and nothing is doing so
much to raise prejudice against the Sc ap-
preparations as the growing belief that
they are too eNtravagantly used And
passing through this storm and stress
period in the States finances, it hehooves
her public trustees to show lasting and
far-redchlng results in all public eXpendi-
lures. In this lies the patriot sm of our
DAY no less than in shouldering the mus
ket N time of war. And it behooyes all
public servants MOTTO use-.ihe State rs n
means for private gain, or for taking
ones ease, but to do each day an honest
days work, and make returns to the
PuoiiS ~ 1888 iull anu satisfactory than
tfose of private employment.
The people are hampe red in the cen
duct of their business, and are in des-
PAIR at the constant and steady decline in
the value OF their property, and are rest
I've under the oppressive burdens of tax
aticn they wear, while the privilege of Sc
curing currency sufficient to meet these
burdens is denied them. The manipuln.
tors of stocks and bonds seem to have n
firm grasp on legislation, and are all
powerful in devising means to shape pub
lie sentiment in their behalf, whilst the
property rights of the people and the in
terest or the masses are completely ig
nored and neglected. The spectacle of
thousands Of Armenian Christians meas
sacred and Cuban patriots crushed on
account of the sensitive care over the
stock market is but faint picture of the
cruel neglect of tue many in our great
republic, who are Dolly being beggared
and rendered homeless by unjust national
legis'ati ion.
The.federal government turns deaf
ear to all her appeals. uttered either by
voice or through platform or press.
hope that Virginia as Il sovereign State
will speak her voice for her people, and
that the example will be followed by all
the commonwealth in this Union, de
handing that some better finaucis system
shall be adopted than that which at pres
ent prevails. lt is n burning shame that
the statement is almost daily and hourly
made that there is plenty of money in a
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