Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-06-14

er, Warrenton. Va; Theodore s. Gar
nett. Norfolk, Va: w. Douglas Gordon.
Richmond. Va. Dudley Lindsey. Frank
fort, Ky; Henry Wise Mayo. Richmond,
Va; Charles w. Miller. Irvine. KY;
James +. Minor. Stanton. Va; c. Nick.
Owsley. Lancaster. XVI Marion L..
Scott, Birmingham, Ala; Frank T. SUIT
ton. Jr.. Richmond, Va; j.. Lee Trinkle,
Wythevllle, Va.
THE LITERARY SOCIETIES.
At tho hour for the address before tho
Joint literary societies to-day n heavy
rain-storm was prevailing, and many
who had tickets OF admission 10 the audi
forum were unable TO be present.
The audience, nevertheless, was large
one.
Mr.. G. w Miller. OF Kentucky, presl-
dent OF the Jefferson. and Mr.. A. T..
Stroud, president OF the Washington,
presided The exercises were opened
with prayer by Dr. J.. William Jones,
after which Mr.. Miller introduced the
orator, the Hon. Joseph w. Bailey, who
was greeted with great applause.
Mr.. Bailey said 1t was not his habit to
open his addresses with apologies, and no
man should accept an invitation TO
speak without making preparation. He
had accepted the invitation and had eX-
pec.ed TO prepare. but public business
had made IL impossible for him to do so.
He announced no subject. but spoke upon
Jefferson's services In the direction or
the emancipation Of the mind and as the
great statesman framing the. greatest
declaration that had ever been given TO
the world. He said that his connection
with the statute Of Virginia for religious
liberty had. unfortunately for him and
the world, early become involved in dis
pute and misunderstanding. Pious men
felt it TO be their duty to denounce him
as an assaiant of religion, when, in fact,
he only demanded that the mind should
be left free and untrammelled In It's con-
sideration and acceptance OF religious
doctrine. lie said that he had as firm
a belief in religion and as reverent a
regard for II as any man, but as the
son OF q Christian mother, he protested
that religion was not endangered by en-
lightmert, and that its success was not
aided by darkness. jefferson lived in a
time OF political and religious fanaticism
OF such bitterness as we OF thls gay
of tolerance cannot understand. Men
then living could almost remember the
burning as witches of persons who sim
ply read the Bible i'm a way which they
did not approve, and these fanatics i'm
agined that they were pleasing God by
torturing His children. But with all this
rancor. and with all the impugnment OF
motives, Jefferson spent eight years In
the White House without being accused
of dishonesty even by those who had
assailed Washington, not only while he
was President. but after he had gone TO
Mount Vernon to die
JEFFERSON'S GREATNESS.
Jefferson was great as the father Of
4I,s.g- -
the statute of religious liberty, but greater
as the Trainer of the Declaration
OF Independence. Some men had spoken
OF il as a chance greatness, growing out
OF the peculiar circumstances which sur
rounded it and the time at which IL was
offered. The truth Is, 1t is one or the
few great documents, greater than all
that had preceded it, and greater than
anything that would come after 1t.
Taken as an Indictment Of Great Britain,
il is unmatched and can ever be sur
passed and as n whole, ii would i've
even after the folly Of those who come
after us has destroyed our liberties, so
long as men have sufficient virtue to
value freedom.
He had heard one man say that in
enc respect Jefferson's life had been a
failure-he had died insolvent. The
great Democrat had been so much en-
ployed in his colossal labors for his coun-
try and posterity that he had not had
time TO make a fortune. He said that
those who tainted him with failure IN
this respect were making a new stand
ard by which to judge men, and would
lII. to chisel of the inscription on MS
tomb, which told of how he had founded
the University of Virginia and made re-
l,gious thought free in his native state
and put upon IL new inscription, charg-
ing him with failure because he had not
made a fortune. When these men are
forgotten or despised, that blue spur or
the mountain which lifts its head to the
bluer sky above will be the Mecca TO
which the votaries Of freedom in all
the world will delight TO come TO do
homage to Jefferson.
The literary societies held their hnal
celebration in the Auditorium tonight.
c. w. Miller, of Kentucky. and a. I.
Straud, of Virginia, presided jointly
Medals were awarded to ID. ). Burleson,
the orator and c. J.. Kagey, debater OF
the Washington, and j. e. Taylor, orator,
and II. w. Mayo, dsbater, of the Jeiter-
son. Owing TO the length of the pro-
eramme. addresses were delivered only
nv Mr.. Burleson and Mr.. Taylor.