New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-03
THE NEW SIEGE OF RICHMOND.

The desire OF the Virginia Legislature for en-
lIghtenment on the political Issues OF the DAY
Is not only entirely natural, but from every
point of view and in the highest degree worthy
of praise. And, being hungry for 1t, there was
nothing strange or unusual in their calling upon
the Hon. Joseph W. Bailey, Of Texas. Demo-
cratic leader In Congress, to come to Richmond
and impart II to them. For they knew-in-
deed. who does not know?-that the Hon.
Joseph W. Bailey, of Texas. habitually goes
loaded with facts and figures and surmises'
personal experiences tender memories. airy
fances, guesses, theories and conjectures, ana
all that sort of thing that any Legislature might
be proud to listen to at any price. In the
firm conviction that an hour or two OF Joseph
Bailey would make them wiser ana better men,
to say nothing Of the exhilaration which Ms
presence in Prince Albert coat with his IN
.tellectuals on tap always imparts TO warm
hearted audiences, the members OF the Legs
lature sent for him. Sent for him, ana ne
came Came not precisely AS the winds come
when forests are rended, nor indeed as the
waves come when naves are stranced--that
would be too bolsterous-but In a special car,
attended by several Congress .nen as an escort,
who no doubt were also loaded.
Arrived at Richmond, and the Legislature
having corrnlled itself in the Academy OF Music
Of that city. the Hon. Joseph proceeded to I'M
load upon them political information, gathered
in Texas and elsewhere. Of the most elevatins
and inspiring character. From the meagrc reports
at hand we are unable to gather what 1t was all
about, or whether, following the famous prece-
dent established by Speaker Reed IN the List
Congress. he had the doors locked on the inside
in order to hold quorum; but 1t seems well au-
thenticated that he kept at 1t for three mortal
hours What night that must have been FOR
the Virginia Legislature. And what night
for Richmond. That devoted city has under
gone some tempestuous demonstrations within
the memory Of men now living. 1t was under
siege for four years And. whatever may be
said of the cause for which 1t stood, the civil
lied world has never ceased to admire the deter
mined courage and unshrinking fortitude with
which It's citizens stood the strain. Schooled
in the experience Of four such years OF self
sacrifice It is perhaps not surprising that the
citizens Of Richmond and the Legislature Of
Virginia were able to sit out three hours OF
Joseph Bailey with heroic steadlness and calm
composure And when It was all over, what
grim satisfaction there must have been In the
reflection that they had been able to take In
the carloads Of information on the political
issues of the day, just as Bailey disburdened
himself of It, without turning hair. There
may have been dark brown taste In Rich
mond the next morning. but her citizens could
point with pride to the fact that their own
heroic endurance fully matched the unparal-
leled continuity Of Bailey.
1t is not without a feeling akin to pain that
we have observed disposition on the part Of
some members of the Virginia Legislature to
kick at the cost Of getting Bailey to Richmond
and repudiate the bill The expense Of the
special car and the escort Of Congressman. 1t
seems, was about $3.50. A member of the State
Senate introduced resolution Monday pro-
hibit!ng the payment thereof from the State
Treasury. on the ground that the Legislature
had no right to pay for bringing any man to
Virginia to preach Democratic doctrine. 1t was
voted down with expressions Of Indignation by
the Democratic majority, but at last accounts
no provision for payment OF Mr.. Bailey's
penses had been made This is wrong; $3.50
for three hours Of Bailey Is only a trihe over
$50 an hour, and II Bailey Is not worth that
he isn't worth a cent. Moreover. II is worth
more than that TO the citizens Of Richmond
simply as a process Of training IN fortitude
and endurance. Bailey, however Is not with
ont his remedy. 1t will be very easy for him
to send word to the Virginia Legislature that
II they don't come down he Will return and
give them another three hours dose of political
information. That, IN Texas parance. would
be pretty sure to fetch EN-" Meantime Vir-
ginia will owe him $3.50 on account It was
Mr. Rufus Choate, we believe. who In an i'm
FASHIONED harangue Jus: before the war ut
tered the aspiration "Oh for an hour of Daniel
Webster Virginia will go two better" and
owe for three hours Of Joseph Bailey