Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-13
EVENTFUL CAREER
NON. JOHN E. MASSEY TO RETIRE
TO PRIVATE LIFE TUESDAY.
SOMETHING OF WHAT He HAS DONE,
How lie Has Helped Ia Make History
in Virginia During the Past
Tvcnty-Etght Ncars-Dr. SouthaII,
His Successor.

After twcnty-eight years OF nearly con-
muous public service Hon John Il. Mas
~ will retire TO private LIE on Tuesday.
ON that DAY he vii. surrender his Office
10 Hon. Joseph w. Southall. and retire TO
private lifo. Whether no viii again en-
ter the arena OF politics remains TO he
seem for though he is well advanced in
years, MS love OF public service. rein
..rcod by high abilities which have won
him thousands OF enthusiastic admirers
an over Virginia. may overcome a natu-
ra. desire TO spend the remainder OF his
days in the retirement Of his beautlfui
country home in beautiful Albemarle.
BEGINNING OF HIS CAREER.
10 was in ISL that Mr.. Massey first left
Gle pulpit TO enter the field Of politics. A
graduate of the University. a speaker OF
.baity. debater whose equal has sel-
dom. II ever, been pitted against him. Mr.
Massey 40 once took rank as a leader OF
She House OF Delegates. 10 which he was
that year elected. He served the people
o. Abcmarls in the lower House for
several sessions, and then entered the
s,ato senate, where he served until 1879
and had as much TO do with making his
tory IN Virginia during that period ana
tae next four or five years as any man in
Che commonwealth, General William Ma
hone lot excepted.
10 Is not inappropriate to term Mr..
Massey the father Of readiusterism. Be
fore General Malone had become a promi-
l.ut figure IN Virginia politics Mr. Mas
soy visited nearly every county and city
.l the State pr1claiming what were af-
forwards known as the doctrines of read
ll-t,rism. His advocacy of these princi-
pies lost him his seat in the Senate, but
q. has been said that 20 him was chiefly
due the return of a legislative majority,
.u accord with his sentiments.
STIRRING TIMES.
The campaign of 1879 is without parallel
o. The history of Virginia politics. unless
that of Wise and FIournoy, i'm 1856 be
i-- equal. Partisan feeling rose to a
la.Eut that at the present time when the
blood has cooled, seems almost inCredi-
l.,. Feeling in many cases became fury.
and personal encounters and general
l-Hts. often serious In their consequences,
turning quiet little courthouse towns into
theatres of the widest disorder, were
.. frequent occurrence. The duel, as Il
means OF settling questions of honor,
was revived, and flourlshed, as it had
done, In days before the war
Mr Massey passed through al these
stirring scenes undismayed and unhurt.
and though he was defeated for the Sen
ate. the Legislature elected him to the
position Of Auditor Of Public Accounts.
Sir Massey proved himself resOurceful
bal IN. F|s in l.
state over tremendous financial difficult
r.s even going 20 the extent of borrow
ing money i'm his own name TO meet OBJ
legations.
THE BIG FOUR.
Through the influence Of General Ma
hone he was defeated for reelection, but
81 was the former, and not Mr.. Massey
who lived TO regret il most When Gene
raj Malone broke with his old friend he
sealed his own political doom. He made
an opponent relentless, BnrelaXing. an
enemy that forever proved implacabe
10 was Mr.. Massey who organized the
Big -Four; Mr.. Massey, who sacrificed
meat and drink and sleep to stand guard
al the Capitol. and keep in the Senate
chamber or within easy call, the four
men he was using TO break the power of |
Malone in Virginia. Hs was successful, |
and those who were once his bitterest |
political enemies. admitted then, and ad- |
NIT to-day, that To him largely belongs |
tho credit of restoring Virginia to De |
mJCraCy.
Mr.. Massel's stirring canvass Of the |
State as a Readjuster Democrat, against |
John S. Wise, a Republican, for re-eleC- !
ton as congressman at large from Fir- |
gluia; his campaign I'm 1881, when he was |
elected ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS; his cleo |
ton TO the Office of Superintendent of |
Public instruction without having asked |
the support Of q member Of the Legisla- |
ture. are familiar TO Nirginiaus, and need |
not be dwelt upon.
WHAT HE HAS ACCOMPLISHED. |
Mr. Massey ifs an ardent advocate of |
general education and recently remarked |
that he did not think he had ever occu-
pied a public position i'm the course of his |
long career, which had given him so /
-.aat opportunity TO be serviceabie to the /
State as the one ne now holds During
his administration the number Of public
l00ls in the State have been increased |
ly 1000; the number of pupils enrolled,
D. 30 500, the attendance, 1855; the teach |
,I- 1872. the value OF school property |
boy Ess2f5255, and the state revenue
E. .b.i-lIe
During Mr.. Nassey's term he has sue
g..Usl lu having established summer nor |
NAL schools for teachers, uniform eXami-
nations for teachers certificates, and
several other Improvements in the public
.l09I system. IL is believed the State
has never made more rapid progress in
matters pertaining 20 education than du-
ring the period Of his administration.
Mr. Massey Will not be present 10 trans
f.r h.s Office TO hia successor He mas |
been ilI for some time al his home in
a.u.marle. and through he is GONZALES
CENT h. is afraid 90 venture upon the
up His seventy-eight years require
prudence.
AIR. MASSEY'S SUCCESSOR.
llr. Mas-eys successor, Dr. j.. w.
s.4rLau. has never been q prominent
figure iu Virginia politics. but in every Ie-
.....u of life he has discharged his duty
B.. Well that his friends feel assured that
. administration win be fully as sue
..ssfgI as that of his predecessor.
Jr. s0uthaH is q man Of high culture,
having been educated at Hampden-Sid-
g.y and William and Mary, and is also
Cd graduate Of the Medical College Of Nir-
4...a. H. has paid great deal Of atten-
f..l fo educational subjects, particularly
FOO public schools. and is emineutly fitted
g.. faa duties OF his new Office
Ir. Southal has fine war record, and !
".s one of six brothers VINO served IN
... Confederate army. lie has been q
member OF The State Senate from Amelia
.uty for TWO terms, and resigned his
d. .-t 90 accept his new Office.
Dr. S0uthaI i5 a gentleman Of high
character, cultured, modest TO a degree,