Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-07-16
For the Dispatch.)

, CnarleS dudley warner mas an artlcl
on What New Light on Virginia His
tory Teaches Concerning the Beginning
Of Popular Government in America In
the New York Times OF July 9th. which
shows that he has been able TO appre
ciate the real historic value Of THE First
Republic in America" by DR.. Alexander
Brown. of Virginia. Mr. Warner does not
dwell on the preface or Oh personal is
sues Of little historic value. but goes al
most at once to the really great ques-
tions of history involved in our origin as
a nation, which may be briefly outlined as
follows:
During 16o6-16O9 the company in England
was controlled by the Crown under the
royal charter of 1906 and the Colony was
under the form OF government designed
by the King. The status was then alter
ed, and from 1909 to 1924 the Virginia COM
pany virtually controlled its own affairs
under the special company or popular
charters Of 1909 and 1872 and the Colony
| In Virginia was placed in due time under
the more free government designed by
patriotic managers of the business.
The members of the royal party who
| opposed the granting of the popular char
tiers continued their opposition to them
after they were granted until they opened
the eyes OF James l. to what they re-
garded as "the poison under their wings,
and the King then, in his own peculiar
way, set about to annul the privileges
that he had granted In those charters
which were antagonistic to his royal pre-
rogative. Their chartered rights were
contended for by the patriots Inch by
inch before the Privy Council. Parlia-
ment, commissioners, and courts. The
King silenced the Parliament, which was
disposed to be just to the patriots; the
Privy Council and royal commissioners
finally. after a long and bitter contest be-
tween the royal and popular parties. de-
cided the case agreeably 10 the idea Of
the royal party-"that If his Majesty's
most princely form of government OF
16O1-lG09 In Virginia had been pursued,
much better effects had been produced
than had been by the alteration thereof. |
as then Q609. etc.) 1t was, into so popular
course" etc.-which was 80 contrary |
TO the monarchical form of government |
that was held In the rest OF his Royal |
monarchie." Then the royal court an |
nulled the popular charter; the Privy |
Council called in all of the company re-
cords. and as they considered the popu-
lar ideas contained in them reasonable |
to the King, and as the acts of "a semi |
nary of sedition," they concealed or de-
stroyed all this insidious, traitorous mat
ter, and under their censorship issued a
license for the history which we have
been taught TO regard as the standard
authority on the English colonization OF
America ever since the Colony was re-
sumed by the Crown.
The question as to which is the correct
history of our origin as a nation lies be.
tween this history ,hus licensed and these
records thus concealed. This history is
an attempt to Justify the verdict OF the
royal party by showing that the Colony OF
Virginia reached a good state OF pros
perity under his Majestys most princely
form of government Of 16G7-l609, by the
good management Of the editor OF the
book Notwithstanding the bad conduct
OF others; that all went TO rack after the
alteration into so popular a course"
and that the King ought to annul the
popular charters and resume the govern
ment himself.
On the other hand, these records show
that the Colony never prospered during
l607-1609; that the Kings form OF govern.
ment was not satisfactory; that the pa
triots were justified in changing it; that
from the first, in spite of every difficulty
and every opposition, the patriotic man
ayers of the business had remained sedu-
ous and united in carrying their enter
prise forward to the right ends declared
for, civil and religious liberty. and that
the historian, while bolstering up the ,
loyal ideas and clarifying himself. has J
omitted from his history nearly all or ,
he real history OF our grand origin,
which is of especial value for US TO know. .
IN brief. the history teaches that we had
,ur origin as a nation under a royal form
II government. while the records show
hat 1t was under a republican form. I
In deciding this historic question, Mr.. a
Brown has rejected the royal history '
md has based the history of 1.-THE First I
Republic in America" on the popular re-
ords OF the company. Mr.. Warner takes !
he same view, and has, therefore. been :
bile 10 see the truth about Virginia" :
md to consider her earliest history from ,
he patriotic standpoint. This conveys
he drift of the article. it contains some
minor statements about which there may
e differences of opinion. but in the main
oming, as 1t does, from a northern man,
shows remarkable willingness to rem
er justice to those 10 whom II Is due
Or the noble origin Of this nation. +
We are now making a somewhat SINH :,
Ir movement to the westward across the I,
acific to establish, II may be. colony n
Z our own under a more free govern s
lent in lands claimed by Spain. Will We G.
e able to lay as sure foundation for 81
he prosperity OF our posterity In the n
panish East Indies as the managers OF Il
lie business did for us in the Spanish "
'est Indies nearly 600 years ago? VIII 4;
he Engllsh-speaking people lift up Asia p
they have done North America, by $;
anting there the great principles In II
lie onward march Of man which inspired ie
IT forefathers? ~
School of Royal Arch Mnsons. .,