The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-08-15

nobler, truer body Of citizens ever as
sembled tor any purpose They forfnu-
lated their plans. but for reasons on their
own did not put out a candidate for the
Senate as an exponent OF these views
why they did not do 50. do not know;
but one thing IS certain. they had a right
TO do so n they had 50 desired, and !
believe that the purest patriotism burned
IN the bosom Of these men. and they
spurned every selfish thought, and
were so true 20 their ownselves that
they would not Nlt themselves In an
attitude where they could be charged
with handling such important public
questions for the hope OF personal gain.
Their motives were impugned throughout
this State. m was openly charged that
they had gotten mp the movement for the
purpose of helping some one 20 be elected
10 the United States Senate. they an
disciaimed any such purpose, and / am
told that each and every one OF them
declined 10 allow their names TO be con-
sidercd for "a moment. / do know that
almost any one of those gentlemen could
have had "a loyal and enthusiastic support
as candidate for the United states Sem
ate II they would have accepted TINS
public service.
LOGICAL CANDIDATE.
"Mr. Jones was especially urged. as
he has been the leader I'm the move
ment. 10 become a candidate. and 10
my mind DE was the logical candidate
and exponent of those views lie declined
TO do $50. / had not hesitated tsom
the beginning To- express my sympathy
with the movement. While that conven-
ton was in session many Of the gentle
men that attended called ug0n me and
urged me t0 announce myself as can
did9te for the United states Senate.
Mr. Jones WAS very kind and pres Ing.
and saw me several times on the subject.
! declined not that J feared for mo-
meut that I could not Doe succe ssfrL nor
that Z failed % appreciate the comnli-
mont that was paid me- or under-es innate
the honor of d. scat I'm the United states
Senate; but there were other reasons.
and these { frankly and candidly gave the
friends who We're kindly urging me
to take up their cause. / told them that
the cherished ambition OF my life had
been 90 Dee Governor OF Virginia. that /
had never had a dream beyond IT, and
that I wanted 90 serve out my term In
peace and with the APPROVAL OF my people.
! had never taken my seat az my
desk without asking God 20 guide me
and 90 bless the people that had so
wanted to have the approval OF all the
Virginia people Ny ambition was only
to make one 0f the best Governors, under
God S guidance. / possibly could. | have
measures and plans that 1 want 10 carry
out which ] think will rebound To the
good of my state I felt that If | en-
tered the senatorial race II would excite
the prejudice OF those who would op-
pose me. they would try 20 destroy the
success of my administration, and the
beauty of the picture that I had laid out
before me. Then. too. Il realized mat my
administration had fallen on "A time the
most interesting in the history OF our
country The two last years OF the
nineteenth century and the first two
years of the twentieth century-what q
period in rhe life OF our country The
first year of my administration witnessed
events that caused the world 10 stand
aghast and wonder at our power and our
future. Zoo few short months our navy
had swept from the seas the navy, and
had put 20 aight. a, army Of one OF the
prOudcst and greatest nations of the
earth In the .w'uke OF am eye. almost
we had be,tcd the globe and shaken the
Old World from centre 20 circumference
We saw this nation depart from old
time sentiments, policy. and traditions.
and whether we approved II or not be-
come an imperial power, and at one
stroke took On the far distant isles of the
sea and planted our banners ON the OPP
pOste side of the world. Great things
were done and great and mighty
problems were arising and are sim be-
fore us.
GREAT ISSUES.
"SupenGous ISSUES are to Doe settled, such
MS tho nation had never erarped with
before. and in au these things. i'm this
grand history period 1 felt that
j had. as Governor of o. noble old Com
m0nWearh. an humble part And when
time goes on and our descendants look
back ur0n this day and time and the
question is asked who was tlDu The Cow
eru0r of Virginia this old Dominion
this Mother OF States and Sllte-meu-
and the answer Will Doe. eft was Hoge
Tyler nay ambition was. thai if &c WAS
but a. line that history might record the
fact that DE went into The Governor
chair almost by the exclamation OF his
people, he met his responsibilities % Che
satisfaction OF his State. and went out
of office amid the plaudits ol his fellow
citizens. Was this am Immature. or an
unhOiy desire. an unworthy ambition; /
think not. and no wonder ! dll NOT want
the dream dispelled or tho picture des-
pOi.ed. Hence I declined the tempting
offer and resisted the appeals of nay
friends. I left Richmond principally to
relieve myself OF their importantly and
I went 20 this, my beautiful. noun
tain home. hoping for a season of rest.
The forces that had so successfully de-
feated the VIII of the Virginia people six
years ago seemed 10 have n clear field for
the success Of their candidate ~ ilu
became even more boastful than ever.
the wayering men. under the temptations
OF political power and prestige again fa.l-
ing into ranks with them. 1 had hardly
reached my home before visitors letters
newspaper articles began to pour IN on
me urging me % announce myself a CAM
didate to stand for the peoples cause.
Such expressions ass this came 90 me from
nearly every county I'm Virginia.
"llave we waited for six years and is
there no one Of our public men who viii
make this fight for us2' we demand So
Of you. whom we have most recently
h0nored and trusted 20 take uD our
cause" Thus / was made to- believe that
the people were in earnest. and that
they wanted me to represent them Boz
the United States Senate. IL any man
here to-day thinks that it was net O
movement of the people. let him 30 home
with me and examine the records thove.
l could not doubt il and I could not de-
cline 10. The people had responded when
! asked them 10 help me. ] could not
decline when they asked me 10 stand for
their cause
WANTED TO VOTE.
They wanted somebody 20 vote
for: they felt that individual liberty
and freedom were slipping away from
lL.r, rnn.. IL IL -. A. .I....I-l L.