Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1899-02-22
HOnoring Mr. Rouss.
His 63rd Birthday.
SENTIMENTS. FROM Gov. HOLIDAY
AND MAYOR WILLIAMS.

urdsy last with feasting and speech
making the 63rd birthday of the well
known merchant prince and philan-
thropist, Mr.. Charles Il. Rouss.
Hon. VIM. l.. Wilson, ex-Postmas-
General, who served in the ranks
with Mr.. Rouss in the Confederate
army, was to have been the principal
speaker on this occasion, but the
train that was TO have conveyed hun
to the b. & o. line at Strasburg left
him at Harrlsonburg because his
train TO that point was few min
utes late, aud consequently he was
unable to be present and respond to
the toast of "Charles Broadway
ROuss."
The banquet was splendid one
Speeches were made by Hon. Il. T
Barton, Mayor J. J. Williams, Chas.
w. Hensell, John VI. Steck, Lewis
y. Barton Ond others, and poem
written 10y Miss Kate McVicar was
read.
Ex-Governor Holiday sent the
following memorial, which was read
by Mr.. j. f.. Kiger:
The Government of our country is
complex in its simple
IN it's aims.
Covering continent of untold re-
sources, 1t presents a Colossal Front,
apparently capable of defying all an
tagonisms; but its real strength must
be measured, not by its size and
weight, but by TIE harmony of its
constituent elements. In time of
trouble it Is this harmony which
marks its strength.
With the power To make laws, 1t
Is yet bject TO law. However big
aud strong, it inheres In the great
moral law which pervades the uni
verse aud Il subject TO It's DEGREES II
canuot violate its principles without
overthrowing itself. For the law of
the government IL a schoolmaster.
ami If not IN accordance with the e,
erlasung principles of right 10 which
IT owes allegiance. 1t will corrupt and
dehase Its own people. have known
governments thus L act and ALWAYS
with this fearful fate.
Nor can human government sur
we without recognition of natural
law by which II Is on every hand en-
vironed and permeated Without
this recognition its munimeats of of
fence and defence would 5e futile.
and without obedience to the laws
which govern the winds and waves.
! the ships of the Navy would sink To
the bottom or be driven on the shore.
y party sometimes is unwist
enough 10 construct a platform in
conflict with natures economies, il
requires but little while bv the
| quiet. subtle action of those econo
mes for the platform to fall C
pieces, and its avoided principles L
pass into oblivion; or should it sue
coed IN getting possession of the gov
eminent, 10 throw the affairs of til,
people into confusion aud chaos Ii.
little wind mills canuot Join issu,
with the "mills of the gods"
Government is the outgrowth of ;
peoples life, or the creation of "A pee
Piles genius. The former is the Brit
ish Empires, the latter the Americas
Republic. When our sireS, through
the gateway of war hundred wear
ago, left the Empire, their leaders
wonderfully wise and sagaciouS men
determined TO construct Republic
knowing well its advantages and dis
advantages: for all governments il
the very nature of their construction
and elements. have not the same Pc
tentlalities.
They framed ours TO suit the con
dItlon and character of the people an,
IN complex form to suit the complexit,
of their environment. The simple ain
was TO produce political, civil anC
religious liberty, warning us tina
their great work could only be pre-
served by eternal vigilance" W,
have passed through many crises
and have come out, not bv any mean
unScathed; we are now In the midS
of the most vital of them all-in ef
feet the undOing of their work
They led us from All Empire into
republic: We are Fastening from tn
Repu bic into an Empire.
For we are attempting "a thing wei
nigh impoSsible-the extension o
the bounds of the Republic by for
eign conquest. When such a form
of Government undertakes this. !
generates agencies which of thei
own motion DESTROY the life of tn
Repu bile itself. Witness Rome il
her Hateful transition. Witness on
own country in quite recent time
with indicia. which to the thought
full reader of history under the pres
ent philosophy and conditions of on
life, forecast coming events in tn
same direction faster and tiercer thar
ever happened to Rome.
Oh! for one hour of the statesme,
and craftsmanship of the Older
Time,
| MayA- ,ll.-.- ]