The record-union., 1899-11-01

Virginia for their hearty and patriotic
support Of the flag in the war with
Spain, and for their continued and UNI
fiinching loyalty in the suppression of
the Instruction in Luzon against the
authority of the United States They
came in swift response to the call of
the country-the best blood Of the
State, the sons of noble sires, asking
for service at the battle front where
the fighting was the hardest and the
danger the greatest The rolls of the
Virginia volunteers contain the names
of the bravest and best, one of them
the descendant of the most illustrious
Virginian of its earliest and latest
times. They have shed their blood for
the flag of their faith, and are now
defending it with their lives in the dis
tant islands of the sea- All honor to
the American army and navy. All
honor has been shown the men return-a
ing from the field of hostilities, and all
honor attends those who have gone to
take their places.
my fellow citizens, two great his
torical events, separated by a period
of eighty-four years, affecting the life
of the republic and of awful import to
ginia~ Both were participated in by
Virginians, and both marked mighty
epochs in the history of the nation. The
one was at Yorktown in 1881, when
CORVALLIS surrendered to Washington,
which was the beginning of the end
of the war with Great Britain and the
dawning of independence and union.
The great Vfrginian, Sage and patriot,
1llustrious commander and wise states
man, Installed the republic in the FAM
lily of nations. 1t has withstood every
shock in war or peace from without or
within, experiencing its gravest crisis
in the civil war. The other at Apo
mattox, was the conclusion of that
crisis and the beginning of a unifica-
ton now happily full and complete,
resting in the good will and fraternal
affection of one toward another of all
the people. Washingtons terms of
peace with CORVALLIS secured the ulti
mate union of the colonies, those of
Grant with Lee the perpetual union Of
the States. Both events were mighty
gains for the human family, and a
proud record for a nation of free men.
Those were triumphs in which we all
have a share. Both are common heri-
tage. The one made the nation pos
sible, the other made the nation inn
perishable Now no Earring note mars
the harmony of the union. The seed of
discord has no sower and no soil upon
which to live. The purveyor of hate, if
there be one left, is without following.
The voice which would kindle The 1iame
of passion and prejudice is rarely heard
and no longer needed in any Part of
our beloved country.
Lord of the universe
Shield US and guide us;
Trusting Thee always
Through shadow and sun.
Thou hast united us;
Who shall divide us?
Keep us, o, keep us,
The many in one.
Associated with this great common
wealth are many of the most sacred
ties in our national life. From here
came forth many of our greatest states
men, and heroes who gave vigor and
virtue and glory to the republic. For
thirty-seven of the sixty-one years
from 1889 to 1850 sons of Virginia oc-
cupied the Presidential Office with rare
fidelity, a period covering more than
one-fourth Of our national existence.
What nation can have greater hertz
age than such names as Washington,
Jefferson, Madison, Monroe and
Marshall Their deeds inspire the old
and the young. They are written in
our histories. They are a part of the
education of every child of the land.
They enrich the schoo'books Of the
country. They are cherished in every
American home, and will be so long as
liberty lasts and the union endures.
my countrymen, the sacred princi-
pies proclaimed in Philadelphia in
1916, advanced to glorious triumph at
Yorktown, made effective in the fer
nation Of the Federal Union in 17S7,
sustained by the herism If all our peo-
pie in every foreign conflict, sealed in
solemn covenant at Apoomartox Court
house, sanctified by the blood Of the
men of the South and the North at Ma
Mia and Santiago and in Porto Rico,
have lost none Of their force and virtue
and the people of the United States
will meet their new duties and re-
sponsibilities with unfailing devotion to
those principles and with unfaltefing
purpose to uphold and advance them.
standing near the close O.: the CEN
and pride, and forward in
to the new century with confidence AMI
courage. The memories of the past in
spire us to nobler effort and higher en-
deavors. 1t is for US to guard the sa-
cred trust transmitted by our fathers,
and pass on to those who follow this
Government Of the free, strengthened
in it's principles and greater in it's
power for the execution of its benef1-
cent mission
At the conclusion of the Presidents
speech Secretary of the Navy Long was
introduced by the Mayor, and ac-
the reception given him by
the crowd in a brief speech.
The launching which followed was a
great success, the boat being christened
by little Miss Carrie Shu5rick of
Rocky Mount, N. c., great grandnicce
of Commodore Shubrick, with the usual
After the launching the President
and party took a drive through the
city, stopping awhile at the Executive
Mansion to pay their respects to the
Governor and his family. On the Pres
ident's return to the Jefferson House
he held another informal reception. and
left for Washington on his special at
7:1O.