Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1901-08-30
Mr.. MONYAGUE'S SPEECH.


fore the recent Norfolk Convention
Mr.. Montague spoke in part as fol-
lows:
1t seems unnecessary to accentuate
my acceptance of the honor which
you, the accredited representatives of
the Democracy of Virginia, have
just conferred upon me; for no
modesty should induce me to dis
guise the fact that your action has,
for some weeks, been generally an-
ticipated. But am unable to with
hold, and do not think il proper to
withhold, some expressions, however
inadequate, of my appreciation of
your action; and ] beg to tender to
the members Of this convention, and
through them to the Democratic
people of the State, my profound and
abiding gratitude for this proud and
honorable distinction.
Though the fundamental creed of
the Democratic party never changes,
yet to its glory it may be said that
its principles have adapted them
selves, and will adapt themselves, to
the varying needs and exigencies of
"a free people. Consequently today,
as we must realize, our State has
entered upon an era of material, COM
mercial and educational advance
ment; and our people must be con-
graduated that the Democratic party
viii guide and administer our Gov
ernment as it proceeds upon career
of such potentialities. Indeed, it is
essential that our party shall admin
lister it, for it cannot now be safely
administered by any other hands.
The demand for better public roads
is heard throughout the Common
wealth. The State is growing 80
rapidly in riches and power that she
can now undertake this great public
work. 1t may not be expedient to
provide an elaborate system at once,
but system can be introduced which
will give hope that in due time
our roads will he one of the
greatest factors in our industrial
progress. / shall not advance argu.
ments for good roads. History, ex-
perience aud our present needs
demonstrate the necessity for the
immediate Inauguration of policy
giving our people greater facilities
for the transportation of their pro-
ducts to the highways of commerce
and for the promotion of social in
tercourse and domestic comfort.
Our party has been the faithful
custodian of our public free school
SYSTEM We have done the best we
could with the means at our COM
mand and within the limitations of
our Constitution; yet many realize the
system cannot be greatly improved
until our school terms are longer,
our school laws wiser and better
educational advantages are brought
within the reach of our children.
Moreover, it is essential that this
system shall be so conducted that
the people may know that the public
free schools should not educate our
children away from labor, but toward
labor. Our children must be taught
to coin their thoughts into work no
less than into words. Therefore, our
people hope for, and will energeti-
cally devise, at no distant day, some
means whereby We may begin wise
and efficient system of industrial and
mechanical education. When this
is done We can utilize our wealth of
water, of forest, of field and of mine.
We need not then sell abroad the
crude products of our forests, fields
and mines and buy back the articles
manufactured therefrom enhanced
in value 40, SO and 100 fold. We
need not then sell, as we do now,
our Drawn and buy back brain. We
will then develop our own resources,
make our own wares, build up ouI
own people in thrift, in intelligence
in comfort and in happiness.
In the nature of things agriculture
the oldest and most indispensable OF
all arts, will continue to be the chief
occupation of the people of Virginia
and as such it should be to tn,
Democratic party the object of mos
jealous care. Within the past two
years, as the result of a Democratic
measure, the revenue derived from
fertilizers has provided means no
only for the analysis of fertilizer
and for experiments in scientific
farming, but also for the establish
ment of farmers institutes, which
are now disseminating among oul
farmers the most approved sgrlcul
tural education.
| Larger and better things seem in
store for our Commonwealth. A
new Constitution, now framing By
our ablest and best men, gives every
lpromise of meeting the hopes ant
needs of progressive and patrioti,
people.
My own views upon the subject O