The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-01-02
HE GOVERNORS ADDRESS.

a,-oc+,on of material development In the
state OF Virginia He believes IN sooo
roads. in 3ud:cious advertising OF the
states resources. In the encoura cement
ne Investments from the outside, IN NOUS
trial education. He believes that the oe-
crease in the number OF those ensase'
IA AGRICULTURAL pursuits in the state ie
due in great measure to the Wretcaco
condition of the public roads at cecta:n
seasons OF the year. I'm many of me
eountfes.u said he. for two or three
months in the winter season our roaas are
a. social and Industrial blockade. 11e
added that this blockade should be raisod
IA most feiicitious expression
Mr. Montague called attention to the
fact that within the past five years VIZ
einia has expended over two million dci-
lars upon the public highways, but that
this great sum has been of no appreHls-
BILE good MAY not the failure be large
IL DUE ne asked, ito the fact that cur
people do not sufficiently realize what
rood roads are and what con-
tribution they make to mans comfort
and wealth. We think that the ialinre
has been due in part to the fact that me
uaoev has not been judiciously expenoeo.
The tax-rSers in many instances DO aos
know what becomes Of the money when
tsey paw for road improvement And then
again, the work of road-makinS is ire
ouently done in a siipshod manner ard
is practically thrown away. First of ali
the tax payers should see to 1t that the
road fund is employed to the best adVan-
taEe, and to this end there should be a
comnetent engineer in every county to
superintcnd the work, It is only in this
way that desirable results can be had. no
matter how much money is appropriated,
We are gratifed to see that Governor
Montague is in favor Of advertising the
States resources. Virginia can we'll af-
ford to be liberia. in her appropriations fer
that purpose. The Governor Is right in
saying that we should have a proper ex-
l hibit at the St. Louis Exposition. 1t Will
Be a splendid opportunity for Virginia to
show the wealth Of her mines and her
farms and her factories. We should have
a representative exhibit and anything
short of that is not to be thought of.
The new Governor is a young man, and
he is disposed to look forward rather
than backward He is a man Of senti-
IHent ard he attaches due Importance 10
the achievements of the past: but he real
azes that we cannot live upon memories
Virginia is not a State OF relics. Ie is
q. live Commonwealth; and while holding
TO the sacred memories Of the past, these
should be an inspiration and a stimulus
to CREATE activity in the future.
Governor Montague recognizes the fact
that in order to secure this development
and to enjoy the prosperity to which we
arc fairly entitled, we must have capital
and we must have skilled labor CAPT
tal." SAID he, must give the power. ana
educated labor must broaden and huiid.
With capital and industrial skill will come
immigration. But. what viii bring CAPT
tal?" he asked and well replied: "a gov
eminent OF law and order: OF ssecaritS
for Ife liberty and property, and gov
eminent of lo-v taxes and small indaol-
edness."
Many communities in the South have
thought to induce capital by exempsing
certain class of new industries from
.axation. We have always held that this
is a vicious principle, and we doubt II
1t is a true inducement 1t Is the pro-
tectioE Of the law rather than exemption
from taxation that furnishes the induce
nent to investors. If Virginia will treat
capitalists fairy and protect :hen in
their investments she will offer The oes'
possible inducements.
VIVA. the Governor said with respect
to skilled labor is also proper and time
ly The Northern States have the adj
vantage over the Southern States III tEis
respect We should not be compelled TO
send to the North for skilled mechanics
whenever we start a new industry. AS
we have the raw materials at loms, so
we should have the skilled workman at
home, and this not merely as the n,cans
of building up industries. but as a means
of olevating the people and making the
earnings capacity of the citizen greater.
But the Governor recognizes The fact
that Virginia's greatest asset is her peo-
pie. 81 believe with the great Greek"
said he, that the best science Of ethics
IS the best force of government. The
force OF civilization is the superiority of
private life, and commanding sense of
aght and wrong is tue imperial virtue
that moves and lifts civilization
The people are the city. The strength
OF any State or nation is in the individual
character of Its men and women. That
which tends to build up and develop and
strengthen character tends to build up
and develop and strengthen the Common
wealth. On the contrary, that which
tends 10 demosalize and debauch tends
to weaken anS destroy the State. The
Governors address was especially 70 the
Constitutional Convention, and We take
occasion to say to the members Of that
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