Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1904-01-29
DISTINGUISHED VIRGINIANS.
The Late DIR. Hoge and Gov. Wise.
Praises For Senators Daniel and
Martin-Why Speaker Reed Liked
the House.

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Praises For Senators Daniel and
Martin-Why Speaker Reed Liked
the House.
There are two recent Virginians
who always come into my mind in
connection with the word "distin-
guished. Prominently always, DIR.
Moses d. Hoge; and then comes
Henry A. Wise. With these l have
come to associate a third, Senator
John w. Daniel.
BY distinguished / mean a man
whose attributes and actions are
devoid of commonplace. Senator
Daniel is the third in strict descent
of eminent jurists.
You might say he signslized his sd-
vent into his profession by writing
textbooks upon knotty, technical
subjects. He diversified the theme
by his incompatible grafton upon
the glorious and immortal Lee. He
discusses tbeoretic and historic e.
nance for two days in the United
States Senate, an effort which Sam.
Allison characterized as the most re-
msrkable to which he had listened
during eighteen years within those
walls. You next hear of him weaving
graceful imagery before young ladies'
institutes. ] hear he has lately
become addicted to the meditation of
Marcus Aurelius, Like the most of
finished statesmen, from Cicero down;
like Burke, Fox, Gladstone, Lamar,
and like the Nestor of the Senate, his
friend and admirer, that wise old
man, Senator Hoar, he is saturated
with literature.
love to hear him speak upon any
subject. Hike him best in the thrust
and parry of debates.
And Cicero
Looks with such ferret and sush fiery
eyes,
As we have seen him In the Capitol,
Being cross'd in conference by some
Senator'S"
He adorns both State and Senate,
and recalls she illustrious days Of our
august Commonwealth. He is inyal
uable where he is, in these days of
exploitation and strenuosity.
Days in which our lawmakers not
ouly disregard the wise couusels of
the fathers, but repudiate their ideal
concepts, which are the very genius
of our institutions; when, to use a
striking simile from Scripture, the
sacra auri flames, the accursed greed
of gold has come in like food; W hen
lust of empire makes us haunt our
selves before the astonished Orient.
If the lessons of history have not
lost the power of analogy, in the
coming on of time, when some burs.
of racial antagonism shall prove the
Euroclydon to drive the ship upon
the breakers, and when the motley
crew strike for the shoals, there will
ring in their ears the echoes of the
warnings of our maturest and wisest
counsellors: "You should not have
loosed from Crete"
Senator Daniel has an excellent
colleague.
Senator Martin has trained faculty
and mature experience. He has
weight in the Senate and 10 Commit
tee. Germans testimony to his
sagacity and wisdom covers the entire
question. Both Senators have that
influence, which in the Senate comes
alone with time, with character, with
ability. Factitious characteristics do
not abide in that body. Above all
they are both faithful, earnest, and
ingenious men, devoid alike of dis
guise and plausibility. 1t would be
most unwise to displace or supplant
either.
The House is q minor matter. As
Mr.. Burke said of the death Of Marie
Antoinette, the failure of the member
from Turkey Ridge District to lock
horns with his antagonist from Wide
Awake Hollow would eclipse the
gayety of nations. As the policy of
the House is always determined by a
dozen or fewer men, what odds is all
the defamation? Everybody loves q
lover, everybody enjoys the enjoy
ment of these disputants, and they
are as full Of it themselves ss Tom
Reed said Roosevelt was of his redis-
covery of the Ten Commandments.
once asked Mr.. Reed why he did
not 60 into the Senate. His reply
was that q fellow couldn't have any
fun there.
And as this life is not overcrowded
with fun, ] move that the House
continue wide open.--A. S. Marve,