Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1905-04-28
Friday, April IS. 1905.

1t might be well for US to add to the
above, in order to avoid ambiguity, that
we are supporting Governor Montague
for the Senatorship, because we believe
hepossesses to q much more marked de-
gree than his opponent all the essentials
for that high position, and that the in
terests Of our State would be most sig.
nally advanced by his election. We be.
lieve that Senator Martin has done the
best he could; we believe he has been
active, faithful and successful. and we
honor him for the record he has made
Ii he has erred we are not prepared to
show In what respect, but if he has not
erred, he. ought to voluntarily retire
from the Senate at once, for he's too
good man to be there. But we favor
Montague because we believe he is a
brainier man, a mere accomplished schol-
ar, profounder statesman, more pol
ished orator, and quite as energetic and
patriotic as any man in the State. Does
our brother Lee controvert our last
sentsnce or any part of ftp II not, he
too ought to be for Montague.
As TO the statement that "the Repub-
lican party will gain the ascendency In
Virginia within two or three years If
this farce is continued" we will not so
promptly disagree as our friend supposes
On the contrary, we are inclined TO
grant him that the prevailing tone of his
paper last week Is greatly calculated TO
strengthen the prospects of the Repub-
lican party in Virginia, and we appeal
TO him to soften down, and help us to
give the primary plan fair trial. II
works well in other States, why not in
Virginia? Echo answers why.-South.
eide Sentinel.
Firstly, no ambiguity could efface
the fact that friend Ryland is a
staunch supporter of the illustrious
son of Middlesex Cor was it Camp
bell county or Dsnville he sprang
from?) and no one respects his affili-
atoms more than we. He is honest
and sincere, and, with the light before
him conscientiously believes what
he says as to Mr.. Montague's quail
ficatlons. He thinks he knows his
man; he does not claim to know
them both. Fortunately, or unfor-
tunately, We know not little about
both OF them, and in our Judgment
Mr.. Martin is as high above his
competitor In true manhood and
statesmanship as his conservative,
moderate tone of speech is above
demsgogy, self-laudation aud sane
tlmonious egoism. AS for "polished
orator" and accomplished scholar"
Governor Montague may Justly wear
the attributes, but it is just such tai
ents that beguile the public and fool
the people for long time. Cannot
you put your finger on men who
toiled and strove to boost Mr.. Mon
tague to his official position and yet
today If they are not openly sup
porting his competitor they are
known to have "soured" on him for
reasons that no true man should
have ever permitted?
Secondly, our brother Ryland is
exceeding charitable, and it is a.
great pity he cannot influence his
aspiratorial friend to similar degree
of virtue. Rylsnd acknowledges,
magnanimously, that Senator Martin
is all ne should be as a public SER
yaat. Mr.. Montague says he is no
more than a clerk, a department
runner! And, thirdly, we confess
our tone should soften some, but it
10 quite exasperating to hear this
prating about the primary by one
who lodged it and now seeks to arouse
unholy passions within our people
and cleave the Democratic fold. Be- 4
ginning campaign of abuse, incit- |
ing hard feelings we of the opposition
must take it calmly! The only sat
isfaction we see in it is that the So
called champions of the farce have
begun the mud-slinging and it is
working to their own undoing.
Other States may or may not have
trouble over the primary, but we
wager that the ones which do not
are without demagogues.within the
party. Senator Martin takes the on
slaught calmly; that shows his
greatness. We confess we are not of
oroh oko.l: IN