The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1905-01-19
Mr.. FITzHUCH
INTERVIEWED.
Ne FAvORS SENATOR THOMAS S,
MARTIN FOR REELECTION,
HIS REASONS FOR DE STRING
TO SEE THE JUNIOR SENA-
TOR SUCCEED HIMSELF.

TOR SUCCEED HIMSELF.
! Considerable interest has been cNptesseC
az To the preference Of Mr.. ST. q %. Il
| FhzhHgh, the prominent lawyer at TIM
city for the United States SenatOrshiI
to be decided this year.
A few days ago a representative OF Ih'
Free Lance called on Mr.. Fiizhugh AND
requested his views on this su Jet ioi
publication. lie unhesitatingY e1
/ dressed himself, and the intervie" VIII OK
| found below. Mr.. titzhugh IL one oil the
abIest lawyers In Virginia. He IA thor
ouehly independent In bis views. aud hi'
high standing and great reputation give
weight to anything he may say, espe
cially on political matters AT this time
AZ il is known that Mr. Fitzhugh has no
selfish motive in any opinion he may give
expression to. and only speaks l)r the
public good as he sees il IL Ia unneces-
sAry 90 say that the interview will at
tract the attention and interest OF the
reading public. MIR Fiizhugh said:
sincerely hope that Senator Martin
will succeed himself Il would, ! think,
he a serious calamity to the State 20 lose
his services, and a serious calamity TO
the party TO have it's harmony disturbed
by a bitter fight over the nomination, at
time when the rupture OF party ties Is
already seriously threatened by impaired
faith in party leadership | assume that
10 the event OF opposition, the hight
would be bitter since | think IL Ia gen
orally recognized that the Senator mas
filled the office with conspicuous a6iliV'
and with uuAagging attention and iidtl
ity To the interests Of his constituents all
over the State. aud II goes without Say
Ing. that this undisputed fact, IN connec.
ton with the valuable experience OF hls
two terms in the Senate, renders his "a
pacity u serve the State and the party
superior to that OF any other gentleman
OF even equal equipment, but without Ills
experience in the Senate.
We have no school for stAtesmanship
except public life itself and when "a public
servant. In that school, has demonstrated
his ability to serve bic constituents and
the country efficiently, the people should
not retire bin merely TO crafty the am
hilton OF some other cltizee however
popular or gifted.
served with Senator Martin on our
state Executive Committee when SeDa.
tor Jno. 5 Barbour was chairman OF
that committee, and know that Sena-
tor Barbour entertained the highest
opinion of Senator Martins political ga
gacity and capacity for Leadership before
the latter entered public Lille
think Senator Martin resembles Sen
ator Barbour in his peculiar equipment
for the public service and Tor party or
genization aud leadersbip more than any
other Southern statesman In public lie
at present, and il il such iorcrful and
practical leadership that the Democratic
party urgently needs today.
This is pre- eminently an age OF facts
rather than theories, and OF business
rather than sentiment, and the states.
man Of today must he man II TisdOm,
which is something more than learning,
however profound. and Of sound, practl-
cal business Judgment, which IL OF inn
nitely more value than the power 10
charm listening Senate ! be great
oratorical contest between Webster and
Hayne could not thrill the country OF to
day a. IL did a past generation. The
mission OF the statesman OF today Is to
guard and promote the immense agricul-
tural. industrial. commercial and tinsn.
eIal interests OF this entire country, as II
was the mission OF the aute-bellum
statesman to construct and e1pound
constitutions and define the boundaries
of state and Federal supremacy.
The problems which confront the
statesman of today are largely material
and economic, and OF greater magnitude
aud complexity than ever before, and
they more nearly and vitality concern the
hfs Of the republic than did the conflict
ing theories Of State and Federal powers
which consumed 80 much Of the thought
Of former statesmen. The phenomenal
material growth and development OF our
country Is iteelf source OF peril TO the
stability OF our institutions, II not wise
" regulated and conducted along sale
lines. This industrial and commercial
DEVELOPMENT has dotted the country all
over with great aud small centres otpop
ulation. drawn from our rural districts
and from foreign countries, who, In the
sweat OF their brow, earn their daily
bread, and whose very physical exls-
lance lie dependent upon the continued
prosperity Of these giant activities.
A strong party in opposition ID neediOl
10 a republic to insure justice and a
square deal to allinteresls and ell clssses,
but its leadership must be sincere, high
minded and intensely practical, with
deep honest convictions, and great
courage, abborring all shams and false
issues, and spurning all appeals to ignor-
ance and or judics, and incapable OF OPP
posing any wise and salutary measure
from considerations Of mere party e1-
pediency.
With leadership all over this country
OF such men as Senator Martin, the
Democratic party would not be In its
present plight, and it can only recover
Its old time power and prestige by plac-
ing such leaders in control.