Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1905-08-17
THURSDAY EVENING, AUG. II, 1905.

THURSDAY EVENING. AUG. IL, 1900
An INCIDENT in connection with the
Willard meeting at the Opera House last
night was tue distribution of circular
signed "Voter' and dated "Winchester,
Va, July 20, 1906" attacking Senator
Martin and lauding his would-be sue
cessor, Governor Montague. The doc
ument would fill about two of the Ga
zette's columns. Life being abbreviated
at both ends and contracted in the
middle, it is safe to say that but few
people possess the necessary patience
and interest to peruse it, and should any
one sacrifice the time necessary for such
a procedure, no reward will result, from
the fact that the production will not add
a whit to knowledge, nor is it calculated
to make any one laugh or cry. The
writerIis apprehensive and seems pressed
with imaginary impending contingencies.
He says
In the event of a crisis in which the
State Of Virginia or the nation might be
imperiled, we want a man in the United
States Senate who is the equal of any
man in that body Of great men. We
want man who is not only great man
personally, but a man who is polished
and-fnely educated man, with vast legal
and Oratorical powers, who, when he
talks or speaks, will command the at
tention and highest regard of all great
men with whom he may be associated,
and who will be able to impress him
self in such a manner as to easily carry
his policies into practical and permanent
effect. Such man as ! have described
is rarely given to any State or people :;
he is given to a State about once in a
life. time; and when any people find
they have such a man they should not
only be proud of him, but they should
admire and honor hirl and never lose an
opportunity to place him in the foremost
ranks where he will ever reflect the high
est credit upon his people and his State.
The author of the circular assumes
that Gov. Montague fills the bill to a
nicely. He asks "What was Mr.. Mar
tin ct the time he was first elected to the
United States Senate ~ and answers the
question in the following stereotyped
language borrowed from Governor Mon
tague. "He was simply an ordinary
attorney and but little known Of in Nir-
ginia." Patrick Henry was at one time
a country lawyer with neither State nor
national fame. He won his way, not
withstanding this fact, as Mr.. Martin
has done, despite the hostility of envious
people who desire to step into his shoes.
The following excerpts from the circular
need no comment, as their ridiculous
ness is apparent enough:
Every one who knows Mr.. Martin Is
aware of the fact that he is man OF
only ordinary ability and capacity as
United States Senator, and that in the
declining years of Senator Daniel, Mr..
Martin is rather a weak representative
for Virginia to lean upon in many ques-
tions of dispute constantly before the
u. S. Senate. With two years expert
ence in the u. 5. Senate, Mr.. Montague
would be thrice more powerful in the u.
S. Senate than MIR. Martin could ever
be. Mr.. Martin has had the
Senatorship long enough he did not de-
serve it in the first instance and he less
deserves it now when a man like Mr..
Montague is offering his services TO the
people in connection with this important
Office.
There are often instances wherea man
has reason to exclaim, "Delver me from
my friends" The circular referred to is
calculated to do Governor Montague
more harm than good, and brings to
mind the moral of the old fable in which
bear attempted to keep flies of a sleep
ing man for whom the animal had form
ed a friendship.