Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1906-09-26
ELOQUENT SPEECH
Governor Swanson's Greetings
to w. j. Bryan

; dial greeting extended by Governo
Swanson to William JenDing
,, Bryan in welcoming the dis
, tinguished Nebraskan to Virgins
on the occasion of Mr.. Bryan
visit to the Radford Fair on Satur
day, September 18th:
Mr.. Chairman,-I am pleased tC
see this great concourse of people
to greet cur distinguished guest
and orator. This vest assemblagt
bespeaks more eloquently than
language the warm regard and
high esteem entertained for him
oy the Virginia people. AS Gov.
ernor of this Commonwealth, Mr.
Bryan, 1t is my pleasure to extend
to you on behalf of the people OF
Virginia warm and cordial re.
ception. / bear to you, sir, the
hearty greetings, the happy felici-
tations of the entire people of this
State, regardless of party or polit-
lca' differences. We are proud t.
claim you of our lineage and blood
Born of her children, Virginia,
with exultant pride, places her
loving hand upon the head of her
illustrious grandson and gives him
her benedlction and prayers for
all measure of happiness and pros
perity. We are delighted to have
with US the foremost citizen of this
republic. We hail you as a person
" hose pre-eminence and distinction
come from no decoration of power
or office, but from your intrinsic
worth as a man, your splendid
qualities of mind and heart.
We rejoice to know that in this
selfish and material age, when most
everything surrenders before the
glamour of success, that your
genius and character have been
sufficient to survive defeat and
without personal triumphs each
year to bring to you the increasing
confidence aid affection of your
fellow-citizens. Those who differ
with you upon public questions
ever bear testimony to your integ-
rity of character, your patriotism
of purpose, your brilliance of mind
and genius. The American people
admire you because you are too
honesU to be corrupted by the rich,
too brave to be coerced by time
serving demagogues. The Amefi-
can people profoundly respect you
because you have borne yourself
manfully and courageously in the
never forget, in the dark hours
succeeding the fierce conflict of
1895, how all your followers were
thrilled and electrified by your
famous battle-cry then given: 'In
the face of the enemy rejoicing in
victory, let the roll be called for
those who will answer for the next
engagement Never before was l
so stirred by utterance from human
lip. Through defeat you continued
to love and serve the American
people. Be it said to your honor
and glory, you never failed your
people, as others have done, because
they refused to crown you king.
You are believed, because your
character is of firm, rugged hon.
esty.
A great orator has we'll said
Honesty is the oak around which
all other virtues cling without that
they fall, and groyeling, oie in
weeds and dust" Tie paths of
your life have been crowded with
vast power, responsibility and op-
portunity, yet, no stain has ever
followed your footsteps. Your
pure, clean hands have never been
soiIed by betrayal of public or pri-
vate trust. We listen to you be-
cause we know you are an honest,
plain-spoken Cato, VINO points out
end strives TO remedy wrongs and
corruptions, and not a mere elo-
quent and pleasing Cicero to soothe
US and glaze over vice and evil.
We have faith in you because We
know to you the bugle call to bat
tie and duty is even more pleasing
to the ear than the dinner gong,
inviting to feast and revelry. We
know you place character above
wealth. You put the man above
the dollar. Sirs, u person possessed
of such splendid qualities OF mind
and character has great duties and
responsibilities to perform liz the
public affairs of this nation.
The future portends fierce, de-
termined political battles. Two
large forces are using all their re-
sources to seize the ieins of gov
eminent ana pervert it to their
selfish purposes. Predatory wealth
is struggling to add to its ill-gotten
gam by further governmental IA
vors and perquisites. This means,
if successful, industrial slavery |
and the rule of a rich oligarchy.
Socialism is striving to control
government, to confscate alike the
unjust wealth of the plunderers
and the honest earnings of the in
dustrious and frugal. It's triumph
means that the lazy and improvl-
dent shall share the savings of the
energetic and prudent. 1t means
the destruction Of the very foun-
dation of our civilization and the
of untold disasters.
Against these two forces, each bent