Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1906-05-04
will be the measure of the growth
and prosperity of this nation.
Fierce Political Life.

and prosperity of this nation.
Fierce Political Life.
In politics the future portends
fierce aud determined battles. Two
large forces are using all their re-
sources to selze the reins of govern
ment and pervert it to their selfish
purposes.
Predatory wealth is struggling to
add to it's i'll gotten gains by further
governmental favors and perquis-
ties. This means, if successful, in
dustrial slavery and the rule of a
rich oligarchy. Socialism is striving
to control government, to con6scate
alike the unjust wealth of the
lplunderers and the honest earnings
of the industrious and frugal.
It's triumph means that the lazy
and improvident shall share the saw
Iings of the energetic aud prudent.
1t means the destruction of the very
foundation of our civilization and
the dissemination of untold disas-
ters.
! tuCSO tWU lOtCCCs CdC
bent on predatory warfare, the hon
est, patriotic, conservative people of
this country must upi,e and save
the government from their destroy
ing hands. The bugle is sounded to
cali to battle all those who believe in
individualism, who desire to control
their own lives and have their desti-
MES directed neither by industrial
kings nor perverted paternal govern
ment.
IF this nation is to survive as a
great republic, if it is ever to attain
the summit Of it's possible usefulness
and greatness, it's government must
ne controlled by these who are
neither drunken with wealth nor
blinded by passion aad prejudice.
The temple must be kept free alike
from the grasping money changers
aud the plundering rabble.
Look TO the South
Sire, in these coming conflicts the
South will furnish the chief part of
that conservative political power
necessary for the preservation of our
institutions and the continuance of
our wonderful career. Here the
true purposes of government are
more fully appreciated aud its legiti-
mate functions more fairly exercised
than In any other portion Of this
Union. Here marvellous industial
activity and genius measuring up to
all the requirements Of modern life
are blended with lofty traditions and
high ideals, iaherited from the glori-
Gus old South.
Here sentiment still gilds with
glory practical life and furnishes
the sources of purity and patriotism
which will be the salvation of this
nation in hours of storm aud
stress. Chastened by misfortune,
made patient-by long suffering, brave
by burdens borne and overcome,
stirred by the possibilities of indus
triat development aud wealth uu-
Notwithstanding to a passion
the teachings of her illustrious dead,
from Washington to Lee, the South
presents a combination OF strength
and sentiment destined to make her
again the wise leader in this nation
of political thought and national
achievement.
The time has arrived for the South
to abandon her policy of scquiescence
and self-abnegation. The time is
opportune for the South to assert
herself and to present her candi-
dates and principles, equally with
those of other sections to the
fair and sober judgment of our com
mon country. After forty years i'll
the wilderness, we should pass out
and claim our share and part in the
land of our fathers.
We should neither surrender our
equal inheritance nor shirk our equal
responsibility. We should no longer
be disturbed by the scare of sectional
passion and prejudice. That fright
ful nightmare has disappeared in
the dawn of the glorious day of a
reunited country. When Mckinley
patriotically advocated that the Fed
eral Government should take care of
the graves of the Confederate sold
iers, making their heroism and glory
the common heritage of the nation
and the Confederate soldiers gal
lantly served under the Stars and
Stripes from Santiago to Pekin. the
partition wall between the North
and South was battered down aud
we became in truth one people, one
in love~of flag and country. one in
all future destiny.
Clock is Striking the Hour.
| Young gentlemen of the South
the clock of opportunity strikes oul
hour of work and responsibility.
Prudence aud patriotism alike de-
mand that we should no longer con
4 fine our political activities to loca
matters, but we should modestly
but firmly, insist upon equal partici
patton in control and direction oi
national affairs. Sirs, animated by
patriotism, that is national, stirred
by the memories of the large contri
buttons that our fathers have made
to national greatness and glory
thrilled by the present possibilitie,
OF our section, which points to 1
greater future, let us of the Soutl
resolve to answer all demands mad,
upon US by our common country anC
to aid this glorious republic t,
advance along the pathway of jus
tice iibertv and nrooraes