Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1906-05-16
HISTORIC VIRGINIA
Eloquent Speech for jamestown
Made by Mr.. Flood

Mdue Dy Mr. Fl0Ou
Congressman Flood Of Virginia
made an able and impressive speed
in the House last Friday on th,
propriety, "the Importance and tn
duty Of properly celebrating tn,
three hundredth anniversary CT tn,
foundation of the first EnglisE
speaking settlement in the new
world, says the Richmond Times
Dispatch.
Mr.. Flood represents section OF
Virginia, remote from jamestown
! and his distriet-,-will' receive nc
direct benefit from the proposed
exposition, but be lie Virginian,
and as such. he takes pride in this
notable celebration, without regard
to it's material advantages to any
sections of the State. That Is the
view that every citizen Of the
United States should take. This
is not peculiarly a Virginia cels.
bration, but a national celebration,
celebration Of a great national
event and it would be shameful in
the United States government to
fail to do everything in reason to
make it an honorable and credit
able celebration, in keeping with
the dignity and Importance of the
event.
DIR. Flood spoke of the contribu-
ton in land which Virginia had
made to the United States, "the
eessior to the general government
of her domain on the north side of
the Ohio River, from the sale of
which more than 500, 100000 has
been paid into the treasury" He
might have mentioned also that the
building, in which his speech Was
made, rested on ground coded by
Virginia to the United States.
That, however, is the material side
Of the proposition, hut what shall
We say of the contribution which
the sons of Virginians made, of the
part which they played in settling
the country, in achieving the |
independence of the colonies and |
in establishing a form of govern
ment. No State has contributed
to the nation So much in land and
in men, in the material, intellectual
and spiritual, ana now when Vir.
GINA proposes 10 celebrate the
anniversary Of the birth Of the re.
public which she has done so much
to create, it becomes Congress to
give cordial aid enthusiastic sup
port. Mr.. Flood concluded as fol-
lows:
"This mighty Republic, now
spanning the continent with a con-
.inuous stretch of sovereign States,
Zach in itself an empire, had it's
beginning in colony Of IO5 half
anished, unfriendea souls, who,
ID the 18th CT May, 1907, landed
It jamestown.
"From time immen orial mankind
las evinced an inalisnable DISPOSE
ion to recall the traditions of the /
asst, to preserve their ancient a
andmarks, and to cherish their
acred memories, and there cal be t
urely no higher incentive to ]
onor, to virtue and to patriotism. f
IA more appropriate. nay, an t
qually appropriate spot, could not
Q found upon this continent than v
JAMESTOWN in which to recall the q
uguSt and romantic history of the +
ast by q memorial exhibit, for it Y
i'll be upon soil and amid scenes &
in interesting and b
lcred memories alike Of the b
,lonial period and of tho Revolu. B
onary era. C
"Mr. Chairman, as her humblOst
n, | am not afraid of being =
Iteemed arrogant when l avow the -
,lief that whilst this re ton may a
'cOmingly commemorate the fame \,
the ancient Commonwealth of -,
irginia it can not amplify her A
nown.
81 am confident that those in y,
is body who have ingenuously a,
udied her annals will not look 70
lth disfavor upon this appropria- in
IN.
sour governmental organism
llsates with her life. Our endur-
6 institutions are the heightened ~
adows of her sons. She has ~
Vlfed our history with a spirit &c
lich is immortal - III