Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1907-05-13
TOday's Telegraphic News
Commemorative Exercises at jamestown

ration of the landing of the first English
colony on American soil May IL. loOf,
impressive ceremonies were held at
Jamestown Island, on the site OF the
old settlement today. james Bryce,
Ambassador of Great Britain, delivered
the principal GRAFTON. Other speakers
we're Governor Swanson, OF Virginia and
Thomas Nelson Page.
Alter detailing the circumstances OF
the founding of the colony and its early
history, Ambassador Bryce said; The
landing at jamestown was one OF the
great events in the history of the world
an event to be compared FORTS momentous
consequences with the overthrow OF the
Persian empire by Alexander; with the
destruction of Carthage by Rome; with
the conquest of Gaul by Clovis; with
the taking OF Constanlinople by the
Turks--One might almost say with
the discovery of America by Column
bus. There early settlers came from
free country, though its freedom
had not yet been placed on secure
foundation; and the spirit of liberty and
the love OF self-goyernment glowed in
their hearts. Whether they had any
law books, does not appear. But they
carried in their breasts the principles
and tradition of the common law of Eng
land. which of all the legal systems that
have ever been framed ia the one most
fully peryaded with the spirit of liberty
and the most favorable 10 the develop
ment OF personal self reliance and in
dividual responsibility. How the spirit
Of freedom went on working through the
annals of colonial Virginis; how it
prompted Virginis's action when an IN
wise English ministry, Ignorant Of the
circumstances and feelings Of the colon
lists, blundered into a conflict which end
ed 10 their severance from England; how
the greatest of all Virginisns led his
colony and its fellow colonies in that
conflict; how Virginia gave TO the union
foar out Of its FIVE first presidents of-.ll
this / must not now attempt 10 speak.
Fifty years ago, the days of sadness and
suffering, borne with the characteristic
gsllantry of Yirginians, produced in
Robert +. Lee, one of the finest charac'
tiers of the age. Out of the storm, there
emerged republic which nov stands
more truly united than il had ever stood
before. In this season of fair weather,
it is natural that your eyes should look
back across the sea to the ancient mother
land, from whom you were for a time d.
vided by clouds of misunderstanding that
have melted away into the blue. Be-
tween here and there is now an affection
and sympathy such as perhaps there
never was before in the days Of your
political connection. Today she rejOices
with you in your prosperity and your
unity. She is proud OF you, and among
her many achievements there is none of
which she is more than this, that she
laid that foundation of your vast aud
splendid republic"
Governor Swanson's address was very
entertaining and sboUnded in interesting
facts aud apt illustrations He graph
icslly described the beginning of civil
izltion in America and wildly paint
ed the landing of the small company of
English settlers at jamestown three cen-
turtles ago, their sufferings, privations
and struggles for existence and their snx-
ieties, surrounded as they were for the
most part by hostile saVsges. He re-
yerted to the rise OF Great Britain, de-
scribing the slow but steady growth of
that nation, the influence it was destined
to WELD in the civilization of Europe and
incidentally the new world; the con-
quests Of England, her laws, &'. The
Governor then changed the scene to the
rise Of the great American nation and the
part it was destined to play in the
worlds history; the war for indepen-
dence, its principals OF freedom, its con-
stilutional government, and the remark
able development of the nation under
the principle of equal rights for all
which had set at nought kings and par
liameuts. The Governor among other
things said:
"The progress OF this people under
the prevalence of these new social and
political principles has been unparalleled.
Oar national story reads more like
romance than a history. From small
settlements scattered along the Atlantic
coast we have become forty.six sovel-
eign states with possessions extending
from the Atlantic to the Pacific, from
the ices Of Maine to the orange blossoms
of Florida. As if by msgic the haunts
of savsges and wild beasts have been
transformed into cities of splendor and
magnihcence. The sombre forests, with
their melancholy shade, which then
enveloped America, have been succeed
ed by green meadows, cultivated fields,
rich orchards, fine farms, thriving towns
and cities. The trails Of bufaloes, wind
ing through dense forests and over
high mountains have been followed and
laid by iron rails, carrying across a con-
tinent the greatest inland traffic ever
possessed by people. Rivers have
been bridged that the widest magma
ton Of engineers never conceived pos
sible. 4 = 4 The glories of its noon-tide
are yet to come. Decay has not even
touched the majestic fabric reared BY
three centuries of courageous battling"
At the close OF his speech the Govern
or turned his attention once more to
jamestown and said; Romance and
heroism will ever envelop jamestown
with an unfsding interest and lustre.
The poet tells US that the Tyre vibrates
with sweet sound after the spirit that
swept its strings has passed away. So
in the coming years will jamestown