Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1907-06-28

Of human endeavOr, OF OF their
gifts to national greatness and glo-
ry. No nation was ever adorned at
one time with so many Illustrlous
men as was Virginia during the
Revolutionary War and the few
years preceding and following.
| Neither Greece or Rome ever pos
sessed at once such prodigality OF
genius and eminence. It's almost
impossible to conceive that a popu-
laticn so small could furnish so
many distinguished men. Tower
ing above them all was Washing
ton, the foremost man of all times
and Of all countries; whose sword
won independence for the colonies;
whose unselfish patriotism, strict
justice, calm judgments and great
achievements isolate him from all
| others and enblason him with
glory that is worldwide and etern-
tai. CONSPICUOUS in this shining
gal-xy was Jefferson, the immortal
author of the Declaration of lnde'
pendence. the boldest and most
successful reformer Of all ages;
who defined the true purpose Ct
government better than all others,
whose party tenets have almost be-
come universal, and whose wisdom
purchased Louisiana, with it's vast
expanse of territory and thus made
possible our present rational great
ness. Within this grovp, lumI-
nous with learning and genius,
stood the gentle and phllosophle
Madison, who, when the IL colo
MES, under the old articles OF con-
federation, were flying into frag'
ments and dissolving into anarchy,
conceived the Federal Constitution,
and thus created our present ma
tional government, the best and
wisest the wit Of man ever DEVISED
Excelled by none in force and wis
dom was resolute George Mason,
the author of the Virginia Bill of
Rights, the finest declaration OF
human rights ever penned, which
became part Of the Federal con-
stitution, and Of nearly every state
constitution Of the Union. lie it
was who wrote the constitution OF
Virginia, the f 81 written co1stitC-
ton of the world FORA r'pubIic.and
hose salient fea! ures appear IN all
others which have followed. lie
minimizing the skies OF America
with undimmed splendor was Pat
rick Henry, the forest born Demos
themes, "who spoke as Homer
wrote the greatest orator OF mod
ern times, whose burning elo-
ouence and soul.stirring appeals
call, d a continent to arms and
started revolution which shall yet
encircle the globe in its onward
! march for relief and reform. Re
siding at Chantillv, i'll Westmort-
land county, a home of surprising
beauty, was Richard Henry Lee,
whose grace and elegance would
have adorned any court, and whose
persuasive element earned for him
the the title, "The Cicero of the
Revolution" He it was who con.
ceived the scheme of "The Commit
tee of Correspondence" from which
sprung the union Of the colonies
with all the resultant benefits. he
1T was who moved on the 7th OF
June in the Continental Congress
that these united colonies are and
ought to be free and independent
states. Then attending William
and Mary College, which he left to
enlist in the Revolutionary army,
was James Monroe, who atterward,
as President, when our foreign pol.
icy was weak, vacillating and un-
fixed, had the courage to announce
the great Monroe Doctrine, which
extended our protection to thieves
tern Hemisphere, saved it from
foreign con quest and colonization
and dedicated it to liberty, which
great doctrine he made part of
|. the worlds international law, and
which will forever constitute the
Foundation Of our foreign policy.
..I -. Doro 0A