Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1907-05-17
ADDRESS OF GOV.
CLAUDE A. SWANSON
At Jamestown. Being the Anniver-
sary of the Third Century of
the Settlement There.

ASSOCIATION FOR THE PRESERVATION
OF VIRGINIA ANTIQUITIES, LADIES
AND GENTLEMEN:
Three centuries ago today upon this
spot occurred an event worldwide in
its significance and far-reaching conse-
quences. Here the great Anglo-Saxon
race founded its first permanent colony
in the Western world. The great
English speaking people, who hold to-
day in their strong hands the destinies
of world, have two sacred spots where
they first planted themselves and began
their worlds mission" "Ebbsfeet'' in
England and jamestown" in Virginia.
Ebbsfieet, England, was the first spot
of the British Isles that ever felt the
tread of English feet. There, in the
fifth century, our forefathers, emerg-
ing from the forests of Northern
Europe, the wild nursery of nations,
first planted themselves and commenced
the conquest and settlement of Britain.
After almost twelve centuries of fierce
strife and turmoil, civil wars and COM
motions, terrible defeats and glorious
victories, they finally triumphed and
gave to all Britain their rule, language,
laws and institutions. All Britain
being conquered and united, our fathers
more than century after Columbus
had discovered the New World, under
took their second great mission. On
the 18th day of May, 1907, one hundred
and FIVE Englishmen, like their remote
ancestors, bold, daring and adventurous,
after crossing in three frail barks a
stormy sea, settled here at Jamestown
and became the founder of a glorious
Commonwealth and of a widespread
Republic, whose mighty destiny, as it
unfolds, transcends the conception of
human greatness and grandeur. Ebbs-
heet and jamestown, each now almost
desolate and far removed from the
throbbing life of the mighty empires
and nations to which they gave birth.
each possessed of a wierd, strange
beauty, recalling former scenes of wild
life and brave endeavor, must and will
ever be to all English speaking people
their Meccas to which, reverent hearts.
they will make pilgrimage to ponder the
wonderful achievements of their ances-
tors andto gather inspiration to perform
their great woodwork and duty. The
history of our race from Ebbsheet to
Jamestownis is one of heroic achievements,
cleaning with glory in war and peace,
in science and in literature. During
centuries of darkness, oppression and
tyranny, our English ancestors alone
preserved constitutional governments and
held aloft the torch of liberty. We are
proud to be joint heirs in this priceless
heritage of splendid deeds, which will
lllumine forever the pathway of human
progress and endeavor. We are proud
OF the rock from which we were hewn.
We are proud of its granite strength
and solid proportions. We rejoice it
has withstood unshaken and unbroken
the mighty storms and earthquakes
which have overthrown other stupen-
dous structures, We are proud to speak
the language of Shakespeare and Milton.
Proud to be of the blood of Hampden
and Chatham. In this, the year of our
jubilee, our hearts with abounding and
abiding affection return to old England
and we wish all measure of happiness
and prosperity to the land of our fore.
fathers. We hope in the coming years.
the colossal power possessed by these
kindred people will never again be
used against each other in contest and
strife, but will ever be invoked and used
for the enlightenment and advancement
of mankind.
With the settlement at jamestown
the history of American and of modern
England really begins. Then England
commenced that vast system of colonial
ton which has carried her rule, laws,
institutions and civilization on every
continent, in every cline and among
every people. From thence she became
mother of nations. From Plymouth
Rock to Savannah she founded colonies
which afterwards became great states
IN the American Union. She wrested
from France Canada, with vast posses
sions, stretching to the North Pole.
She acquired colonies in the far waters
of the Pacific, exceeding in territory
and richness any domain ever ruled nv
the Caesars. She conquered and rules
the mighty empire of India, which has
resisted the arms and thwarted the
triumphs of Alexandria. Her settlers
disputed Africa with the Kaffir, Hotten-
tot and savages and finally opened the
dark continent to settlement and civili-
zation. She has gone to Egypt. the
most ancient and decadent of nations
and stirred her to modern life and
activity. Here on this spot, on the 18th
of May, 1907, Britain commenced that
wonderful career of colonization and
conquest which has changed the destinies
of the world and directed it's course of
civilization. That day was so memor-
able that it belongs not alone to Vir-
ginia, the United States and England.
but to the world.
But OF all the influences originating
from Britain, of all her deeds, the most
important, the one that has been the
most potential in the affairs of the world
and for the betterment of mankind was
the founding of the colonies frineine
the Atlantic coast, which afterwards
were formed into this mighty nation.
The advent of the Anglo-Saxon, with
his sentiments of freedom and individual