Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1907-06-14

cific, from the Potomac to the RiC
Grande, building communities anC
cities, founding great states, has car.
ried with him fierce love of liberty
and free institutions. There is scarcely
a southern or western state that has
not felt the touch of his masterful hand
and whose social and political structure
does not bear testimony to the great
ness Of his handiwork. The one hun
dred thousand persons who emigrated
and settled in Virginia have now in
creased to i've millions, scattered in
every state of this Union. No indus
try, no genius is sufficient to make an
estimate of their achievements in every
line of human endeavor, or of their
gifts to national greatness and glory.
nation was ever adorned at one time
with so many illustrious men as was
Virginia during the Revolutionary war
and the fewyears preceding and follow
ing. Neither Greece nor Rome ever
possessed at once such prodigalitv of
genius and eminence. 1t is almost i'm
possible to conceive that a population
so small could furnish so many distin-
guished men. Towering above them
all was Washington, the foremost
man of all times and of all
countries; whose sword won indie
pendence for the colonies; whose un-
selfish patriotism, strict justice, calm
judgment and great achievements. iso-
late him from all others and emblazon
him with glory that is worldwide
and eternal. Conspicuous in his shin
ing galaxy was Jefferson, the immortal
author of the Declaration of Indepen-
dence, the boldest and most successful
reformer of all ages; who defined the
true purpose of government better than
all others, whose party tenets have
almost become universal, and whose
wisdom purchased Louisiana, with it's
vast expanse of territory and thus made
possible our present national greatness.
Within this group, luminous with learn
ing and genius, stood the gentle and
philosophic Madison, who, when the
thirteen colonies, under the old articles
of confederation, were flying into frag-
ments and dissolving into anarchy, con-
ceived the Federal Constitution and
thus created our present national gov
ernment, the best and wisest the wit of
man ever devised. Excelled by none
in force and wisdom was resolute George
Mason, the author of the Virginia Bill
of Rights. the finest declaration of
human rights ever penned, and which
became part of the Federal Constitu-
tion, and of nearly every state consti-
tuition of the Union. He it was who
wrote the constitution of Virginia, the
first written constitution of the world
for Republic, and whose salient fea-
lures appear in all others which have
followed. Illuminating the skies of
America with undimmed splendor was
Patrick Henry; the forest-born Demos
themes, ''who spoke as Homer wrote"
the greatest orator of modern times,
whose burning eloquence and soul-stir-
ring appeals called a continent to arms
and started a revolution which shall
yet encircle the globe, in its onward
march for relief and reform. Residing
at Chantilly, in Westmoreland county, a
home of surprising beauty, was Rich
ard Henry Lee, whose grace and ele-
gance would have adorned any Court,
and whose persuasive eloquence earned
for him the title, ''The Cicero of the
Revolution. He it was who conceived
the scheme of ''The Committee of Cor
respondence, from which sprung the
union of the colonies with all the resul-
tant benefits. He it was who moved
on the 7th of June in the Continental
Congress that these United Colonies
are, and ought to be, free and indepen-
dent states. Then attending William
and Mary College, which he left to en-
list in the Revolutionary war, was
James Monroe, who afterwards, as
President, when our foreign policy was
weak, vacillating and unfxed, had the
courage to announce the great Monroe
Doctrine, which extended our protec
tion to the Western Hemisphere, saved
it from foreign conquest and colonial
ton and dedicated it to liberty, which
great doctrine he made a part of the
worlds international law, and which
will forever constitute the foundation
of our foreign policy. Serving as a
private in the Revolutionary war was
John Marshall, the greatest jurist OF
modern times, and who afterwards, as
Chief Justice, by his great decisions sc
envigorated and strengthened the Fed
eral Government as to make it one OF
the most efficient and capable in the
world. WELDING a vast influence
was Edmund Per dleton, whose manly
beauty, clear voice, integrity and pety
made him the pride of the conservative
element of cavaliers. He was presi
dent of the Committee of Safety, which
marshalled the forces and directed tn,
measures of resistance to Britain. He
was acknowledged as one of the ables
debaters of his time. Scattering every
where sweetness and sunshine, wa.
genial, loving George Wythe, whose
culture, learning and legal requirement.
were an ornament to any state. He i
was who moved on the 10th of February
l776, In the Continental Congress, 'tha
the colonies had a right to contrac
alliances with foreign powers" Thi
was the first act of independence, an,
the means of securing the aid of France