The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-03-09

ty-two members, two each from eiey
ea boroughs. one of the first acts q
that assembly was to insist upon III,
principle Of the Declaration of Right.
OF 1916. that no man or set OF men ar,
entitled to exclusive or separate EN-
oluments Of privileges from the CON
munity, but in consideration or pabr,
services. The colony came to the first
stage Of civil and religious freedom
! and Of progress through representatiy.
government at a time when, in Eng
land, parliamentary legislation had
been disused during some years undei
the rules Of James the First. Then be
gan the colonial struggle between q
representative government of the peo
pie and personal rule. There the sub
version Of law and tyrannoas absorp
tion. and misuse OF power by governors
Such was the instruction led by Ma
thaniel Bacon, Jr. in 1876, Just a cen
tury before the American Revelation
Where the people, elect their rulers
and make the laws; the government
will reflect the character and attain.
tnents of the people and country will
be eventually, in moral and govern.
mental standards what its people. de.
mand. The first representative gov.
eminent at Jamestown antedated all
others in this country: the beginning
of the conflict between personal and
popular control. From that time to
the present day there has been strug-
gle for good government OF the people.
Through that contest there has been
exempIffied in our colonial and ma.
tional life every phase OF culture, en-.
terprise, heroism and sacrifice. The
church has taught the observance of
the precepts of the religion of Christ.
Legislation has given sanction to high
principles. In Jurisprudence. dipfe.
macy and International relations the
course of our nation is marked by
justice and generosity. Education
and science illumned the path of pro.
gress. In military annals, Washing
ton leads the long line of heroes. The
story of the navy beams with the light
OF ilfustrious names. Every conflict
of war or peace in which our country
has been engaged CLOVIS with pictures
of splendid courage. In all lines OF
effort, though. obstacles and evils lie
in the way. the goal is a true service
and advancement of our country.
Such are the results which had their
beginnings in the colony of jamestown.
which we are accustomed to think OF
as the birthplace OF the American Ma.
ton. The wonderful story, momen.
tous in the history OF the world. is
worthy of national illustration and
commemoratfon and of the sympathy
and participation of all civilized peo.
pie. 1t is the object of the James.
town Ter:Centennial Exposition to or.
ganize an appropriate celebration OF
these great events In the history of
oar country and progress of the world.
AS the character and scope OF the
exposition have not been always cor
rectly appreciated. It may be well to
state its purposes us officially declar-
ed, and then to inquire how the actual
preparations and arrangements fulnn
the original high objects OF commemor.
alton. The charter granted by the
States of Virginia to the jamestown
Exposition Company on March 10.
1902, recited in the preamble. inter
ALA:
"ft is the desire and purpose of the
people of this Commonwealth to fit.
tingly commemorate the third centen.
NAL of the settlement effected at
jamestown on the thirteenth day OF
May in the year. sixteen hundred ans
seven.
"fhe most fitting form of such N
celebration would be to hold great
exposition in some one or the cite,
OF Virginia, in which all our sister
States, and. If possible. all the Eng.
disappearing people of the earth. shall
be invited to participate, and where
shall be displayed the products Of
peace and the fruits of free institu.
lions in all realms.
ut Is the opinion of the general g.
sembly of Virginia that such exposl.
tion shoald be held at some place ad.
jacent to the waters of HAMPTON
Roads, wherein the navies of all ma.
lions may rendezvous in honor of the
hardy mariners who braved the dan.
gers of the deep to establish the col.
ony.
And in the Act it is further ,ieclar.
ed: 'The company shall select a
suitable name designating the said ex.
position, which name shall be com,
mensurate with the great significance
OF the event It commentaries, and
shall contain the name of no CITY. n
shall also have power to erect at
| jamestown or ateawba,o