Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-03-24

divided into two periods; the first eX-
tending from the permanent settle.
ment of the English colonies to the
close OF the American Revolution. the
second from the Acknowledgements of
me independence of the colonies to
the present time. Comparing thc-con-
dlllons OF the country at the begin
ming and at the end of the second
period, and noting the expansion in
area, population, agriculture, mining,
transportation, commerce, education.
hrt, science, invention, government.
international relations and the settle
ment OF principles and actions upon
which human society is well and
firmly constituted, w6 find n national
development which has no parallel in
the history of mankind. No other ma
lion OF ancient or modern times grew
during century and Il quarter from
plrth to n maturity of principles and
OF power, of dominating Influence
upon all governments and people.
Whatever of foreign evils we have
imported through practically unrc.
strained immigration, the laws of our
national life, founded upon the best
precepts OF ages, have preserved and
advances the highest principles of hui.
man liberty. Whatever difficulties
and failures we have met and vet
endure, the people Of the United
States are today among the foremost
IN moral progress and in just aspira
tons for the future
Yet the attachments OF the nation
hhd their genesis in that earlier ne.
i1od of Colonial life. At the times
OF the first permanent settlements of
Virginia and Massachusetts, the neo.
pie OF England were representative
or the highest type of civilization
then existing. Through foreign wars
and domestic controversies, through
many wrongs and tyrannies, they had
conceived certain rules of national
existence. which, often broken and
trampled upon by parties and mon.
archs, survived in the conscience and
resolved of the people as the herit-
age, the very birth-right of freeman.
ihose high-views We're transmitted
with the ilrst colonies to the soil of
our country. The Puritan never sue.
cumbed TO oppression, never Tossed
MS grasp upon those inalienable
tights winch come to man from God.
The Cavalier was an agent i'm the
establishment of beneficient rules of
a free government If we find among
both types individuals who had no
views except of self-advancement. it
Is equally true that they were domi-
mated by men of character who were
inspired by an earnest desire to pro.
mote the future good of their country
ana posterity, regardness of their
personal interests or profits.
among the men who settled mt
jamestown on May 10, 1907, there
were leaders OF high conception of
government and in the colony of
jamestown were the first assertion of
social and governmental principles
which lie at the foundation of our
national life. Some of the acts of
that colony We're the beginnings OF
our constitution.
Importance of Virginia Colonization.
Inc movement for the colonization
or Virginia, following the treaty OF
peace between England aand opain.
IN 1905, was national in scope,' 1t
became one of the important factors
In the politics of the period; not only
in England and America. but in
France, Spain and the Netherlands:
not only in the contest then going on
between Professionalism and Roman
Catholicism, but in the conflict he
tween the Grown and the Commons.
While the Plymouth colonies were In.
dependents and those of the Massa-
chusetts Bay settlements Non.confor-
mists, they held the same Christian
faith as those of Virginia. The emf.
grants to jamestown, notwithstand.
ing the presence of a few Roman
Catholics, were not only dstinctively
Protestant but representative of a ma
ton practically undivided in faith and
united In the Church of England The
ministers of that church took an ac
1--WE part, from earnest interest, in
the colonization of Virginia: and
the sermons, state papees and records
OF the time show that the work of
Subsequent influence and effect up
on the government and institutions of
the new land The first charter be-
gan WIN the declaration of propaga-
tlon OF the Christian religion: and
me objects of the expeditions under
Gates and Delaware, stated in the let
ters patent, included, as the first, adj
vanccment of the Kingdom of God.
The work of the church was sun.
plemcnted by the early institution in
Virginia of the family. The practice
of divorce, too frequent and uniustifi.
able, disruptlng family ties, has not
broken seriously the vast number of
homes, wherein the family life makes
the stability of this nation.
Record to Stand for Riqht.
Good governors settled the proper
relation of the colonists toward those
In authority and a rightful intercourse
among men; and when venal rulers
broke those established associations,
protest and resistance followed. Had
the government, proceeding from the
Crown, fallen continuously into the
hands of cOmnntnnt and good NO.,