Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-05-14


ton today on jamestown island. 40
miles up the James river Of the 30Oth
anniversary Of the first permanent
English settlement under Sir Chris
tophcr Newport, John Smith and
others, was held under skies and con-
ditions in every way suspicious. The
exercises on the island were under the
auspices of the Society for the Pre-
servation Of Virginia Antiquities.
Joseph Bryan, of Richmond, Va. pre-
sided ana the invocation was offered
by Bishop Randolph Of the diocese Of
Southern Virginia.
The opening address was delivered
by Governor Swanson of Virginia and
British Ambassador Bryce followed
with an address. the subject of which
was: "Grcctings from the old World
to the New" A choir composed OF
students from the William and Mary
College at williamsburg WAS iii at
tendance, and Bishop Gibson Of the
diocese Of Virginia ana other clergy
participated. Ambassador Iirycc said:
Ambassador Bryce. in part. said:
The oak Of English dominion on tn.
contincn. Of North America lay hidden
in tn" acorn that was planted on this is
land in the James river, Just as the germ
Of English dominion in the East was 10
be found in the charter that had been
granted by Queen Elizabeth to the Fr-t
Indian Company seven years before this
very settlement here
9TH" landing ut Jamestown was one
OF IN" great events in the history Of The
worid-an event to he compared for itS
mom"ntouS consequences with the over
throw Of the Persian Empire by Al"Xan-
r. with tho Dc struction Of Carthage By
Rene. with the conquest of GaUl ~
Clovis; with the taking Of ConsttntinopIr
D.? the TurkS,-On" might almost say
With tn" discovery Of America by Column
bus. Iiut lid any idea Of the magnitude.
Of this event rise in tho minus oC IT,"
lttl" band of settlers whcn they set to
III" building of their fort. called after iii,
King James Town. and began tn SOW
their fell with wheat? There is nothing
To- show that they s:w far Il lead.
OF the legends which cluster around
SIN" Of ~" leading figures, and o5r"rial-
i ~ Captain John Smith ANA tho uclight-
fl ~ lhontas. the Nausirrl If this
Odyssey. ! will not speak. leaving this
them" % NirEinians moro competent to
dead with it. But of the founders Of the
colony may say this: We note in them
two qualities. One of these. tho snri.
of adventure. was common to them with
many others who had crossed tho West
ern Sea. But in the other quality our
countrymcn and your forcfathCrs stood
pr""rniu"nt They c#mc from y frc"
country. though itl freedom E1d not y"t
been placed on ScCur" foundation; ana
N" spirit If liberty ana The love Of self
government glowcd III their hearts. They
carried In their breasts the principles and
traditions Of the common law of Eng
land which of all thc legal systems that
have ever hecne framed is the one most
fully norvaded with the spirit of lh"rt;
and tho most favorable to the Develop
ment Of personal self reliance and indi-
Nidual responsibilities. Tho spirit showed
iiS,lf very carly among the coloriSt7 Of
Virginia. The same spirit prompted NIr-
ginia's action WREN an unwiSe EngliSh
ministry. ignorant of the circumstances
ana feelings of the co.onists. hiundcrcd
into Il conflict which ended III their sew
erancc from England; how ;he creates
of all Virgimilns, Clarum ct Ncncr&hlli
nom"n. led his colony and It's fellow col
onics in that conflict; how thc statesman
ship Of Virginia. maturcd by the expert
cncc Of nearly two centuries bore its part.