The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1909-06-03

OF their ranks came our supreme |
national hero and a group of re- |
sourcefu men. without whose in
fuence it is difficult to see how the |
nation could ever have been born.
They were able to achieve, besides a
manly personal charm. n grand man.
ner, catholic lovableness, the simple
ity that belongs to Il shepherd with
the pride that belongs to king that
established them forever IN the affec-
lions OF iuen. Long generations after
wards, Robert f.. Lee lowered into
the rose of his stately and tolerant
manhood, very like the old stock.
only gentler and more able. through
virtue aud suffering. to envoke the
love of millions. Two such men as
Washington and Lee i'm one century
give To Tidewater Virginia the same
sort OF distinction which Pericles aud
Leonidas gave to the Gregian Archi-
pelago, for after all, it is the output
OF great men that makes fame and
friends for nations. Mr. Cheats once
told the English that the chietest in
dustry OF America was education; so
| may say that the ehiefest output OF
Virginia has been great men, great
governmental ideas and "A great
spirit.
SOME GREATNIRGINIAN
IT stranger to American institu-
tions should inquire who founded
this republic, who shaped it's struc-
ture for the ages, and who breathed
into it the spirit that has enabled it
| to become the most venerable and
impressive of all republics, a truthful
answer, whoever it might exclude,
would certainly include the name of
Patrick Henry, George Washington.
Richard Henry Lee, Thomas JEFF
ferson, James Madison. John Mar
shall, James Monroe. George Mason,
and many more less known to world
fame, but part of the amazing out
burst of intellectual energy that came
| out OF this Commonwealth to set
framework OF our great popular ex-
pertinent in forms OF imperisha BILE
strength and beauty. From Nir-
y
ed in noble phrase the reasons for
revolutions; that guided VIGOROUSLY
the legions of war; that bore fore
most initiative in shaping the Con-
stitution; that interpreted it's spirit;
that widened Colonial vision from
provincialism to empire, and that
fixed faith in average humanity us
no N .,f "a. lsnt
But it is as a land of the spirit that
Virginia seems most ma estic to me
and most moving to any general
| soul. Mere lists of measures trace
able to her soil, or mere lists of great
men who adorn her annals, do not
convey adequately her message to
American life. That message is best
conveyed by her spirit, and that
| spirit is best summed up in three
words-usefulness, devotion to duty
and love Of home. Can any message
be more needed by our overnourished,
over-specialized, nervous democracy,
suffering, it seems to me, from the
very excesses OF energy and achieve
ment? When i'll the interests OF
stability and union it seemed nee
cessary to surrender an imperial do
main to the government, for which
she had sacrificed so much, Virginia
made that surrender without reserva.
ton, without haggling or bargaining,
and with a graciousness and dignity
that add a certain splendor to that
critical; suspicious and unlovely
period in our progress toward nation
atty. The States of Ohio, Indiana
Michigan, Wisconsin and Illinoi.
were carved out of that gift. One o.
them, at least, Ohio, has reached the
point of contesting with her ancient
mother the authority of being the
mother of Presidents. Virginia car
bear her success in this high emula
ton with fortitude, for she feels that
Ohio's sons, including our distinguish
cd guest today, the honored and be
loved President ola reunited country
are the results OF Virginia s generosity
aud partake OF Virginia's spirit. Not
content with this large gift ofempire
like n thoughtful mother. Virginia
assumed the task of providing fol
the guidance of the future popula
tions of her surrounded domain, the
genius OF her great philosopher and
friend of men, Jefferson, guiding her
pen. and in the ordinance of 1897
practically created u magma char
ta,' which gave to that community
the benefits OF enlightened freedom
in a larger way than had ever before
been accorded to pioneers in new
lands. | confess that there il nc
more painful circumstance to me In
our history than the fact that this
gracious and generous Common
wealth was one day to have VIVA,
was left OF its modest territory sun
dered and violated as a penalty iol
it's devotion to an ideal OF public
duty. 1t was reserved, however, fol
the Civil War and it's consequences
to test to the uttermost the spirit o.
Virginia, and to prove that spiri,
pure gold. Do not fancy that have
the purpose to analytic the cause o
this war, or the kindle from it's ashe,
the fires that once burned SO fiercely
here and elsewhere through the land
The War between the States was d
brother war brought on IA oul
human nature Is constituted, by tn
operation OF economic forces, TIN
clashing OF inherited feelings, the i'm
pact OF different notions about ths
. meaning OF liberty woven by no vii
. of either section into the very fabri'
OF the peoples life. Thus fate driven
the sections came to war, embodyins
in stern antagonism to ma iesti'
! ideas-the idea OF local self-govern
ment and the idea OF union.
No war in human history was q
sincerer conflict than this war. i
was not war for conquest or glory
To call il rebellion is To speaI
/ ignorantly; to call it treason il u
add viciousness to stupidity. 1t va
; a war OF ideas, principles. politica
: conceptions, and loyalty to ancien
: ideals OF English freedom. Virgins
: did not enter this war with ligh