The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-02-07

Virginia, all of them; to broaden the
basis OF Tree government; TO unite the
efforts OF all the Inhabitants of the
state with. those OF the rest Of the
country and the world TO make human
life better In e. word. still oftca
dcspsed word In Virginia. IT is the
Virginia TO work for democracy, for the
free, energetic, hopeful view II life.
which looks to the future, as against
the despondent. cold. exclusive view
which looks to the past.
AS boy in Virginia learned thai,
the highest praise for man or measure
was summed up in the word "conserva
tive" and tn, greatest evil that could
" education, was to 'popularlze' 1t,
believe those phrases expressed a
real creed one that appeals stu with
power to many, II not most, viTginians.
stand-patter IN thought and conduct
and accomplishment. There is great
comfort in believing that Virginia.
needs no improvem ,nt--it saves tho be-
lever much trouble. But the younger
generation Is learning to think. Instead
Of following blIndiy the tradition or
The cid ,rs ana when II 5saas ana
the old phrases about our civiliZa-
ton having been the finest tho world
ever saw ware only the loose supeTla-
now quite discrcdited by serious think
ers here and everywhere else.
All the mere appeals TO the past to
decide the questions OF tho present arc
worthless. They speak one language
we think another. Whom Is your cor
respondent, Mr. Robert Beverley. really
speaking to when in opposing wolnHn's
suffrage he seriously asks N our re-
men Of the Vest and North" what
amusement the same question would
cause II addressed to the men of vir-
are busy learning how they box apples
in oregon. govern cities In Texas and
Iowa. make shoes in New England
conduct State universities In Wisconsin,
teach Creek in Maryland or Illinois
paint pictures and carve marble IN
Rome and Paris, and in general arc
+ learning where men know best how
to do any of the infinite things that
young Virginia wants to do.
The young men and women OF Viz
glnia ara, first of ALL men and wo-
, men, and only secondarily Virginians
| and characteristic of this age is the
! desire to deal with facts and to value
! one of change, OF testing OF old values
, The younger generation sees change
on ali sides--relision is changing. poll
| tics is changing. tho farm. the village
and the city in Virginia. as your eX-
ceIlent Industrial Section shows. arc
! steadily changing. and with Them thr
conditions Of life III, the dis OF
requirements of Its people, and their
habits. Where one man went to New
York from Richmond fifty years ago
! now ten women go to London anG
| Paris. And In the face of this, gen.
| tleman tell us there is no change, OF
| rather there should be none. They turn
always to the past, and say to US with
| triumphant voices, but anxious hearts
| Look. in the great Virginia of the
! past these things were unheard Of
What are we coming to? The past is
+! familiar and dear; the future IS un-
! known; let US turn around. wrap our
threadbare satisfaction around us. and
pretend that this is the past. not the
| present" And their feelings are
wounded when we will not listen.
we do not know the future. ant
| they do know the past, or think they
| know It. But one thing wo know: tn
| past OF Virginia Is a matter of three
centuries; her future is Infinite In
| tim, and possibility. In the '70's Vir-
| gintans were barely persuaded to adopt
a general public school system. Only