Pioneer press. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1882-19??, 1912-12-14

lHe w MS parry lONNl ltS strength.
wherein slaves and slavery gained
small foothold. and where, living n
free and open life, the spirit OF truo
and here 1t was when slavery's sullen
pretensions brought the gloom and ter
TOR Of civil war upon the peaceful
Land. that kindling patriotism first
burst forth into the mighty flame that
at last illumlned nation: 1t wa; nero
men formed the first loyal rc:!m ~
IN Virginia, 1t was here that hcro.G
sons proved their descent from no loss
glorious si-es. and made famous for
all time thus great county known as
Upshur
Pays Tribute to w. Va. Ancestry.
This bringing together of some Of
the sturdiest stock OF the two greatcs:
communities OF English blood and
speech, Virginia and New England ara
particularly this bringing together OF
many Of the finest types Of tho mell
and women OF White and Whig Nir-
gln!a, that region OF lofty mountains
and deep valleys, OF wide bottom land
and fertile uplands, lying upon tho Al
leShcnien and acknowledgements slopes
OF tho eastern portion OF our cont
nent, and inhabited by Ni-Gtnia'H E:CGt
daring and libert ylorin3 population:
this blending Of thcuo NirginiauS with
these settlers from tho wc1tcr1 from
tiers OF MassachUsetts, representative
3f the flower OF her young men AID
women, sprung from the lo,ns Of loro-
bears who for well nigh two hundrol
years had defended and dovclopCd her
western borders, has always possessed
HOr me a peculiar and dramutlc intor-
eet, and aroused within me n especial
sympathy with the people Of thc great
county Of Upshur and her iu3titutinnH.
For !, too, am come straight down from
men who likewise lived and wrough.
In the fruitful fccund valley OF tho
Eoosetonic fruitful In it's smiling
farms, It's rumbericss busy induatrica,
fccund in the Astounding crop of grcn,
men and women it has given to Mas
E;.chusetts and the nution--tho Ed
wards, the Dudlcys. the Ficlda, tho
EoGgeWicks, tho Buffers, the South
nlayds, the HawthorHcs, the EaiOns
and many 1nore-whlo | am li.cH i:5c
sprung Of that Independent Whis an
C":try which also laEOrch ana made
good within this came ancient free
mems land Of tran6-Allcgheni@n VIZ.
E!nia; and I stand for and represent,
as do you 30 many Of you. my auditors,
this cC'Hmin Cling and nurture OF thOs3
comint:l historic traditions and inhu.
c2Ges which have made not only Ma
cachuscits ard Virginia great bl.
which have likewise nodded and do
EOW mold upon great and historic lines
the lives and characters Of so many
OF the men and women today inhaht-
Ing that portion OF Appalachian Amer
ica known az the state Of West Vir.
ginia, and who have already given 50
much, and will yet give 80 much, to
the upbuilding and sustaining of the
mighty Republic, Of which we now
form an indissolublc part.
While Wo may pay eCpecial homage
to the illuGtrious history that illumincH
the County Of Upshur, none the less
may we Vest Virgin!ana look upon
Up5bur as typical OF the entire region
Of acknowledgements Virginia nov en-.
closed within the boundaries Of our
State and Of the people by whom It Is
possessed.
West VIrginIans Distinguished Paople.
In many ways we West VirEinianH
are a chosen people, grDaratc ana
aDart-set apart, as It were from the
populations now making up the great
bulk Of the Inhabitants Of not only our
newer, but likewise our Olcc~ States.
hIlu, III my De paTIOlc1 lOr SD DIakInI
Of virtues which in some iDGtanccs
may mark the characters OF many Of
you, my audience, and for touching
lightly upon what OF dcnerit3 you
may be conscious YOU possess, l aiiall
briefly review tho h'8toric rrng0r5
which givo to orr N'cst Virginia pno.
pie uncommon distinction a8 pOpu-
lation, and, I might almost say, as
race.
We as a people are descended al.
most wholly from pure English and
ScOtch-1rish stock. Our forebears en-.
durcd tho dangers and braved the
pcrilg OF angry and yet unr1aatered
Goas. They conquered from hostile
and relentless savages the continent
they now possess; they came not as
enigrants, lured by promise Of high
wages and sure pay; they did not
come IN quest Of greater luxury end
ease; they dared the dangers Of the
uncharted Atlantic for sheer Joy Of
adventure and Of peril. They came in.
sQre3 by mans highest sentiment, the
desire to conquer and possess and to
be froct and the women, like the men,
we're endowed with the same higa
spirit.