The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-08-21

political OF the natioH- VIZ
ginia public men today command "a
respect which IL accorded those from
few other States--a respect from the
people of other States, IL not always
from those OF their own. Here in
Virginia we have come to be more
critical of IL public men than in the
old days, though even then we did not
spare them censure and criticism. We
demanded much of them then and
demand as much today. and this Is
probably one reason why the men
honored by Virginians ave almost
without exception kept their official
robes free from faint OF fraud and
graft and unworthy deeds.
But while we of Virginia make use
OF the microscope in observing the
servants of the people and criticise
them severely on occasions, sometimes
unjustly, the people of other States
regard them as somehow different.
The governor Of Virginia is a title
which a more to them than that
title applied to some other chief ex-
ecutive. It calls to mind Governor
Jefferson and Governor Henry and
Governor Fitz Lee and others known
~ Virginia, tputHsIh anu RNiitt3tdi
history. People insensibly pay tribute
to Virginia through her public men.
An official OF the State OF Virginia
takes on a new aspect through the
vista of years, softened and localized
through memory of other public men.
The Heroes of Virginia.
This manner of regarding the men
honored by the people of Virginia
with office is not altogether lacking
in honor TO them for their own sakes.
IT was the heroes of the past who
threw a halo. as II were, around the
big men Of Virginia unto the third and
fourth generation, but these men have
done their part In seeing that that
halo did not altogether vanish. and
though 1t may not flame so brilliantly
as on occasions in the past, II is still
untarnished by personal dishonesty
and has seldom been dimmed by per-
sonal unworthiness and political dis
honesty. The officials of Virginia have
not always been statesmen, but they
have a cleaner record as a whole than
the officials of nan other States.
Even the heritage of Washington,
jefferson. Monroe, the Lees and other
sons of the State of worldwide fame
could not beuueath them a lasting
name did not they at least approach
the standard for patriotism and hon
esty and ability set by them. The
people of this nation would not retain
to his day something of the respect
which they have always held for Vir-
ginians and her honored sons did not
| t2xora sens koar thorpsajtoe c1oun and
did not the people of Virginia usually
bestow their favors upon worthy men.
The early officials of Virginia placed a
large credit account In the bank of
character. and the balance Ia not yet
exhausted.
In the long years of her history
Virginia has not been hurt by the
breath Of scandal. and in these days
when dlshonor in high places is toe
we'll known, even those who have no
great regard for the ability OF this
States public men can remember this
with pride. IT may be that some
times we are held In too high esteem
but we can always remember hat we
have given and still are giving grea,
men to the nation, and have always
given men Of personal prokity to the
service of the State, No corruption
has accompanied the erection of oul
public buildings. There has been m
"capitol scandal In Virginia such as
has disgraced the name OF more thar
one other honored State. No COVER
nor has been ~impeached. No senator
has been involved even remotely II
the charges and counter-charge'
-. .-1 rnrr IatrU y,oo1n In WaGh.
ington. A greater sensation would
have been made by Colonel Martin
Mulhall In his famous lobby expose
had the name of a Nirginian been In
volved therein. No governor OF Vfr
g,nsa has been the victim of political
murderers. No State senators have
been convicted of bribery and nom
of her congressman has been incar
cerated in the federal penitcntiary. Al
In several other States. Virginia ha'
not always been to the front II
federal affairs, but they have KEEP
themselves clean. Her government
has not always moved as rapidly to
ward the ideal as some of us would
wish. but the breath of scandal has
blown elsewhere.
Even where there have been grave
charges made against her public mer
they were usually grave only on com
parison with the ideal set by Virgin
ians and where otherwise have seldom
been proven. One cannot name 9
State official of Virginia who has
grown wealthy in office, entering witt
nothing and leaving with much of the
worlds goods, but hundreds can be
named who have come in rich and
gone out poor.
Our Public Men Clean.
The cleanliness of Virginia's public
men as a body Is stressed here not be
cause the ability Of governors ane
State legislators and other officials
cannot be praised judiciously. but be
cause this virtue Is to be regarded al
fundamental. 1t Is the groundwork
for all others. Without personal pro
bity in government failure must b'
written up against 1t. and withou
clean hands no man can hope fol
everlasting honor and respect as
! builder for his State Virginia doel
not have to go back to colonial AM
early post-revolution days to find mef
of character and ability In her pubil'
life. The structure which her grea
men builded has stood not only be
cause 1t was a work Of far-seeint
statesmen, but also ecaus founde
on the solid rock of character ant