The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-05-16

surance BY reminding us that the perils we
face, while in some respects without precedent,
are no more alarming than those through which
we have been brought safely and that the sense,
patriotism and conservatism of the body of the
American people may be relied on 10 overcome
them
( Virginia. Mr.. Page says, as once was said Of
Massachusetts, is State OF mind rather than
territorial term, her influence. stock. traditions
extending more widely than her landed posses.
sions once did. He contends that her spirit Is
distinctive and that the source Of It Ia patrio-
t!sm 1t could not have been mere accident
to guide and inspire were from the same soil.
He puts before the readers OF the Recieto this
fact, familiar to most virginians:
In Virginia, in chamber OF an old country
house were born two sgners of the Declaration
while from within little more than a days ride
OF that mansion. came five presidents of the
United States. with Washington at their head.
I He recalls that four pupils in the law Office
Of Chancellor Wythe. himself signer of the de-
claraton, were Marshall, Jefferson, Madison and
Henry Clay and asks II 1t must not be true
that these men gathered from their Instructor
the principles and soul that directed their intel
lectual powers 10 great achievement for the gen.
eral good.
Considering the present, Mr.. Page describes
clearly the dangers and entanglements in which
hurrying development and unexampled condi-
tions have involved us We must give at
tention and action 10 facts which the fathers
and founders of the republic could not foresee
or imagine. The wealth and power we have won
threaten us with decay and disaster because they
threaten to submerge patriotism and character
with greed one side and desperate struggle
for existence on the other. In the pursuit of
wealth and the battle for bread and life we
forget ethics principles, regard for humanity
and love of country.
Six weeks before VicePresident Marshall, in
a speech in New York. startled the country and
drew upon himself foods OF derision and CEN
sure by suggesting that there must be limit
Ito the accumulation of wealth. Mr.. Page
wrote the same thought in the article under
consideration. He said: Every OF sense
must recognize the fact that wealth cannot be
equalized, and every thoughtful man equally re-
cognizes the fact that there are limits beyond
: which wealth cannot be properly acquired or
. held for private selfish ends" The Richmond
. ITfrotntaa one of the few newspapers Of the
, country to express approval OF the thought
presented by the vice-presdent and before him
, by Mr. Page It believed then. as it believes
now, that In it's support OF these declarations
, II spoke the spirit and impulse OF Virginia and
, IVirginians That spirit Is to think and strive
for the common veal rather than for individual
, wealth; TO love mankind and human liberty
broadly; to be 1ova1 always to the commands
, of God and the rights OF mankind 1t is the
spirit expressed by George Mason. OF Gunston
, Hall, quoted by Mr.. Page, a great land owner
, and man of large wealth that II he could leave
, as patrimony to his children crust Of bread
and liberty he would be content The liberty
= he sought was from foreign ruler. The liberia
ton to be sought now is that of the souls and
bodies of the people from sordid enslavement
to the domestic dollar.
Mr. Page shows that the great mass Of the
+ people are between two miIlstones. selfish and
reckless wealth. In few hands. ignorant re-
, sentiment and wild radicalism on the other. The
exactions of great corporations and the increas-
G
press the citizen and assafT the government. We
> have to deal with the weight Of stolid and self
satisfied conservatism and fantastic, volatile
radicalism; with Wall Street influence grasp
ing and gathering in and the Industrial Work
ers of the World seeking madly to scatter and
destroy. The Imperialism Of the money power
and the upheaving tendencies OF socialism do
battle over US. People strange to our traditions
and institutions but incorporate In our citizen
ship, seek to correct the wrongs they have in
vited by their own ignorance by overthrowing
representative government and striking at our
foundations.
| Mr. Page believes that the Virginia spirit
and purpose represented by President VII
son and shared by the dominating masses OF
real American people will find the way of
trication from all these perils; that the SUI
rreme wisdom of honesty and patriotism will
find and lead In the straight, safe path So
does The Richmond VirGintdn believe 1t looks
with sure confidence to the republic and
cur civilization stand mistaken and for progress
ir the advancement Of humanity to continue
unimpeded. 1t believes the virginian soul Of