The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-08

national life II It were bereft OF the
glor!fed common sense of George
Washington, the human sympathy and
cosmoDolitanism OF Thomas Jefferson
lhe instinct for duty and the calm for
oearance and lofty wisdom of Robert
e. Lee, who long generations after
Yards Powered into the rose OF his
stately and tolerant manhood very
ike the old stock, only gentler and
moro able, through virtue and suffer-
'ng, 20 evoke the love OF millions
Two such men as Washington and
lee In one century give to Tidewater
virginia the same sort OF distinction
which Pericles and Leonidas give to the
Grecian Archipelago, for, after all, 1t
Is tho output of great men that makes
Tame and friends for nations. Mr.
Choate once told the English that the
:hiefest industry OF America was edu-
cation: so ] may say that the chiefest
contribution OF Virginia to American
NE has been men. great governmental
IDEAS. and great spirit. If q stranger
10 American institutions should in
luire who founded this repub bile, who
shaped its structures for the ages, and
"ho breathed into II the spirit that has
enabled II TO become the most vener
Able and impressive OF all republics q
truthful answer. whoever II might ex-
clude. would certainly include tho
names OF Patrick Henry. George Wash
.ngton, Richard Henry Lee. Thomas
Jefferson. James Madison. John Mar
shall. James Monroe. George Mason. and
many more less known to world fame
but part OF the amazing outburst OF
Intellectual energy that came out OF
this Commonwealth TO set the frame
work OF our great popular experiment
in forms OF imperishable strength and
beauty.
From Virginia's life arose the gent
us that clothed in noble phrase the rea.
sons Tor revolution; that guided VIC
toriously the legions of war; that bore
foremost initiative In shaping the Con-
stitution that interpreted It's spirit;
that widened colonial vision from pro-
vinciaiism to empire and that fixed
faith In average humanity as the phil
osophy OF new civilization. But IL is
rs a land OF the spirit that Virginia
seems most majestic TO me and most
moving TO any generous soul. Nero
lists OF measures traceabie to her soil
or mere lists OF great men who adorn
her annals, do not convey adequately
her message TO this pward-striving
democracy. That message is best con-
veyed by her spirit. and that spirit Is
best summed up In three words-un-
selfishness. devotion TO duty. and love
or home Can any message be more
needed by our over-nourished. over
specialized. nervous society, suffering.
1t seems to me. from the very excess
OF energy and achievement?
1T was reserved. however for the
Civil War and It's consequences to test
TO the uttermost the spirit of Virginia
and 20 prove that spirit pure gold
Do not fancy that have the purpose
TO analyZe the couses OF this war, or
TO kindle from their ashes the fires
that once burned so fiercely here and
elsewhere through the land The War
Between the States was q brothers
war brought on. as our human nature
Is constituted. by the operation of
| economic forces. the clashlng Of In
herited feelings. the impact OF differ
ing nations about the meaning OF liber-
~ woven by no will of either section
into the very fabric Of the peoples life.
Thus fate driven. the sections came to
war embodying in stern antagonism
two majestic ideas-the idea OF local
elf-government and the idea of union
No war In human history was q sim
! cerer conflict than this war. It was
not war for conquest or glory. To
call II rebellion Is to speak ignorantly:
to call 1t treason is to add vicousness
| to stupidity. 1t was war of ideas,
principles. political conceptions, and Of
loyalty to ancient ideals of English
freedom.
Virginia did not enter this war with
! n light heart. She loved the Union,
, for It was her child. Calmly, patiently,
sadly, without haste or passion, save
certain anguish OF spirit, Virginia
made her choice while all the world
| awaited breathlessly which way would
fall her decision, and which way her
great authority. True to character,
Virginia went the old path of sym
patty, idealism and unselfshness, and
certain grand accounting of honor
more than life and loyalty more than
gold With everything to lose and
nothing to gain materially by her de-
cision, she vet made 1t proudly, be-
cause to her mind the oldest md
! noblest conception of freedom was local
self-government, and to her heart as
ono might expect from n mother of
States. came the appeal OF her chill
drcn on the Gulf plains and the At
lantic Seaboard-lands populated by
her sons. and looking to her for guild
ance and leadership In the troubled
seas sweeping about them. They were
younger Virgin!as crying to the moth
er for help in an hour OF doubt and
, peril.
These younger Virglnias In tho hot
blood OF youth and pride OF growth had
Como beyond tho old mother In a tragic
and supreme adventure. Now they
were needing nor ancient supremacy
and her maternal counsel. No such
compelling tide OF sympathy and love
and responsibility, Joined with a clear