The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-11-13

Often IN years gone by, the nation has mourned
with Virginia the loss of one of the Old Dominion
nlustrlous sons. It is so today
Thomas Staples Martin. United States senator
since 1891 leader of statesmen, devoted patriot has
passed from earth-life
Others may tell of his attachments az an indlvid
ual-of the loyal friends he made and kept, of the
personal handicaps courageously overcome Of his
faithful and distinguished services to the Demo
cratic party whose very existence in Virginia he
helped to preserve in crucial days of his imr1easur
ably valuable aid to the greatest Of all moral re
forms which he lived to see crowned with coIaplete
success throughout the nation For this moment Of
tears wish to recall the long months of ceaseless
work day and night on behalf of that greatest Of all
causes which America has ever espoused-the et
fort, under President Wilson leadership to make
the world safe for democracy"
Indeed, il was this phase of Senator Martins life
task which broke down his rugged constitution and
without doubt FASTENED his death Those early years
of the war while America was still neutral and had
not yet clearly perceived the issues at stake tried
the souls of men. There and narrow souls
m the United States senate, ruled by craftsmanship
and hatred and fear willing to risk even coun-
trys freedom in order to hamper and harass IT'S
chosen chief executive. Possibilities Of harm from
this source were infinite Upon Senator Martin,
Democratic leader, devolved the duty and respon-
sibllity Of bringing these recalcltrants to subserv
iency.
How he accomplished the task will never be told
in detail. He found ways by persuasion by logic,
by personal appeals to patriotic impulses, by
instllling cold fear of the consequences into the
hearts OF the worst laggards, to bring the senate
into practical unanimity OF action all essential
matters pertaining to the war. At an hour when
every moment counted, when every second Of time
was splashed with the blood of war martyrs, this
quiet hammered Virginia gentleman marshaled the
doubtful senators in line with the patriotic majority
and saw to it that they performed their duty
The work was arduous His physician warned
him of danger. He himself realized the risk he in
Cured His friends begged him to spare his strength
He did not even pause to argue the point As a slim
youth at Newmarket. under the imperative call of
duty to his state he had marched steadily straight
ahead toward the laundering guns of Virginia in
vaders. As whitehaired veteran facing dangers
great that bGthe Spring morning of the long
ago. he heard the call Of his country and marched
straight ahead in line of duty giving of himself to
the utternost that Freedom might live and his be
loved Virginia might be forever safe.
Virginia has many shrines commemoratine the
life and deeds of men who won undyng glory in
field and forum in her service A new shrine she
will have from this day forth wherein shall lie the
ashes of another loyal son, one who never thrust
himself forward TO ribs sake, who counted him
self as nothing where Virginia. honor and security
were concerned to whom denied the glorious
any of those immortals buried in the Wilderness
in the Argonne made the supreme sacrifice in de-
Tense of the Mother of States.
Thomas Staples Martin-may he rest in peace!