Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1925-04-03
A CAPTAIN. NOT CRITIC.


So long as men are measured by |
merit and the standard of achievement
is accepted as the standard of worth,
so long will the candidacy of Harry
Flood Byrd carry with 1t a most con-
vincing appeal to the thoughtful and
to the representative electorate OF the
State.
Senator Byrd possesses many envi-
able qualities, some of which could be
emulated by others without disparage-
ment 10 themselves, and at the same
time to the great benefit Of the Com
|monwealth. He is successful man,
he is a clean man, he is energetic, he
is liberal, he is sincere.
Having fought his way up in the bat
tie of life from the ranks, the Senator
from Frederick has learned to accept
men and things as he finds them, and
rather to correct through leadership
than ruin by abuse. Senator Byrd is
essentially born leader. And rarely
in the history OF the Old Dominion has
a leader been more woefully needed.
But there are different kinds and
different conceptions of leadership. 1t
| is not leadership to bewail the advent
of domestic demolition. 1t is not lead
ership to drape oneself in sackcloth, or
to besprinkle ones head with ashes. 1t
is not leadership to bemoan in the pub
lie print the decadence of and the tenn
poral and spiritual turpitude of Vir-
ginia and of the political leaders of
Virginia. Nor is it leadership to befoul
ones own nest, or to hold up to the
Irest OF the world, as horrible exam
lple, the State in which one lives and
! lin which one was born.
Il There is something in life more in
Ispiring than the snivelling, sobbine
prophet of political corruption. There
is something in life more edifying ant
more ennobling than in listening to thu
: plant of such peripatetic hypocrites a
today journey with lamentation from
city to city throughout our State, fore
telling the day of Doom. The peopl
or Virginia are weary of the cry
: i"wolf % "wolf!'
Il If we have indeed fallen on evi
Idays, it in no wise betters condition
Ito point out our misfortune to tn
lworld. If we have not fallen on ev
ldays, then it were better that the mis-
d cradle little band of professional politi
E lcal mourners who wall through certain
. tsections of our State, were kisse
Goodbye and kicked across the horde
into some neighboring Commonwealth
where they might rest in peace.
l.I As for ourself, we feel no cause t
e be ashamed of Virginia. And shout
!. we entertain the apprehension OF sue
fear, we would hesitate to broadcast
to the world. We have faith in Vii
And we welcome the candidac
e of such leader as Harry Byrd, VIII
h Icomes not to speak the worst, but
+ do his best, for the State.
II has been noticed that those VIII
oIcry out the loudest against Virgini
n Iare, for the most part, men who hav
n suffered disappointment in public life
In some instances they are forme
Estate office holders, but such as har
Ipen no longer to be sucking at tn
Stpublic feat. These men doubtless hav
d their sorrows, but Virginia is not re
s Isponsible for them. If they are wear
' lied with living at home, then, in God
name, let them move on into som
Hand fairer in their sight airer TO
the probable reason that in that Ian
: lthev are unknown.
FL For ourself, we have watched tn
Q progress of the present campaign wit
some interest, and we are prepared t
take our stand under the banner of tn
candidate from Winchester. Our slogaI
. Twill be: Virginia, Byrd and Progress
e IUpon this platform we will do battl
O. for the Senator from Frederick. w
Ipredict for him an overwhelming vote
And we would respectfully sugges
to such gentlemen as find it impossible
n to reside in Virginia under her presen
!. constitution and government, that
+. without further abusing their mothe
state to the world they quietly journe
into some alien land, there TO worshi
: strange gods. We will promise not t
hinder them; we will promise not t
n Irevile them we will promise neithe
Ito follow after them, nor to lament TO
Them. But here. in the heart of Vir
Iginia, in the land OF our fathers, W,
Twill be content TO remain. And in tn
words of the patriarch and prophet o
Iold to say:
i Choose you this day whom We vii
Iserve. But as for me and my house
1--we will serve the Lord"