Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-06-10
ROANOKE COLLEGE.
Address Before the Literary socie-
ties by Hon. A. L.. White.

SALEM. VA, June 9.-Cspecial)-ro-
night. Hon. Andrew d. White, IL. d..
delivered the annual address before the
literary societies Of Roanoke Collese.
Mr.. White, in opening his address, said:
standing on this beautiful spot, IN
this honored Commonwealth. among these
gifted instructors and eager scholars l
discern anew the power Of institutions
like this to develop a yet nobier future
for individuals, States, and the nation
at large.
Il ask. then. your thought to-day upon
a subject pertinent 20 this place and
time.
"That subject is, Evolution vs.. Evo-
luton"
Mr. White then gave typical examples
Of the evolution of humanity by violent
processes, as seen in the fall OF Rome,
i'm the Crusades. I'm the French Revolu-
ton. and in the American civil war.
OF the civil war he said. Take next
our American civil war. That con-
test between slavery and freedom was
drawing on many years before 1861, an
men see now: various American states
men saw it then, and tried TO avert H.
only one thought out a great. statesman
Ike measure; that man was Henry Gay,
a son of Virginia. and worthy OF descent
from the great line of Virginia states
men. lie proposed 20 extinguish slavery
gradually by a national sacrifice not at
all severe; I'm fact, by STEADY evolu-
ton OF freedom out of servitude. His
plan was 10 begin at certain year. ana
TO purchase those newly born into
slavery. until. gradually, through the eX-
tinction Of the old members or the Atfi-
can race by death. and the enfranchise-
ment Of the younger members by pur-
chase. slavery should disappear.
4 STATESMANS PLAN.
1T was a great, statesmanlike plan. II
might have cost S2jo0O0Jo. Revolution
lists on both sides opposed 1t. revolu-
tionists I'm the South would have none
Of 1t. for it was contrary TO their theory
that slavery was a blessing; revolution
lists In the North would have none of
II. because Il was contrary 10 their theo-
~ that one man ought not TO buy an
other. The result We all know. slavery
was. indeed abolished but, instead OF
being abolished by a peaceful evolution
involving an outlay OF S25000000 it was
abolished by the most fearful OF modern
evolutions. at a cost. when all the loss
Is reckoned IN. Of SlOOo00000O, and OF
nearly II not quite one million Of lives.
Thus had we political and social progress
by catastrophe. rather than by growth
progress, not by evolution, but by reYo-
luton
IN CONCLUSION.
Mr.. White then referred to evolution
I'm the business Of The country. I'm edu-
cation. and In the judicial system, and, in
conclusion said: Here. then, gentlemen.
IS the application OF the doctrine l would
lay before YOU to-day some OF YOU are
fitted 10 work in the more quiet and regu-
lar evolution Of a better future I'm
various fields; fitted 20 discover truth,
to unyen beauty, TO develop goodness.
Some are 10 strive In the more stormy
fields. I'm the open combat against wrong;
I'm the open wrestie with unreasOn; IN the
omen battle against dishonesty; IN courts,
in legislatures, IN councils. In the pull
nit. In the forum. I'm the newspaper. MY
first word TO both classes Is: strive 70
secure within your sphere progress to-
ward a better and nobler future. by pro-
cesses evolutionary. rather than reYo-
lutionary: by study, rather than by dog
matte assertion. by argument, rather than
by defamation. by appeals 10 reason.
rather than 10 prejudice. My last word
10 YOU is: DO not prostitute your genius
or talents; be true TO yourselves; be true
IN YOUR college: be true 10 your country;
be true TO God and humanity"
Addresses before the General Reunion
Association Of Roanoke College stu
dents we're delivered this forenoon
bv Rev. Luther J.. Smith, class
OF 1871. Strasburg, Va: Hon. J. W.
c. Blackstone. A. NJ. class OF 1876. and
Professor q. V. Yonce, \. NJ, class OF
1871. 4-...-f