The news & observer., 1897-01-28
President Aldermans
inaugural Address,

Chapel Hill, n. e., Jan. 2t.-tSpecIdiJ
The following is the full text of the in
augural address of President Edwin
Anderson Alderman, delivered to-day:
/ count it a great good fortune that
these ceremonies take place to-day in
the favoring presence OF the Chief Mag
iStrate of the Commonwealth, himself a
distinguished alumnus, of $50 many OF
the chosen representatives Of the people,
and OF so many loyal alumni.
North Carolina is honoreds too, by the
presence and the messages of good will
from the distinguished representatives of
two great American Universities, the one
reaching far back into the last century
the mother of Hamilton, Jay, :and Morris,
the pride and glory of New York City, the
other horn in a moment, full grown
giant the marvel and glory of Chicago and
the great West. The University gathers
inspiration from their presence and kind
ly words.
This University was ordained of the
people in the year 1776. Within one month
of the adoption Of the Federal Constitu-
ton, by an heroic act of public spirit of
which we viii do well never to tire OF
boasting, it was definitely planted by the
legislative action of pioneer people In
a primitive wilderness to furnish impulse
and light to an agricultural community
of English people. Guided by the devo-
ton of the sainted dead, for eighty-one
years it grew on the only basis on which
it could grow, the social and political en-
yironment about it, and waxed so strong
that at the opening of the Civil War it
was the largest institution in the South
eastern end OF the Republic. The society
to which it ministered in those years was
OF militant order, so do speak, resting ON
its arms, at its base unskilful slaves and
untaught white men, at its summit as
masterful, erect and lovable o breed Of
men as this round world has konwn. From
every Southern State young men pass
ed through these halls to the larger life
of leadership in church and State, IN
peace and war and did their duty right
bravely in troublous and formative times.
Tt lis an heroic roll-call-president, vice
president, cabinet ministers, jurists, sena-
tors, governors, scholars, divines, farm
ers, manufacturers, and last, but not
least, countless cultured gentlemen. We
have ranged them in yonder hall in just
pride, as a mother disposes of her child
rem, so that the eager youth of to-day may
gaze upon them and feel the quickening
of the heart beat. 1t is, too, proud re-
cord of service to society. Joseph Cald
well, our first president, revealed the val
lie of the public schools to the people,
Archibald Murphey, a teacher here with
constructive genius shaped the revela-
tion and Calvin Wiley, a graduate, act
ualized it in the completest system of
public schools in Southern ante-Bellum
life. The railroad era was inaugurated
.by Morehead and Caldwell. The founda-
lions of Industrialism were laid by the
Holts and the Friezes and scientific agri-
calture received its first impetus from
University men. The annals of North Car
olina without her University would be
meager and barren story. And so our
past is secure. To-day belongs TO the pre-
sent and the future. The great war
freed US all. Once we were aristocratic
in government and education, now we are
democratic in both. Our labor has be-
Gomez free, our property has changed
hands, our doors have been thrown open
to ideas and men and money. In short
We haze passed from the patriarchal to
the economic stage of society where is
needed ahe subtler brain and the more
cunning 9hand and where the orators and
dreamers of old must, at least, share the
stage wish the manufacturers, the pro-
ducer, the industrial man. No longer does
any semb1ance of caste or social creed
suppress Individual effort. Quite the con-
trary. Tae irrepressible instinct Of
Democracy. restrained for some genera
tions is maaifesting itself among all the
people who ere everywhere rushing to the
front, demanding their share in govern
ment and straightway learning to govern
by governing. 1t is idle to bid them wait
They follow "a just instinct and such
things fall ou. that way always in hu-
man history.
Let us be Thankful that this social up
rising contains the best material in the
world for the making of educated citizen
ship. The older nen Of the movement got
their outlook ON life from the marches and
dangers of the Civil War. The younger
men, their sons, eare of almost unmixed
English blood, the; descendants Of men
who sacrificed life and property for prin-
ciple in three wars, and with the Eng
lishman's instinct For practical politics.
They are keen-witted, il unframed, and
they have boundless faith in the majesty
of their own government. These men,
and their sons of the next generation
have many stern and difficult things to do
and they must be trained for leadership.
The potential of trained mind and train
ed conscience must eventually rule any
society, If its laws and institutions are
not to become the crude experiments
of the ignorant or the bold devices of the
corrupt.
The University stands to-day as it
stood in the olden time the mightiest sin
gle social engine for the direction and ele-
vation Of this social, political and indus
trial newbirth.
Let us, therefore, take account, to-day,
Of the resources of this engine.
The State owns here, largely the gift
OF individuals, twelve buildings, six well
equipped scientific laboratories, library
of some $4,000 volumes and FIVE hundred
acres of land. The estimated money
value of this plant is about 100000
Private benefaction has given in recent
Il