The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-05-13
Chapel Hill, N. c.. May 3.

Chapel Hill. N. c., May 9. 1898.
On Monday norm ng the chapel was
| filled with students eager TO welcome
back to his duties Pm esident Alderman
| who returned on Sat urday from his
European "Trip. He com es full OF health
| ana vigor much benefit, u by his jour
neyngs. The students gave hin q
| roussug welcome and Z ne president
| spoke 10 them at the chap eel hour. NJ
declared he had long wis ned Tor the
hour OF home coming, and. though !,
had been his privilege to S, e some %
the fairest and prettiest spots that THIS
world holds, none seemd swe eter ana
fairer 10 him than the beaut Hul OH
campus which he had left In tn, : grasp
OF winter. now fresh and greei ! with
the garments OF spring. He exp ~essed
his gratitude that he could retT n IN
strength and safety and health: MS
proper appreciation OF the ignit and
manhood Of the student body in his an
sence, and paid a high compliment to-
the skill and faithfulness OF Profess or :
j. w. Gore, dean, acting president IN
his absence.
II was not possible. the president said.
to 60 into any narrative Of so varied a
journey as he had been privileged -
take. though he might do SO in the fu-
ture. AT present two things were up
uermost in his mind of the benefits of
travel. II one is disposed to boast
proudly Of ones country and to fancy
that IL is the only land, he VIII learn
to be temperate IN his speech. There
are other great civilizations and great
peoples and in many departments Of
human activity We are young and crude
and have much 10 learn as BELTS a
young child in the family Of nations.
On the contrary If one is disposed 10
underrate and belittle his country's
prestige he will come mack to IL with an
intenser love and with a greater pride
in the very name of America. 1t IL a
land OF untamed energy. 1t Ia the
land OF freedom and opportunity where
every career is open to taEent. and
where the man may think the thing
that he viii and speak the thing that
h thinks. II is the land worth living
for and working for. as well ms dying
for. II one is through with the heat
and struggle OF life let him so 20 Eu-
rope, where art and beauty ana adj the
refinements of an older civilization VIII
minister to his days. But II he has
stomach for the fight, If he wants -
lend a hand for the struggle for better
things in a great new world. II Iris
face is toward the morning, let him
stay at home.
The president spoke interestingly Of
Att Nllhu vi ~
America in the Spanish war. He SPOKE
Of thu wave OF distaste for America
that is pervading the continent, and
on the contrary of how the men vi
Anglo-SaXOn breed, whether in Eng
land or Fgypt or in the Isles Of the sea.
were coming closer together and rcaliZ-
ing that they were brothers and that
there was such a thing as patriotism or
race as well as of state. He told in
teresting stories of how English people
from members Of parliament to drivers
of cabs had expressed to him thei--sym
pathy with America.
The president. in conclusion declared.
tina his own land treated him 10 he
greatest surprise of his Journey He
had left in peace, and the first word
he heard at Sandy Hook as the pilot
climbed on board the great German
ship was the story OF a great naval bat
tie fought in far off seas under the
stars and stripes. and fought 10 VIC
tory. A thousand Americans long abb
sent from their homes cheered TO tire
echo this news and the flag that. ffu--
tered from the pilots boat. However
men might differ as to the necessity
for the present war. there emained,oT-
ly the fact that we were at war, and
hat X was war, not for aggrandize-
ment. or reveng but for the first time
in history one great nation went 70 war
to right a wrong and to put a stop To
tyrrany and to end ages of injustice.
In the presence Of such a struggle all
questions of section must forever die,
and the word, American suppiant
mere localism as designating those or US
who live in the great republic and an
der the protection of the starry flag.
President Alderman took holf Of
work at once and everything iasin read
mess for examinations ana the APP
preaching commencement.