The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-09-13
Spirit of the Press.


DR.. Alderman at Yale.
/ am proud to bring you frdternal
greetings from the UniVersi'- of Viz
ginia. l can see only kinship between
the character of the two places as
time and traditions have hammered
that character out, notwithstanding
the fact that there could not be a
greater apparent antithesis than in
the circumstances attending the birth
of the two institutions. At first sight
there does not seem to be much one
ness between the righteous minded,
morally persistent, stiff-necked men
who builded Yale, and Thomas JEFF
ferson, that versatile, patient, myriad
minded old idealist, in whose heart
dwelt an absorbing passion for faith
in men and belief in the final recti-
tude of public impulses. But right
here, at the root of the matter [
think these superficiallv antagonistic
forces came together. However polar
might have been their differences on
eXegesis or theocracy or the menu
card, they hit it off passing well on
the perfectability of men and the dig
nifty and majesty and power of knowl-
edge. And | hope and believe that
they are fraternizine as well some
where in the spirit world as their spir-
itual children are doing here today
The word of honor is the master
word at the University of Virginia.
You cannot mention that word there
without getting the yell. There is
conservatism there, greater perhaps
than is found at Yale, for they have
Just, i'm a wild moment of "adicalism,
elected a new president the first in
their history, and he wonders at times
whether they repent of so great
piece of rashness. Their noblest con-
tribution has been to public service
through a stream of cultured men VINO
have gone out from Virginia to fur
nish to Democracy a high concept of
public probity. The poison OF graft
has not yet entered their veins. They
love beauty and they have not lost
their Illusions. A certain spiritual
charm still invests their days which
poverty cannot depress, and GER
tain fineness which prosperity cannot
wear away. Under the elms OF \ ale
and about the antique beauty or Inc
Lawn at Virginia still shines the llSht
that never was on land or sea.
The most impressive spectacle In tne
world to me is the spectacle OF Amerl-
| ca trying to be free and happy and
| just and vet rich and powerful. AS
| see her history, idealism mas fuleo
1t. Washington. Franklin, Jefferson
Hamilton, Lincoln, Lamar, Lee JOIN
Quincy Adams, Roosevelt, were ana
| are idealists, and none greater imam
| our president. Calhoun, VINO vas
nourished here, was the very NEAR
nation of an ideal and of all deVotloh
to it. L see a kind of morbid IDEAL
ism i'll the very excuses of our sue.
cess, III the ominouS achievements Oh
wealth, even kind of ideallSm OF oe-
Votlon to power rather than Soroiu
greed am afraid l shall be tnousnt
q confirmed optimist l can read the
daily papers of Philadelphia ana Ne"
YORK, the monthly editions OIL Every
bodys Magazine, and still belleVe III
the onward and upward course OF
the republic. The fact that there is
s s g oeep feeling that tiie cine me
gress OF business morals has sollle-
how not kept pace with the progress
oil modern business, is a PROOF Oh
our idealism and of the soul dness OF
the popular heart. To me thi univer-
and dynamo of such ideals, sAept sane
and catholic and useful by knowledge