Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1905-02-01
WEDNESDAY EVENING, FEB. l, 1905

WEDNESDAY EVENING, FEB. l. 1872
IT has often been said by the Gazette
that many Southern men when they 90
north 10 speak become possessed OF the
idea that they must say something derog-
atory of themselves or their section IN
order to please their northern hearers.
But tn csc men only stultify themselves
and do their cause no good indeed they
bring reproach upon themselves from all
self respecting men, no matter from which
section they hail In this connection Ii
NAV be stated that Senator Bailey, OF
Texas, one of the brsinisst men in Con-
grsss, is entirely right in the stand ne
has taken in reference to tbespesch made
recently BY DR.. Alderman, president si
the University Of Virginia, before the
Southern Society Of New York, in which
he took occasion to say that there were
ono trained men in the public life from
The South ct this time" and exclaimed,
"Where are the Calhouns and Clays OF
other days." The speech provoked con-
siderable resentment among the public
men in the Southland Senator Bailey hes
addressed Thomas Nelson Page letter
on the subject. Mr.. Bailey wrote the
letter to Mr.. Page, rather than to Dr.
Alderman himself, because Mr.. Page is
the chairman Of q committee from which
Mr. Bailey felt bound to withdraw on
account of DIR. Aldsrmaa's speech. The
Senator's letter is as follows:
"Some time ago you and others we're
good enough to designate ME as mem
Der of committee whose duty it Is "a
raise by subscription a suitable fund
for the University of Virginia. did not
at that time accept the appointment be-
cause doubt the propriety of any man,
while engaged in the public service, So
Letting large contributions, even for the
most worthy purposes, but | did not
feel il necessary to protest against the
committee. Recently, however, a cir
cu,nstance has arisen which compels me
to insist upon the withdrawal Of my
nams from all connection with the work
which your committee was intended to
promote. The circumstance to which L
refer is the speech which Or. Alderman,
the present bead of the university,
delivered before the Southern Society OF
New York. aud in which he makes a
mean and wholly unwarraHted reflection
upon the intellect aud standing OF
southern Senators and Representatives
in Congress. If thought the estimates
expressed by DR.. Alderman we're candid
and unbiased opinions of the southern
men who are engaged in the services of
their respective States, would feel less
resentment, but as / am constrained to
believe that be was seeking the favor OF
those millionaire who are supposed to
abhor certain principles and policies ad-
vocated by southern Senators aud Repre-
sentstives, End it impossible to be
patient with his criticism.
at would seem that those of our own
section who complain that tie South no
longer supplies the republic with such
men as John G. Calhoun, Henry Clay
and jefferson Davis, would also remem-
Der that other sections no longer con-
tribute such men as Daniel Webster,
Rufus Choate and Abraham Lincoln.
Without entering into an explanation oil
the fact that changes in the habits and
occupations of our people have establish
ed different and perhaps lower tesl
of excellence in our public servants,
need only to remind that thoughtful and
candid men and southern Representative:
and Senators Of this time compare al
favorahly with their associates in intel
lect, character, and conduct as did theiI
predecessors; and if it be true that the
quality of southern leadership is not Sc
high as it was in the other days the
same can be asserted with equal truth as
TO all other sections. With this fact
obvious to every thinking man, l have
scant respect for southern educators who
unduly disprsise their own neighbors.
Much SIS would rejoice in the pros
perity of the University of Virginia,
would rather see its ancient halls OF
learning deserted than to see them made
the place where false and unjust opin-
ions of southern men and southern prin'
ciples are instilled into the minds Of
southern youth"