The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-02-03
DIR. ALDERMAN AND SENATOR
BALE

Professor Alderman, now president
of the University of Virginia, has got
ten himself into hot water with the
people of his own section of the country
because Of certain disparaging remarks
about the south, contained in a speech
made recently before the Southern So
ciety Of New York. The Washington
City correspondent Of the Raleigh Post
sends to his paper the following in re-
gard to this matter including a letter
from Senator Bailey on the subject.
We think the whole south will sustain
the Texas senator in the position be
has taken:
About a month ago DR.. Alderman,
president of the University of Virginia,
delivered a speech before the Southern
Society of New York in which he took
occasion to say that there were no
trained men in the public life from the
south at this time" and exclaimed
Where are the Calhouns and CIays of
other days?" The speech provoked
considerable resentment among the
public men at Washington, and Sena-
tor Bailey of Texas addressed to Thorn
as Nelson Page a letter on the SUD-
ject. Mr.. Bailey wrote the letter TO
Mr.. Page rather than to DIR. Alderman
himself, because Mr.. Page is the chair
man Of a committee from which Mr..
Bailey felt bound to withdraw on ac-
count Of DR.. Alderman's speech.
The senator's letter is as follows:
"Mr. Thomas Nelson Page, Washing
ton, D. G..
Dear Sir:-So1ne time ago you and
others were good enough to designate
me as a member of a committee whose
duty it is to raise by subscription d
suitable fund for the University of
Virginia. 1 did not at that time accept
the appointment, because I doubt the
propriety of n man while engaged in
the public service soliciting large con-
tributions even for the most worthy
purposes, out I did not feel it necessa-
ry TO protest against the use of my
name as a m of the committee.
Recently, however, a circumstance has
arisen which compels me to insist upon
the withdrawal Of my name from all
connection with the work which your
committee was intended to promote.
The circumstance to which I refer is
the speech which DR.. Alderman, the
present head of the university, deliver
ed before the Southern Society of New
York, and in which he makes a mean
and wholly unWarranted reflection upon
the intellect and standing of southern
senators n representatives in con-
greSS.
eff 7 thought the estimates expressed
were DR.. Aledrman's candid and unbi-
aSed opinion of the southern men who
are engaged in the service Of their re-
spective states I would feel less re-
sentiment. but as I am constrained to
believe that he was seeking h favor
of those m~illionaires who are supposed
to abhor certain principles and policies
o1v0co tod nv rn1thnrp Sonotnrc a01
representatives, I find it impossible to
be patient with his criticism. It would
seem that those of OR own section who
complain that the south no longer sup
plies The republic With such men as
John C. Calhoun, Henry Clay and Jei-
cerson Davis. would also remember
that Ctaer sectors no longer contrib
ute such men as Daniel Webster, RufIz
hOate and -:tra"am Lincoln.
without entering into an explana-
ton Of the act that changes in the
habits n occupations of our peopi
have established a different per-
haps a lower, test of excellence in our
public servants. I need only to remind
thoughtful and candid men that south
ern representatives and senator Of
this time compare favOrably with their
associates in intellect, character and
conduct as lie their predecessors; and
if it be true that the quality of south
ern leadership is not SO high as it was
in other days, the same can be assert
ed with equal truth as to all other sec
tons. With this fact obvious to every
southern man, I have scant respect for
southern educators who unduly dis
praise their own neighbors.
Much as I would rejoice in the
prosperity of h University of Virginia.
/ would rather see it's ancient halls of
learning deserted than to see them
made the place where false and unlus.
opinions Of southrn men and southern
principles are instilled into the minds
of southern youths. Regretting beyond
expression the circumstance which has
rendered it impossible for me to Coop
crate with you in your undertaking, 7
have the honor to be
Very truly yours.
81. w. BAILEY"