The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-02-02
SENATOR BAILEY ON DIR. ALDER
MAN.

ioH liidl the Soutn is no lOnSef pro
ducing great men, as formerly, and I,
add that the South does not give re
| cognition in public life to it's best men
! Some very good men have unwisel,
| ing in New York or elsewhere, anC
| it liz time that this unjust criticism
| OF their section to strangers should
stop. Senator Bailey, of Texas, who
as constitutional lawyer and able lie
batter upon fundamental questions, j!
head and shoulders above any otllel
man of either party in the Senate, has
given expression to q feeling Of resent.
ment to such criticism that is common
among thoughtful men In recent
letter, which explains itself, Senate,
Bailey, a distinguished alumnus of the
University Of Virginia, said:
"Mr. Thomas Nelson Page, Washing
ton. ID. G.
Dear Sir: Some time ago you and
others were good enough to designate
me as a member of committee whose
duty it is to raise by subscription a
suitable fund for the University OF
Virginia. l did not at that time ac-
cept the appointment, because l doubt
the propriety Of any man while en-
gagged in the public service soliciting
large contributions even for the most
worthy purposes, but / did not feel it
necessary to protest against the use of
any name as member of the COM
mittee. Recently, however, a circum-
stance has arisen which compels me
to insist upon the withdrawal of my
name from all connection with the
work which your committee was in
tended to promote. The circumstance
to which 1 refer is the speech which
DIR. Alderman, the present head of the
university, delivered before the South
ern Society of New York, and in
which he makes a mean and wholly
unwarranted reflection upon the in
tellect and standing of Southern Sem
ators and representatives in Congress.
eff l thought the estimates ex-
pressed were DR.. Alderman's candid
and unbiased opinion of the Southern
men who are engaged in the service
of their respective States / would feel
less resentment, but as / am con-
strained to believe that he was seek
ing the favor OF those millionaires
who are supposed to abhor certain
princip es and policies advocated by
Southern Senators and representa-
l.
tient with his criticism. 1t would seem
that those Of our own section who
complain that the South no longer
supplies the republic with such men
as John G. Calhoun, Henry Clay and
Jefferson Davis, would also remember
that other sections no longer con-
tribute such men as Daniel Webster,
Rufus Choate and Abraham Lincoln.
Without entering into an expla-
80 1,n Pno t,nf oh a llc in
habits and occupations of our people
have established different, and per-
haps a lower, test of excel ence in our
public servants, I neeG only to remind
thoughtful and candid men tnat
Southern representatives and Senators
of this time compare favorably with
their associates in intellect, character
and conduct as did their predecessors;
and if it be true that the quality of
Southern leadership is not 80 high as
it was in 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
untiuly dispraise their own neighbors.
Much as I would rejoice in the
prosperity of the University of Vir-
ginia, / would rather see It's ancient
halls of learning deserted than to see
unjust opinions of Southern men and
Southern principles are instilled into
the minds of Southern youths. Re-
GREETING beyond expression the CIR
cumstance which has rendered II I'M
possible for me to cooperate with
YOU In your undertaking, l have the
honor to be
VERY truly yours.
81. w BAILEY
If Senator Bailey had known Dr.
Alderman he would have couched ms
letter in different language. and he
would not have impugned the motives
of the eloquent new president Of the
University Of Virginia. DR.. Alderman
is not the man who would reflect upon
his section for gain. He is native
of North Carolina, genuine South
eruer with love of Southern traditions
and ideals, with large faith i'll the flu
ture of the South and a high resolve
to be useful in the South'S best pro-
sress. He has erred in accepting
Mugwumpian view OF the sort OF men
who represent the South in public po-
sition, and he erred more in making
that c11IlClSHl 81 MI lilciii SiSs' A|NS
he is too genuine Southern man to
deserve the severe criticism of Senator
Bailey. The sensible answer Of Sena-
tor Bailey to the Mugwampian UNDER
rating of Southern leaders would have
been much more effective if he had not
impugned the motives OF Dr. Alder
man.
Southern speakers. looking at the
majestic figures of Calhoun and Davis
and Lamar are too prone to underrate
the ability of their successors in pub
lie life, and they forget to consider
the widely contrasted conditions OF the
South before the war when it's great
est men looked for the highest rewards
i'll the public service, and the condi-
tions today when commercial and in
dustrial pursuits have attracted many
of the first minds of the South. In
1860 most of the master minds il
North Carolina were found in the pro-
LESSONS and in public life. To-Day
the rewards and power in manufac-