The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-02-07
ALDERMAN MEANT
 ALL THAT HE SAID
Head of University of Virginia
 Has Nothing to Retract
SOUTH NEEDS SCHOOLS
This Section of the Country Does Not Occupy the Position in the Nations Councils 1t Once
 Did.

University of Virginia, Va, February 6-President Alderman tonight gave out the following statement with reference to his recent address delivered before the Southern society of New York:
 "There has been some criticism and dis cussion of a speech made by me before the Southern society of New York city on December A. last. The criticism has been based on a few lines sent out by the Associated Press summing up forty minutes speech. It has occurred to me that 1t might be of some interest to the public and to my critics to know what was really said in the context. Such knowledge is usually tolerably helpful to sound criticism. l nave abiding faith in the fairness of the people when the facts are known.
 'I was speaking to 800 southern men in New York city. I am a southern man. Devotion to the south and desire to serve 1t constructively has been the guiding principle of my life for twenty years. l would not know how to approach a subject touching southern life unsympa thetically. l do, however believe in look ing at things steadily, and squarely, in forming honest judgments and in utter ing them whenever and wherever they may do good, Violence, over honest and sympathetic criticism is an unfailing and pathetic sign of supersensitiveness and unscientific mental attitude. My speech In the large was a plea for the more com plete training of our youth for directive leadership in the great days to come. To aid in bringing about such complete train- ing is the business of my life. The bries section of my speech appended below, which I have transcribed from my notes, contains deliberate and honest opinion which I have long held and often ex- pressed and will continue to hold and ex- press again whenever I believe it worth while. I did not mean to be personal nor que-ulous. I did not mean to underrate many strong and noble men or to belittle much heroic and faithful service. l was not referring exclusively to political lead ership. or comparing northern and south ern leadership. I have nothing to apolo- glze for or retract in this opinion. l can understand how in such large matter there is room for honest difference of opinion, and criticism is perfectly legiti- mate and helpful I cannot understand how serious-minded, just men can im- pute to other serous-minded men un- worthy motives upon slender knowledge of the facts and with no power to search the human heart
 Furnished Great Leaders.
 ''The old time had it's leaders and they were the best trained men for their tasks that this country has seen, and the places that trained them were the best places for training such men for such tasks. That old time furnished the nation its best concept of the sacredness of public service and public probity and let us thank God that the succession of our pub lie men from Calhoun to Tillman inclus- ive-a considerable distance-is free from any sort of sordidness or personal dis honor. It nourished capacity for ideal ism and steadfastness that clung to faiths and theories though they lead to ruin. The so-called Solid South troubles many good people. To me 1t is the steadfast south welded together as fiercely in the fires of conflict and discussion and op- pression that it has almost lost the ca- pacity for political fluid.ty or social inn agination. Forehanded shrewd men did not rule that old life nor do they rule our life of today. Around the fireside of those days the task fell on another type. Has he borne himself bravely in battle? Has he kept himself free from stain? Has he kept faith with ideals? These were the tests of the old time and the spirit in them is not yet dead. It Is doubtful if any man in that old air could have written Emersons essay on the American Scholar but certainly mo- where else did such a type as Robert D. Lee flower into the rose of his exquisite and tolerant manhood.
 "That time in civil lire, demanded fire