The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-04-14
THE ADDRESS OF DR.. ALDERMAN.
Delivered Yesterday at His installation as President
of the University of Virginia.
(special to News and observer.)

his installation today as first presi-
dent of the University of Virginia, DR..
Edwin A. Alderman spoke in part as
follows:
"Eighty-seven years ago the Com
monwealth of Virginia, inspired by
the genius of Thomas Jefferson,
guided by the patient good sense of
Joseph Cabell, and heartened by the
encouragement of James Madison ana
James Monroe, laid the foundation OF
this University, and dedicated it con-
scientiously to freedom for mind and
soul. 10 desire for knowledge and
truth and to solemn faith in the JUS
tice and slow progressiveness OF a
democratic society. Men of English
and Scotch-Irish breeding long set
tied on the soil of the State, had
evolved a free and forceful society of
gracious charm and distinction, and
leadership in the republic then belong
ed to Virginia through the rare great
ness TO her sons.
1.-THE illustrious man who inspired
this foundation has eternal honor
here Here he lived here they laid
his mortal body, and here dwells in
ceaseless energy his immortal spirit.
But Dhomas Jefferson, like George
Washington. is a world name and a
WOTlQ lOICc. tbs OIl litC iipo
of aspiration, stand everywhere as a
rebuke and stumbling block to
tyranny and oppression. His ideals
far spreading in all lands, have given
energy and reality to the democratic
movement of the modern age in Eu-
rope and America. To this Univer-
sity Thomas Jefferson is something
more than philosophy, or figure in
a pantheon. He is friend, found
er, a father. No university in the
world-not Bologna, or Ell Ashar, or
Oxford, or Prague--is SO intimately
associated with SO immortal a name.
To US he inhabits his high hill for
ever. an unwearied, versatile, myriad
minded old man, acquainted with
glory and high station, a smile of
faith forever ON his lips; a passion for
freedom forever at his heart, knowing
men deeply and yet believing in them
and having patience with them; sub
jecting everything with thoughtful
radicalism, to the test of their adj
yancement; watching with patient
eyes the slow rising walls of this
University for their training, and
counting that foundation the greatest
in the sum of his vast human
achievement.
Universities stand both as servants
and as symbols of the spiritual insight
and the social needs of their epochs.
The Greek peoples studied philosophy
because the need of their time was
ethical. The Englishman is intent
upon the getting of general culture
because his need is for the man of
breadth and cultured will. In the sec
ond decade of the republic popular
thought conferred upon the rights of
man and the bounds of political free
dom. Tho statement of the purpose
in the founding of the University.
therefore. drawn up by the same hand
that had drawn up the Declaration of
American Independence, while reflect
ing this mood of the age, passed be-
You'd it with q daring comprehensive
ness that marks our founder as a
master of foresight and Interpretation.
This University shall exist, said
Jefferson.
I'D TO form the statesmen, legis-
lators and judges on whom public
prosperity and individual happiness
are so much to depend;
"(2) To expound the principles and
structure of government. the laws
which regulate the intercourse of ma
lions, those formed municipality for
our own government. and a sound
spirit of legislation which. banishing
all unnecessary restraint on individual
action, shall leave us free to do what
of another;
"(3) To harmonic and promote
the interests of agriculture, manufac-
lures, and commerce and by we'll in
formed views of political economy. to
give a free scope to the public in
dustry;
go To develop the reasoning fac
ultieS of our youth, enlarge their
minds, cultivate their morals, and in
Cfil1 into than the nrppantc of VirtIIa
and order.
"(5) To enlighten them with math-
ematical and physical sciences, which
advance the arts and administer to
the health, the subsistence and com
forts of human life;
go And, generally, to form them
to habits of reflection and correct ac-
ton, rendering them examples of vir-
tue to others and of happiness within
themselves.
President Eliot. a great modern
master and interpreter of educational
method and purpose. has recently de-
clared that there are three indispen-
sable attributes of true university:
Freedom in the choice of studies; OPP
portunity to win distinction in special
lines of study: discipline which i'm
poses on each individual the respon-
sibility for forming his own habits and
guiding his own conduct.
Our great dreamer seized just these
three essentials and upon them shaped
the life of the University of Virginia
as necessary conditions. at a time
when they were not only unrealized
but unimagined in American educa-
tional practice. To this absolutely
right foundation are due the Just
claims that here began the first .ual
American university. and the first
whoie-hearted experiment with the
elective principle, and the interesting
result. that there has always been a.
real university at Charlottesville in
spite of meagre equipment, though at
it's birth it was probably the most lib
orally planned institution of the coun-
try. in spite of insufficient preparatory
training at times for its students; in
spite of restricted scope and inability
to welcome into the circle of liberal
arts the growing mass of new studies
the university spirit has always in
formed our life--a spirit that beheld
the scholars life as a fair and fruit
full thing. begot in youth a desire not
only to acquire, but to add somewhat
to the sum of knowledge. and evolved
a method of intensive thoroughnass
that yielded knowledge of how truth
NAV be won.
1.-THE glory of Jefferson was his on