New-York tribune., 1905-02-11
SOUTHERN LEADERSHIP.

Edwin a. Alderman, distinguished Southern
educator. now president Of the University of
Virginia, made speech in this city last De
oember in which he intmated that the South
was no longer producing statesmen of the
calibre Of Calhoun. Clay, Benton and Jack
son. Some offence was taken at this utterance
by Southern newspapers and Southern public
men. and one very able and prominent South
ern leader publicly reDuked DR.. Alderman a
week or two ago for giving currency at the
North to SO disparaging judgment. This lead
er said-and with much justice-that perhaps
the North, too, was not producing a surplus of
Lincolns and Websters. Conditions made men,
and comparisons between the statesmen of one
era and those of another were often mislead-
ing and invidious. Dr. Alderman has replied
TO his critics by publishing the text of his New
York address, and that text shows that the
spirit at least, Of his remarks was misunder
stood and perverted.
As q Southerner be did have some faults to
find with Southern leadership. But his criti-
cisms were In no sense captious or personal.
The defects he noted were due in the main not
TO a decline IN intelligence and character but
TO q change in envronment-to altered demands
in public service to which the political life
OF the South had not yet completely adjusted
itself. DR.. Alderman believes. in fact, that
Southern leaders fail not in being too little
ing. but In being too much like them. "The old
time," he says, had its leaders, and they were
+'the best trained men for their tasks that this
country has seen" The new leaders Suggest
the antique type" but suggest it inadequate
ly," because they live under absolutely changed
conditions and breathe a wholly new atmos-
phere. A. the new head of the University of
Virginia explains:
They DO not suggest the antique type made
quately because they ore weak men bad men,
They emphatically neither. They have
braiEs character, courage and a genius for
politics. They are infexibly honest. Our lead
ers indeed have many of the virtues of those
apply the virtues and equipment of an age that
demanded endurance and steadfastness to an
age that demands as well creatfveness, insight
and economic genius
This puts the whole case in a nutshell. The
oldtime Southern leaders had single definite
purpose in politics. and pursued Il with a pas-
sionate intensity. That was 10 defend and per-
petuate the slavery system. The South's whole
political and social structure rested on slavery,
and Southern politicians were one I'm cbaI-
lenging every interest or doctrine which threat
ened that peculiar institution" The soIidar-
ity Of sentiment thus achieved gave the old
South a vast and disproportionate power in
national politics. The new South's solidarity,
on tie other hand, represents mere stagnation
Though its peculiar interests are no longer men
aced il still holds itself aloof and takes no part
in tie real labors Of national progress Its zen
durance and steadfastness" go to waste be-
cause there Is no fixed intelligent purpose
behind them. Southern leadership is benumbed
and apafheiic because the South is only mark.
ing time. So long as IL continues TO live p7llt
icalIy from hand 10 mouth II can develop none
of that .'creatiyeness" which DR. Alderman SO
Justly considers its greatest present need. II