The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-04-04
|N0RTHROP SPEAKS
PRESIDENT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF
 MICHIGAN.
Noted Educntor Delivers Aa.ress to the Students of the university of Aia- bama At Tusca7oosa--Goes to
 Tuskegee.

university. ApfH o.-Ncpecidi'--bI. Cyrus Northrop. President of the Uni versity of Minnesota, who has been visiting the University and Tuscaloosa for the past few days, delivered mag nifeent address before the students at the chapel exercises this morning. The speaker was introduced by Presi dent Abercrombie. Dr. Northrop accep- ted the Presidency of Minnesota in 1884 and has seen the institution grow from school with S25.o00 income per annum and 300 students to a univer- sity with yearly revenue of $5O0,000 and student body of more than A. O00
 Dr. Northrop said that he had been invited to attend the seventy-ffth an niversary of the opening of the Uni versity of Alabama in May, but that being unable to attend at that time, he had decided to visit the school now. One point his past history, he said had been overlooked in his introduction, and that was the fact that soon after the war and while he was member of the faculty of Yale University, he had been offered the presidency of the Uni versity of Alabama. The offer he de- clined, preferring to come when he was certain of more cordial and unani- nous welcome, which he was now re- ceiving in full measure.
 The educational institutions of the country were contributing more to weld together the people, he said, than any other single factor. They were working with a single aim and purpose whereas the politicians. so called, were trying to keep the people divided into factions. He pictured in vivid and elo- quent language the greatness of our country. stretching from the coasts of Massachusetts, across the fertile fields of New York and the endless wheat fields of Illinois. Indiana. and Iowa, past the picturesque Rockies to the Golden Gate. many thousand miles. The war with Spain has brought this country into prominence as world power and the Russo-Japanese war, the Hague Conference. and the Algerian matter had emphasized influence. But with it's growth and progress many problems had arisen. perhaps at pres ent not so fundamental and far reach ing as in the past. but still more nu- merous and of great importance. Shall our country encourage the building up of colossal fortunes at the expense of the masses. or shall it so adjust it's laws that prosperity may be more equabIy disseminated. The great in- surance scandal was touched upon, which was compared to a carbuncle on the body polite. while most offensive to certain section, yet affecting the WHOlG country. IHe tHe regulation of railroad rates and our foreign policy were also national issues. the proper handling of which it should be the purpose of educational institu- tions to try to teach their students.
 In addition to these, the country has local problems, among which Is the negro question. Neither can be de- ported. The one cannot amalgamate the other. Let us hope that the South ryi1 hn ah tA nrt Al hnr troubles that will rebound to her glory and advancement.
 Finally, he said the greatest work of a university, was not to teach its stu dents to be bookish but to be men, men of character. men that would try to do the right thing. Most of us are taught that we all may become president. That is a mistake. Some unknown fellow. who hasn't had near So much claim for the honor, is sure to get the place. The great middle strata of so- ciety is where most of us belong. This is the class of people that support the government and constitutes the bone and sinue of the nation. It is ths, duty of educators to endeavor to uplift tho entire country. of one section to join hands with the other in a common cause. We should be proud of our country and let that pride lead us on to still greater achievements
 pr. Northrop received a great ova- tion at the close of his talk. He left the University today for Tuskegee Ala. where he goes to attend the quadro- exercises at that school President Abercrombie will ac- company him.
 The University Glee Club will leave Thursday afternoon for Starkesville, and Columbus. Miss. where 1t will give entertainments Friday and Saturday nights respectively On Monday the Club will visit Marion and on Tues day will go to Selma.
 The preliminary contest for the se- lection of University. representative for the forthcoming Inter- Collegiate Oratorical Debate, will take place In Clark Hall Saturday night. This year