The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1909-06-03

place OF the Old Dominion, but no
man has before compressed into an
epic In prose the glory of the Com
monwealth of Virginia as Dr. Alder
man has done The head OF an insti-
tuition, into which the most remark
able statesman-prophet the world
has produced breathed the breath os
lie. President Alderman has in lofty
eloquence made a word-paiuting OF
Virginia that will live As long as elo-
quence is esteemed and patriotic
eulogy cheers the hearts of men.
Knit together by ten thousand CON-
mon ties OF heredity, marriage, COM
mon faith and mutual sacrifice, the
glory and the honor of Virginia is
very dear to the people of North Car
DINA Its people are of blood-kin to
Patrick Henry and were moved as
much by his eloquence as were Vir-
glnians; North Carolinians followed
the suggestion of Jefferson in post
poning the adoption of the Constitu-
ton until fuller safeguards of popular
rights, freedom OF religion. freedom
OF the press and keessential guaran-
tees were incorporated into the i'll
strument; they were as Washington $
right arm; they insisted upon voting
a third time for Jefferson as they had
done for Washington; and Lees and
JacksOn's forces contained more
North CarOlinians than any other
State furnished to the Southern
army; later when the heel of bad rule
was upon Virginia, it was Vance who
helped to lead them back to the old
faith; and North Carolina has given
to Virginia the eloquent president of
it's University as Virginia gave to
North Carolina the able and distin-
guished scholar, who is president of
it's University"
Following is the address OF Presi-
dent Alderman in full:
PRESIDENT ALDERMAN'S ORA
TION.
Whenever men join in tribute to
other men who were willing to sacri-
| fee themselves for a conception of
public duty, the whole human mass
moves forward in the way of brother
hood, one may, with entire restraint,
call this day which we have spent in
this historic city day of dignity and
high feeling. Even if the Chief Mag
istrate of the republic had not hon
ored it by his kindly presence, its own
memories, sincerities and fraternities
would suffice to set it apart for re-
membrance and respect. Pennsylva-
MIA and Virginia are tied together by
many unbreakable bonds of common
ancestry, common glory and common
tragedy. Staunton and Pittsburg
were once in thesssane county in the
far-off days when Virginia was so in
elusive a term as to cover most oil
the country. Valley Forge and Ger
mantown loom back of Gettysburg
Back Of civil strife may be seen the
forms of Washington and Franklin,
and Independence Hall, in Philadel
phia, and Thomas Jefferson. of Vir
ginia, are certainly united in the
thought of the world. Among the
men. who charged with such wild
valor at Gettysburg, and the mel
who stood with such granite firmness
were the same German and Scotch
Irish breeds who had peopled the APP
palachians and had made the Shen
andoah Valley the cradle of Ameri
can Democracy. Save perhaps al
Dunbar and Naseby field so large 1
proportion of brothers in blood o
our race never before met in shock o
battle. 1t is fortunate for a republic
like ours that great States like Penn
sylvania and Virginia can turn from
contemplation of their differences te
warm their souls at the fire OF com
mon glories, for in that warmth sucl
gross dross as hate and unforgive
ness are consumed and pass away.
PROUD OF VIRGINIA.
The State of North Carolina va.
my birthplace. am grateful for The
privilege of birth among that brave
self-reliant, modest and prOgressiv,
people, whose virtues are such as tC
guarantee that IL Democracy such as
theirs will, to my mind, be the fila
form OF government. | have for that
State and that people the enduring
love which a son should bear to {
mother Virginia is my home, and
have learned to love her and her PEG
pie as all must who taste the quality
of their life. What strength | ha>,
is spent in the service of Virginia
and l rejoice in the proud opportunity
OF rendering in this inspiring pres
ence, even in humble fashion, tha'
discriminating praise of her which
all Americans owe, and which boil
love and reverence for her impel mt
to utter.
We of the South are sometime
laughed at gently for our sensitive
ness to local things and our pride o
State. Let us not be laughed out O
it. / am an American and feel utterl,
at home in this republic OF my fathers
to which owe and give as suprem
affection and allegiance as if thos
bullets had never sped across tn
fields OF civil strife. There is o veal
and evil sectionalism which distrust
all who do not live in its particula
region. There is, as well, fruitful
and noble sectionalism which simpl.
exalts love of home and interest AM
affection for ones neighbors. Out @
such sectionalism as this have com
the great literatures of the world. til
great unselfishness, the great hero
isms, the great sacrifices, the grea
men. l speak in no parochial spirit
therefore, when | say that Virgins
seems to me the most distinguished
the most engaging, the most fruitful
in spiritual sense, and the most III
selfish of American Commonwealth.
Perhaps the supreme distinction {
all life is motherhood. No one ca
deny to Virginia the authority tina
springs from this motherhood of TIN
republic. Our civilization surely be
gan on her water courses, and on
Democracy was Graded in her mour
tain valleys. The story OF job
Smith and the arrival OF the slav
ship stamp her dimmest beginning
with a stamp OF romance and TRACED,
/ The Mayflower is, indeed, an epic shi
=