The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-06-17
lie Delivers Address at Ioint
Meeting OF Literary
Societies.
c EERFULLY OPTIMISTIC
Hundreds OF Alumni Are Back
Tor Closing Days OF
School Year.


School Year.
Charlottesville. Va. June is.-Colo-
mel George Harvey brought a stirring
message Of cheerful optimism to the
University Of Virginia tonight. when
ne addressed the annual Joint meeting
oi tho Washington and jefferson Lite
rary Societies ana large audience in
Cabell Hall
lie chose a fanciful subject for his
great speech--nYnely The Man in the
Moon. After wondering happily as to
the various theories about the moon.
and after referring pleasantly To the
idea that the song of tho dainty Jap
anese maiden, in which She says:
We re very much alike the moon and
lis taken to mean that Gilbert had
discovered a woman in the otherwise
placid orb. he proceeded to speculate
on what. Ia the light OF his great wis
dom, the Man in the Moon thinks OF
America to-day That was his theme.
What mayhap. does he think OF us
now? Colonel Harvey said What
does he think of US in America, free
and full OF life, as we are. in land
flowing with milk and honey. yet rest
less and disseminated from our own
mplaining and grumbling the day and
night through al one another? / saw
him the other evening. in all his mai
eSty ana glory. rise into view from be
hind the ocean. and at first thought
lie was laughing but. scrutiuiziug more
closely. ! perceived that he was only
smiling. smiling with eyes az we'll as
inouth, not in the least as if he were
contemptuous or disdainful. but quiet
- diverted br sense OF calm amuse-
fnent. not unmiXed with kindly for
hcarance and the sweet casonablcness
which We associate with gentle and
n.tst A,,,I
Is True Perspective Lostf
Can it be possible that the thought
ful Man IN the Moon suspects that TEN
porarily we have lost the true per
spective which has ever been charac-
teristic Of our race and the basis of
our advancement, and that. in conse-
qucnce We tend 10 magnify our Ills
while simultaneously We minimize or
even ignore our blessings? Let us II?
TO put ourselves in his place and gaze
upon ourselves from affair." with vision
undimmed by contiguity and unim-
paired by selfish consideration. What
have We lost that We once had that
may he considered essential to the wei =
fare OF nation and the welfare OF
people?
Our priceless heritage is tho RICH :
OF elf-government our most valued
attribute is the ability 10 exercise that
authority over ourselves not merely
as an example for all mankind. Has
the title been Initiated or the capacity
impaired Seemingly not.
The government al Washington still
lives But recently a complete change.
I Involving after many years the restora-
! ton 70 power in large measure Of this
! great section. has been effected with
] out causing ripple OF apprehension.
surely IL is fac; OF mighty signif-
canoe that. while centuries elapsed be-
fore Scotland could attain her former
( dominance in Britain THO south re :
sumes virtual control OF the United
States after barely fifty years with
/ out eyokue from tho mos, rabid par
/ tisan SO much as suspicion OF the
4 patriotism or fidelity of any one Of
( her statesmen.
"cn the contrary, II is universally
/ recognized that their installation sig
nailed a rcviviiication OF the Constitu-
ton, which their fathers conceived and
established a. the buiwark of huma n
liberties. Freedom Of worship Of God
and freedom OF schools for succeeding
generations are inviolatc still Poverty
is rare Physical suffering that could
possibly tie allcviated by action of the
State is not observable. Never be-
fore in the history Of the world has
so great a nation as our nation been
so signally blessed with respect TO all
things that suhscrve the happiness. the
conteutment and the opportunity OF
its citizens.
And yet, 1t is true that. for the
time, the business OF a mighty COM
merCial country is in a comparati tive
sense al a standstill development OF
natural resources has practically
c-ased essential confidence among
groups or classes is seriously i'm :
paired. and the very air is laden with
apprehension OF startling and grievous
happenings
Tangible Fears Summarized.
Colonel Harvey then sought the ex-
plaration OF these forebodings, which
gather the clouds OF anxiety and dis
trust lie summarized the tangible
fears under six heads:
/. Apprehension OF war.
. Oppression OF the poor by the rich.
3 The tariff and the trusts.
I Common extravaganza.
:. The observation-disclosures of credit
6. Effects OF popular agitation.
The reality OF these disqucting ele-
mcnts he dissipated by calling atten-
ton To the history of the country. the
reYivais after depressions far more dis
turbing than any of these could pos
sibly portend. and the fact that there
is nothing new or strange in them to
this country or 10 any country from
the beginning OF history.
In summing up the pressing issues
of to-day. Colonel Harvey said:
The one ovcrpowcrins problem OF
to-day consists of determining how
government can maintain an even bal
ancc between aEgrcgationS OF inter
csts on the one hand, and the whole
people. on the other, protecting the
latter against extortion and saving the
former from mad assaults
He said he believed that, in spite OF
the fact that the situation was with
out precedent progress was being
made along sane and cautious lines.
Colonel Harvey empha sized the duty
OF the present generation OF college
men especially when he said:
Hold fast to all things that have
proven true. hut strive necessarily with
wide eyes and open minds for the
best and finest that is within our ma :