The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-03
Auburn Home Coming Week
Ushered In With Cordial
Welcome to Visiting Alumni
Continued from Page One)

cy, and protected its sanctity by numer-
| Gus constitutional provisions. The whole
theory of the common law was that the
home must be protected against invasion
and must be as inviolate against intru-
| sion as the impregnable castle with its
| moats and towers, its fortifications and
drawbridges, in which the privileged few
in feudal days found safety and pro-
lection, when men were lawlesS and
the rule Of might prevailed.
1.-THE recognition of the worth and the
protection of the rights and privileges of
the individual man was the peculiar ex-
cellence of the English common law. Its
maxims as Judge Cooley declared were
those of an independent race, accustomed
in an unusual degree to freedom of
thought and action and to share in the
administration of public affairs, and ar
birtrary power and uncontrolled author
ity were not recognized in its principles.
I'VE today enjoy the fruits of the abors
of the brave and hardy pioneers who PEN
etrated the wilderness and though men,
aced by a savage, treacherous foe, de-
prived of the comforts of civilized life,
never lost one jot of heart or hope, but
undaunted by famine and pestilence, con-
tinued the struggle until they had wrest-
ed this fertile land from the Indians,
and resisting the tyranny of a king es-
tabished a government for the people
whose rights were for the first time pro-
tested and secured by the solemn guar
antees of written constitution.
"Freed from the tyranny of the feudal
system, the binding shackles of religious
intolerance, inheriting as their birthiight
love of liberty and a hatred of op-
preston. our Anglo Saxon ancestors re-
pudiating the divine right of kings and
the ancient doctrine that the right to
govern mankind was vested in the priv
ileged few swept with resistless might
across this continent until one flag waved
between the Atlantic and Pacific over a
new nation, which had consecrated this
land as the theatre for the mightiest
achievements of the Anglo-Saxon race.
From little fringe of states border
ing on the Atlantic this republic has
grown into a mighty empire, and it's
wonderful growth and prosperity Is large
ly due to the inspiring influence of that
splendid system of constitutional govern
ment established by the loving care and
wisdom of the fathers. The fundamental
principles of free government which JEFF
ferson proclaimed in the immortal decla-
ration, and which were afterwards en-
bodied in the guarantees of both state
and federal constitutions, will never grow
obsolete.
Fundamental Principle
"We should not forget in this day
when the privileged few are too often
allowed to use the power of government
for selfish purposes, that the one fun
damental principle which the trainers
of our constitution sought to establish
was the rights of the individual man.
To overthrow special privilege and to
open wide the doors of opportunity to
each Individual citizen was the chief
purpose they sought to accomplish.
THE wise men who framed our or
ganic law were profoundly versed in
history. ancient and modern, and Its
lessons, had taught them that every eff
fort to maintain free government in the
past had failed because the privi-
legged few had been permitted to SELFISH
ly seize the agencies of government as
instrumentalities to increase thir indi-
vidual power and wealth at the expense
of the interests of the masses Of peo-
pie.
Ladies and gentlemen, from whatever
state You come, whatever may have
been the reward you have received or
the misfortune you have suffered, on
behalf of the state of Alabama l bid
you heartfelt welcome and feel as
sured that from your home coming you
will find renewal of courage and Of
inspiration and be better prepared to
go back to renew the earnest duties Of
life. Through your lives and influences
may the fame of this institution be
spread until the whole country Will
recognize that here at Auburn man and
woman in Alabama to win that success,
which is always the reward of thorough
preparation. of industry, courage and
virtue.
1T is gratifying to know that sons
and daughters of Alabama need no
longer seek their fortunes In distant
states or foreign lands.
Notwithstanding the wonderful prog
ress We have made the state Is yet in
the infancy of Its development New
fields are to be cleared and cultivated.
new factories erected. new railroads
constructed and here at your very doors
fovtune aad fame awaits him who will
seek it's golden prize.
Let ussau here today under the in
spiration of this presence firmly resolve
to concentrate ourselves anew to the
: