Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-02-04
.ALDERMAN'S WAR SPEECH
THRILLS LARGE AUDIENCE
President OF University Says Amer
lea Is in Conflict to Save
Democracy.
GERMAN SYSTEM is TO BLAME
War, ny Prussian Sees II, n Normal
Incident OF Life and Proper Way
OF Promoting Grcatncss-Gnd Is
Left Out.

More than o,0o0 -peoplc-were turned
away from the doors OF John Marshall
High School yesterday afternoon when
Dr. Edwin y. Alderman. president OF
the University or Virginia, delivered
tie most thrilling address heard in
Richmond since the beginning Of the
war Tho speech was the splendid
feature OF the regular Sunday Sing"
ot the Richmond department OF Train
ing Camp Activities.
DIR. Alderman was introduced py
John ST. Miller. Jr, president or tho
First National Bank Of Richmond, fol-
lowing the customary community song
service.
Although 4 North Caroiinian By birth.
DR.. Alderman has long been recognized
as one Of virg!nia's most distinguished
citizens. and his appearance on the
platform Yesterday afternoon was the
signal ror instant applause There
is but ono theme for a public address
In these DAYS began pr Alderman,
land that theme IS ones country"
The United States OF America,
though ono OF the youngest c:v!!iza-
tions. is one OF the oldest governments
ON earth. England aloso among the
nations or Europe equals Il in age,
and even England has undergone such
radical changes in the past century.
as compared with the United States
as to constitute us, with our unchanged
government since 1889. tho most stable
of modern nations"
NEW EPOCH IS REGISTERED
~ AFFAIRS OF HCMANITl
Briefly, pr. Alderman reviewed the
mos; moving and appealing panorama
OF tho history OF the United States up
10 that fatetu! and tragic day of .Au-
gus: |. 1914.
Up 10 that time" DR. Alderman de-
c!ared, "we were trying to steer clear
o. rank socialism. and yet 10 develop
s3c:ety married hy n determination 10
give men and women a chance 10 live
:reer and richer life. And then, with
out warning, fell out this great up
hcaval of the world, SO vast. so fun
damentaI. despite its sordid and stupid
beginning, that all men realize that
a now epoch had registered itself in
human affairs"
"'rhe mind Of man hates war" con-
tinued pr. Alderman. "for II is the
ncsat!on of human reason. Tho soul
tho collapse OF civilization"
whatever way victory fails" de-
clarcd the speaker. democracy is dcS-
tined to stand is trial. and to be sub
mittcd TO : merc!icss cross-cxamina-
ton by tho mind and spirit of man.
1t may and will yield up some OF It's
aspirations: il will seize and adapt
some of the weapons OF its foes: IL,
will shed some OF its hampcr,nG weak
nesses, but it vii lstill remain dcmoc-
racy. and it is the autocrai. call him
king. czar or kaiser, IL you will. and
the mechanical state which will suffsr
and pass away in the end, rather than
the great principle OF democracy which
has fascinated every generous think
ing soul since freedom became the
heritage OF man and III defense OF
which this peaceful republic is now
stern!y marshalins its ba,,alions."
40 ABUSE FOR GERMAN:
FAULT IN MENTAL VIEW.
III DR.. .Aidcrman's brilliantly clever
analysis OF motives actuat,ne the
rrussian there ras evident the scholar.
the deep thinker, the man OF travel
and wide reading and observation. lie
did not abuse Germany nor the Ger
man people, but rather S;rovc 10 make
his audience understand that. with
Gcrmany's conception OF democracy.
Continued on Fifth Pagc)