The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-02-04
Great Crowd Gathers Hour Be-
fore Doors Are Opened and
Quickly Fills Hall
MANY OF NUMBER
LEFT ON OUTSIDE
STAY FOR MUSIC
President Alderman. of Uni-
versity of Virginia. Talks to
Audience Upon War and Ito
Results Upon Nation

Al least TWO thousand men, women
and children were turned away from
the doors of John Marshall High
school again yesterday afternoon al
the nth Sunday sing An hour be-
fore the doors opensd a great crowd
had gathered on the large portico OF
the school, and when the doors were
terium filed almost Immediately,
Many who came before the hour to
begin were turned away, but, I'M
daanted. they persisted In remaining
in front IT the school to gather the
faint strains % the songs.
Dr. Edwin A. Alderman, president
of the University os Virginia, who was
introduced by John VI. Miller. presi-
dent of the First National bank. ad-
dressed the large audience on
Americas purpose in the great war.
Every person Ia the big auditorium.
from small children, who were
sitting w. and three in "a seat on the
front row. to the older persons In the
back OF gallery. listened intently to
the learned educator as he unfolded
in a scholarly manner the problems
that America must meet.
Dr. Alderman said that the greatest
result OF this war would be a union
o. England, France and America not
tor conquest. out tor their collective
oetterment. We must prepare AIDE
9uafe armies and navtes.' he said
untii there shall come a day wae a
they wifi no longer he needed. IT gie~
mocracy is 10 be rnoiested b. autoc-
FNFS ha v,1uGs y,g.epas for of
New World Appears.
This is a new world we are enter.
ing INTO" he continued. 3 world fan
Uf revolutionary IDEAS. The govern
fHeat took over the railroads and the
itous= passed a vote fsvprlng woms n
suffrage. and no one hatled an eye.
But the greatest miracle OF them all
waF when congress passed the con
@cr!ption law. there was not a muir
mur from the entire country. This Is.
indeed, "a miracle, and | thank God for
st. There is great change coming
over tine worid--ws must prepare f3T
H."
President Alderman paid q wonder
ful tribute 10 LIS Belle France" the
ioreh.bearing, valiant. brave noble
France. that has reached the height
aad depths Of tragedy France pre-
sents 20 the world today he said,
the highest organized example of ef-
fciency seen ip three centuries. The
noble people uf The great French re-
public are the soul OF that great
country He told OF the unseIfish-
sess of France in saving America
with her battleships of the Chesapeake
hay--how France had saved the free
dom of the world with her valiant
stand at tho Marine, and how today she
is heating back the horles of Huns
hat are knocking at the doors of
the worlds liberty and freedsm.
Or. Alderman said that America to-
day is about t8 enter to the defenae
Of world democracy. lie said that man
human rsason--tt is the collapse OF
human cfviligation-but we have
oravely accepted war, The supreme
question In my mind" he said. lis
will war destroy or weaken demoore-
oy? One thing liz sure that where VIC
tory falls that thing we call democ-
lacy is destined to stand a trial la the
erueible of the world-but 1t will re-
main democracy.
Autoermey VIII Pass Away.
Tt Is autocracy that will pass away
strongly. The Prussian OF today
stands In the eyes of the world like
the French OF fTsa." DR.. Alderman
paid q tribute to the high standard Of
German civil and domestic life. but
he said the government OF an autocracy
relies on military organization. The
prussian philosophy Is duty to the
state. The essential tribute of the
state is power. The most essential
tribute OF powers is war. The natural
ana proper way to promote the great
ness OF state Is eviln ess and the nnal
course is world war. The nation that
had n soul would never have sunk
the Lusitania- and invaded Belgium
and France"
He said there was no truth in the
assertion that Germany leads the world
In science and invention. But" he
said. Germany Ia prs-eminent In one
thing--she has deluded herself In
thinking that England could be in
veeed. that France could be trampied
under foot. and that America was so
sordid that she could be 6rtbed. In
such thoughts Germany Is highly su-
pcrior"
Autoeracy needs n breath OF liberty
ard freedom. DIR. Alderman said and
America must prepare 10 give it, lie
said that war brings bis thoughts to
democracy. thoughts of soul. and
thoughts of something besides self,
"All the world wants peace" he
said. land God knows II needs 1T. But
this peace cannot be based on what
I. used to be--there can be no status
quo ante"
President Alderman expressed the
frm conviction tiat tho allies will hold
the enemy ut bay until America can
rush help. pron America depends the
success Of the war, and the speed
with which we prepare will be, the
turrfing point. He also said that wars
today are won behind the line Ger
many Is working insidious propaganda
l6.ontinusd on Second Pager