Evening star., 1927-04-14
DEMOCRACY'S FOES
SCORED BY BUTLER
Charlottesville Gathering Is
Told Need of Civil and
Individual Liberty.
Rs the Associated Press.

Ey the Associated Press.
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va, April
1.-THE theory Of the Mussolini gov.
ernment of Italy challenges us
direct" and If we are to resist. we
must make our democratic doctrine
efficient by restraining civil and in
dtvidual liberty, Nicholas Murray
Butler, president of Columbia Univer-
sity, asserted here yesterday, in
addressing the University of Virginia
at Founders day exercises celebrating
the 184th birthday Of Thomas Jeffer.
son.
Chasing the theory Of the Italian
government as the most important o.
the attacks challenging simple faith
in democracy. DR.. Butler prophesied
that Russia would in time form q
government with its foundation upon
Jefferson's teachings after the al
ready fading Communism had failed.
Meetings in the afternoon as &
continuation of the celebration, the
Thomas jefferson Centennial Commits
sion, headed by Stuart B. Gibboney,
appointed a committee TO invite Presi-
dent Coolidge to attend its next meet
ing here, July 4, and passed upon the
report which win be submitted to
Congress. This report recommended
the setting aside of April 13 as an
annual holiday: the establishment in
Washington Of a patriotic shrine to
jefferson and the continuation of the
commission
Tributes fer Tomb.
Following a reception at Monticello.
the home of Jefferson, floral tributes
from committees throughout the coun-
try were placed upon the Jefferson
tomb. These included wreaths from
Hawaii Havana. Mayor James J.
Walker of New York City, the Tam
many Society Of New York City, the
Southern Society of New York and
committees in many States. Previous
to the exercises at the University in
the morning, the Tammany Society
placed a wreath at Jefferson,s birth
place in Sha0Wen. Grand Sycamore
George F. Kreykenbohn, asserting
that the Tammany Society was found
ed upon the principles eXpounded by
jefferson.
Monticello and the University of Eir-
ginia were the peoples shrine on
whose altar the lamp was kept eter-
nally lighted by loving memory-the
tribute of great insights, great ideals"
the New York educator declared in
opening his address. Close to $500
persons packed Cabell Hall to hear
DR. Butler.
Thomas jefferson is even more
important in 1927 than he was in
1887" the speaker declared. after
pointing out that there was no longer
the simple faith in democracy which
we, as trustees. are holding for pos
terity.
Challenge to Democracy.
Can 1t be possible democracy has
become an obstacle to human happi-
ness and progress, he asked, saying
that democracy was challenged from
within and without and that at no
time in memory were the challenges
as emphatic as now.
Saying that Socialism was the least
violent of the attacks on democracy,
DIR. Butler pointed to Communism
in Russia and the Mussoiini rule of
Italy's outstanding attack. Accord
ing to Liberal Democrats, he said, the
Democrat societies were societies of
collective mediocracy, jealous of eX
cellence. THE Democratic society is
going on the rocks; this is a new
day, why not face the facts Dr.
Butler said was the thought Of Lib
eral Democrats. IN consequence Of
this, he charged, we are now faced
with the groups or bloc system which
must affect compromise 10 carry
through its aims.