University of Tennessee Knoxville - Volunteer Yearbook (Knoxville, TN)

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THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE KNOXVILLE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT GREETINGS FRON THE PRESIDENT: Your period of residence at the University of Tennessee has been an unusual one. For three years, while you were here, our country has'been at war.. For some of you this meeans your entire period of residence. Training detachments have come to the Uni- versity and have gone during that time. Navy of your friends and fellow students are in the armed services'o? the country; some have made the supreme sacrifice. VThe University student body has demon- strated very clearly the deepest motives of patriotism and consecration to the public welfare, YOu have carried yourselves with dignity and with apparent full recognition of the obligations of the times. You have not let the gloom which necessarily surrounds us deter you from duty. Fer all of these things and for many other fine qualities, I want to congratulate you. I want also, however, to impress you with the fact that, even when victory is won, your country will need your finest judgment and service. During the period following this war, we will have to wage peace and democracy. Democracy is a type of government and personal relationships that involves the exercise of the finest qualities of the human soul. The founders of this government recognized in the beginning two severe dangers inherent in the democratic processes. One is the possibility that reactionary forces, the pull and pressure of those who hate change, may set our processes in a groove so definite that progress in human relationships is not possible. The other is that forces demanding change without due regard for fixed values may pull out fine principles of established government to pieces. Extreme re- action or extreme radicalism cannot control in a successful democracy. Your responsibility is to pay great attention to the affairs of government, from national down to local; with full determination that only reasonable measures, progressiye but not radical in nature, may become a part of our machinery. You will, I am sure, use fine judg- ment and careful analysis of measures and relationships, and exercise extreme devotion to democratic principles throughout your life. In a world torn with strife and distraught with revolutionary activities the best that is within you will be the demand of the times. Your Alma Mater follows you with.hope and confidence as a part of her contribution to the welfare of our.great state of Tennessee and our Nation. WM 4w

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