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THE HESPERIAN.
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1 .Vol. XXVIII.
LINCOLN, NEBRASKA, MAY 8, 1899.
No 30.
THE CONTEST.
Rollo L. Lyman wins First Place in the Interstate Con
test; George L. Farrar, second; S. M Holladay, .
third; G. D. Talbot, fourth.
The twenty-sixth annual contest of the Interstate Association
took place in tho Oliver Theatre, Friday, May 5. Mr. Lyman
of Boloit, Wisconsin, won first place with an oration entitled
"Tho Altruism of American Expansion." George E. Farrar
took second place, his subject being "The Coming King."
Tho s Oliver was crowded and tho contestants wore given
careful attention. Tho University of Nebraska rooters wore
in groat prominence as wore also tho delegation from Tarkio,
Missouri who occupied tho front seats in tho parquet. A largo
ninnrni-Smi from flrmi'liton Univoroitv was present and a small
ono from Simpson Collogo, Indianola, Iowa. Nearly every
fraternity in tho University was well -represented. Sigma Chi
occupied ono of tho lowor boxes and they wore very enthusi
astic when their man won Brst place. Delta Upsilon had seats
in the dross circle. Their representative, Mr. Farrar secured
second place.
President F, B. Hill of Carloton College, Minnesota called
tho meeting to order and introduced Ohancollor Mac Loan who
made a short addross of welcome. Music was rendered at
intervals during tho evening by a quartette consisting of
Perkins, Sumner, Reed, and Gillespie, and Miss Eugenie
Gotnor and Miss Annie Shaw. While tho crowd was waiting
for tho decision of tho judges, Chancellor MacLoan took con
trol of tho meeting and called for speeches from President
Thompson of Tarkio, President Hardin of Eureka, President
Harris of Simpson, and the three juages on ciomuiy, x. a.
'Dewey, Dr. Charles bayard Mitcnoii, ana vy. o. rrynu. xu
decision, of tho judges giving first place to Mr. Lyman re
ceived tho general approval of tho audience.
John Aldrich Chamberlain of Donison University, Gran
ville, Ohio discussed the "Legislative Control of Cities" Ho
said that "tho Anglo-American race has surpassed all other
races in tho advancement of civil liberty, but the city problem
still awaits satisfactory solution." He lamented tho fact that
our municipalities are under tho supervision of our stato legis
latures. "The superiority and efficiency of tho municipal
governments of England and tho continental cities have aroused
our citizens to tho fact that municipal homo rule is necessary
to healthy corporate life." He said that municipalities can
not grow until they are taken from undor tho control of stato
legislature Then, with men of largo intelligence and conn
ate devotion of thoir duty as public officials we may expect
municipal reform. "The continued mismanagement of our
;n0a tii mat Ann tho stftbilitv of our national life. Chicago
not long since was placed undor martial law and tho public
square of Cleveland was a scono of anarchy." "Tho wavch
word for tho future should bo not loss national spirit but a
stronger sense of local responsibility, r.ot less Americanism
but an Americanism intelligent enough to recognize its faults,
brave enough to correct them and wise enough to withdraw
its eyes from tho past and turn them toward tho future which
is so full of promise?"
Ernest G.Toan of Oarleton College, Northfield, Minnesota,
had "War a Factor in Civilization" as tho subject of his
oration. Ho said that: "Strife is tho law of progress. In all
tho world's greatest attainments in art, in law, in morality,
military nations have boon the loaders. Tho stagnant- civiliz
ation of China is but tho wretched monument of a decrepit
military power." "The groat factors of human progross, are
Christianity, commorco and war." "War is tho clashing of
great ideas. Each nation has her individual principles and tho
conflict of arms shows tho tenacity with which she holds thorn."
"In tho evolution of nations, problems have arisen which
could only bo solved by war. To tho battlofiold, the court of
last resort, so long as hatred, malice and jealousy possess the
hoartB of men, must Truth and Justice appeal their cause."
"Groat contests of nations have boon for tho good of humanity.
In tho wider economy of Gjpd, war has been sent not to satisfy
hatred, avarice and lust for glory, but to spread civilization,
build up national character, and determine tho dostinies of tho
race. Thus has tho wrath of man been made to praise his
creator." "Long continued peace may deprive a nation of its
strength." Mr. Toan vividly described tho horrors of war
and closed with a beautiful tribute to America.
S. M. Holladay of Simpson College, Indianola, Iowa, dis
cussed "Twentieth Century Politics." Ho said that "Politics
is a science. Introduced to tho human race by God, Himself,
its principles have ever engaged tho minds of men, intensifying
and determining their action."
"Who shall manipulate tho politics of our country? What
thoir preparation? What their responsibilities? The twentieth
century answers: Every citizen; his preparation, tho righteous
exorcise of all his powers in a lifetime of research and practice;
his responsibility, tho destiny of a nation."
"Twentieth century politics must produce patriotism of a
noble typo; a patriotism that will accept positions of, honor
and trust for public good, rather than for private gain: that is
as true to tho ballot box as to tho private coffers; a patriotism
that will challenge crime in high places, that will chaiopion
tho cause of the oppressed, that will throw itself into tho rush
ing torrents of great issues; a patriotism that goes deeper than
sentiment or private interests, that is broader than any creed
or party, that has its source in divine law; a patriotism that
can stand against the calumny which demagogues devise and
to which schoming politicians resort."
"Tho glory of our nation will .be that we have conquered the