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an insult to the intelligence and sense and justice of
every man who in the inter-state convention would
have voted, if ncccssar), to put Ferguson on the re
tired list. It is an insult to these gentlemen to in
sinuate that any such unscrupulous politician, as
the Wesleyans falsely accuse Fogarty of being, could
'have been able to so blunt their sense of justice as to
induce them to perfoim an unfair act. That
Mr. Ferguson is a plagiarist, the gentlemen of the
convention knew just as well as did executive commit
tee when they decided that his oration was not "en
tirely original." But it was unfair for Brown to act
as judge. So says our neighbor with a great display of
rhetoric and of wounded dignity. We may be par
doned for asking'if it was fair for Stuff also to act as
judge? Now do not jump at the conclusion that we
are going to say that Stuff should not have been per
mitted to act as judge. Yet he had infinitely more at
stake than had Brown. There arc more reasons why
Stuff might be influenced to make a wrong decision
than Brown. But we trusted Stuff. We have the ut
most confidence in his honesty. Although he voted
to 'acquit Ferguson we believe he did so from a
sense and justice. But perhaps before the matter is
settled, we may be able to convince even 'Mr' Law
that he too has been laboring under a delusion, and
hugging a phantom.
INTERESTING TO FERGUSON,
AND COMPANY.
LAW
It is with profound regret that Tiik Jlr.sri'RiAN takes
upon itself to furnish its readers with a few fa;ts in regard to
r the past life of Mr. Geo. O. Feiguson. We were content to
- .. allow him to remain in the oblivion to which the inter state
convention assigned him. But since certain of his friends have
made an attack upon us, wc propose to justify oursclvcs.bcforc
( the people and .show what kind of a man Mr. Ferguson is.
Wc 'idly realise the grave ic.-ponsibilities that rest upon us,
for those disclosures will, in all probability, result in cover-
,, jfJn Mr Ferguson with the infamy he so justly merits. Wc
jftOo not make it an especial point to train young men for the
' mniistry at the U. of N., but when wc do send out a man, as
a'ptcachcr, he possesses an entirely different kind of Christi
anity from that exhibited by some of Wesleyan's preachers
We send out into the woild young men who arc content to
use honest toil in thcii chosen piolessions. What a contrast
to the parasitic leech that has always grown fat by preying
upon the w oik of others. If Christianity teaches men to act
as sonic of the Wesleyans have acted, then may heaven pre
scive the woild from sucli Christianity. We have an cntiiely
different kind of Christianity in the U. of N. The publication
of those few facts will result in consigning Mr. Ferguson to
eternal oblivion. Eternal oblivion, did we say? No, we
were mistaken, rather to eternal infamy! Mr. Ferguson has
ever been a plagairist, in fact, as a plngiarist,his record is
unrivalled. Let the facts speak. While in Ord, where Mr.
Ferguson once preached, The Hesperian man gleaned a few
cold facts which we hereby present to Mr. Ferguson and his
friends to digest at their leisure. More might be given. Pcr
, haps in the future Mr. Feiguson may be content to remain
quiet for he, of all men, has a record that will not bear in
vestigation. At one time Mr. Ferguson was called upon to
deliver an address to a meeting of the Valley county teachers.
He promptly responded, and in beginning made a most pro
fuse and abject apology to the teachers, begging their pardon
for so insulting their intelligence as to appear before them
without preparation, He then proceeded to deliver a speech
which Gai field delivered to the students of Hiram College.
The people wcic so impicsscd with his powcis as an ex
temporaneous speaker that they bought him t silver headed
cane and picsentcd him with a handsome sum of money. In
one week the fraud was detected. Mr. Ferguson was com
pelled to give back the cane, and refund a part of the money.
Mr. McDonough of Ord, who contributed fifty cents, told Thk
Hesperian that he received all his contribution back.
On still another occasion, Mr. Ferguson preached an
Easter sermon of Dr. Talmage's, and so exactly did he follow
the sermon that he spoke of being, as was Talmage, "in St.
Paul's Cathedral at London." Said Judge Swilt of Ord,
"Don't the little fool know that we know that he has never
been in St. Paul's Cathedral in London?" These arc not all
his acts of phgiansm. Space prevents us from giving more.
Wc desire to show what the prcis thinks of Mr. Ferguson.
..Ord Quiz (May 2, 1890): "No better interest' has been
manifested in Ord the past few days over the charges of
plagiarism against Geo. O. Ferguson, the Nebraska repre
sentative in the'intcr-state oratorical contest. He had his
trial Wednesday and -was acquitted. His defense was incoh
scious memory. Geoige should quit memorizing other melt's
orations. At any rate it is to be hoped that he will profit by
this cxpeiicncc. The gentle reminders he received at Ord
seemed to do him no good."
Wc are reliably informed that the editor of the Quiz was
one of the leading ofliccrs of the church in which Mr. Fergu
son preached.
World-Herald: "Colonel Foiguson of Lincoln who enjoys
distinction of cribbing an oration is getting over his attack of
mental exhaustion. It is understood that he intends to de
liver a two hour speech on the subject, "Why Should the
Spiiit of Mortal Be Proud in a Soup House."
The Current, (Athens, O., May, 1890): Mr. Ferguson,
Nebraska's orator at the fntcr-statc contest is a plagiarist.
He cribbed from the orations that won first and second place
at Jacksonville, 111., 1881.
University Courier (Lawrence, Kan.): Had the commit-
i'tce which tried Ferguson the Nebraska plagiarist brought
in a just and manly verdict, the mimicing orator would have
Dccn consigned 10 uisgracciiu oiuiviuu. 11ns imug 01 un
conscious cerebration is becoming exceedingly tiresome.
Lawrence Kecord: -Young men, don't steal. Don't steal
a speech. Don't steal a congressman's speech, whatevcr'you
jdo. Besides being very wicked, it is very stupid. Steal a
speech of a councilman, or a member of the legislature, or a
"Sunday school pic-nic boss, but let a cogrcssman's speech
alone! It will do foi icc'itation in kindeigartens, but in a con
test of college students ically, you should know better. Uc
membcr Lot's wife and don't'forgct Ferguson!
The Delphic, The Nebraska orator had received first
rank on thought and composition (96, 90, 1) but such a strik
ing similarity was found to exist between his oration and the
fust and second honor orations (inter state) of 1881 that he
agreed not to appear on the program.
WHO I.I El)?
The Wesleyan college paper, The Eccritean, has made a
most surprising reputation' for veracity. We desire to call
the attention of the college world to the spirit of moderation
and fairness that so charactciizcs the columns of that journal.
Speaking of events after the state contest, the Eccritean, '
when referring to the proposed second contest between Mr.
Ferguson and .Mr, Collings, says: "Mr. Collings was person-
Oil
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