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About The Nebraskan. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1892-1899 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 21, 1896)
THE NEBRASKAN Vou IV. No. 10. UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA LINCOLN, FEBRUARY 21, 1800. Pmck, 5 Cent P1NKERT0N IS TflE ORATOR UBIT IN THE LOCAL CONTEST Will ltoprosent Unlvoreity In tho Stato Contost at Donno Collogo Maroh 20th -Marks of tho Hpoakors. Friday evening, February It", tho an nual oratorical contest was 'held In tho university chapel. Enthusiasm Boomed (o bo lacking this year In oratorical matters, as it was noticeable 'that tho crowd was not neatly so Intro ns In former years. The first arator wan Mr. II. B. Alex ander. HJs oration was "The World Uraln." Ho attempted to prove that reason was tho court before which the various conceptions of God had ito bo put on trial. Ho showed to his satisfaction that a pantheism conception was the only reasonable one. Mr. Alexander did not seem at ease on the stage. His delivery lacked In force. "The Dean of American Statesmen" was the title of the oration of Snowdon Summers. He thought that Daniel WVbster was tho man who hold that position. He was a. little nervous in his appearance on the stage. Mr. S. W. Plnkorton, the university orator for 1896, will speak on "Tho South and the Race Question" in tho coming state contest. Mr. Plnkerton made a good Impression In 'the local contest, winning first place wlith ease. His delivery was easy, graceful and showed careful training and application. The subject was treated thoughtfully and In a novel manner. The following Is a synopsis of tho oration: "Diseases are Inherited. Tho political transgressions of our fathers have fal len upon us. That crime, which to them was a service of profit, later be came tho most baneful curse of the re public; and today Its effect menaces our entire social and political structure. For tho race Is 'the vital problem of tho hour. To deal with the negro so as to make him , valuable element In our government; to determine his position In relation to the civilization of this country Is the problem 'that is today con fronting the American people. "This Is essentually a southern ques tion. The .north has great Interests at stake, hut the south by reason of Its closer contact and more Intimate knowl edge Is bettor qualified to solve 'It Here in lies the beauty and excellence of our complex form of government. Local questions are left to be determined bv those most Interested In ithelr correct solution, and best acquainted with tho facts of which the questions arise. We of the north can aid; we can sympa thize; we can suggest; but we cannot solve without the hearty co-operation of the south. The south Is to solve the question of ithe hour. She Is giving her best 'thought and highest effort to Its correct solution, and she stands in need of all the sympathy and all the en couragement wo can give her. How nobly she has conducted herself since the war! With what patience and for bearance she has adjusted herself to the new conditions! What awaited tho return of the southern soldier? Was there a beautiful home there to wel come him? Did thrifty fields and well filled granaries meet his eye? The story needs no repetition. "Hut In recent years the dense Ignor ance and Illiteracy of the negro has been urged by the south. Intelligence Is be coming recognized as the most Im portant qualification of citizenship. Gradually the tafs are realizing this. The Idea i growing. It Is crystallzlug. What Is ft that our largo cities are to day demanding? What Is It that our nation has been needing so long? Citi zenship, Intelligent and capable. "Hitherto three-fourths of Ihe colored voters have not realized ithe Intrinsic value of the ballot, and I say it Is but Justice to the negro, iU the state, to the nation that ho Hhould promptly equip himself for the discharge of his dutlt-B us a citizen. Justice is given then both to the intelligent and Ignorant colored voter. Hut the Intelligent negro can not accomplish much whllo so many of his race am ln poverty and Ignorance The Individual, however learned, ac complished, or wealthy, must in a large measure follow 'the conditions of his race. What wo need itoday Is to edu cate them as a moMs; to stimulate in them a motive to become enlightened; to make them realize, above all, the high distinction of. cltllzenshlp. Then and not till then can wo look for development and vrogrcss, "Tho negro takes readily to civiliza tion. He 'has spent his life on Ameri can soil and 1b dn close touch with American ideas of progress and civiliza tion. Again they say: The igro is not capable of tho highest development.' This theory sinks 'Into Insignificance when confronted by tho throng of colored men who have attained distinc tion In tho last (thirty years! "Tho negro was brought here against his will; wo knowingly kept him in poverty and 'ignorance; wo reaped tho profit of his labor; and where Is the man, where Is the citizen, where Is the Ameri can, who at this time would Bhrlnk from educating and uplifting, these, the victims of our misconduct? Too long have they been left, steeped In degrada tlon and ilgnorance. From beneath the mists and clouds of their degradation they today call to us for rescue. Shall they call In vain? "Definite action must soon be taken. The Injustice of the struggle becomes yearly more apparent. It is bursting Into lynching and murders; the com plaining murmur of an (approaching storm. Tho negro's struggle will soon become organized and Irresistible. It Is time 'to become aroused to the real conditions of the problem. It is time for the nation to take upon Itself the task of educating and lifting ithese, her citizens. When these conditions are fulfilled, tho negro granted the blessings and privileges of tho olvlllzatlon which surrounds him. the north and south first truly reunited, with what faith and hope can we look forward to .the future! What grandeur and sublimity does 'that future hold! What priceless legacies yet to bo conferred upon us, as citizens! Then let us be taught ito. live and work In 'harmony and unity, itaught to en large our conceptions to the circle of our duties, and then ihand Hn hand, shoulder to shoulder, brother with brother, we will march on ito tho consummation of an achievement, on to the grand triumph of the centuries, whose vastness and grandeur and majestic fulness can bo symbolized only by the Inflnltonens of eternity." "Mlrobenu" was ithe subject on which Mr. E. E. ledger ton spoke. He por trayed the conditions existing in France prior to tho revolution. He then gave an account of the part played by Mlrabeau in the States Gen eral of France. Mr. Edgerton held tho attention of his audience. He has an excellent composure on the platform. Next H. W. Qualntance delivered an oration, "Trial by Jury." He sought to prove that wo had outgrown the Jury system. It rather pantook of the fun of a debate than of an oration. His .delivery was easy and graceful. The last oration on this program was by L. J. Abbott, Jr. The title of his oration was "Senior Bollvtis." He thought this hero of South America should bo classed with Mlrabeau, Washington and other world heros. His oration was not well committed and- greatly affected Ills delivery. S. W. Plnkerton wus awarded llrst place, H. W. Qunlntnnoe second, and Snowdeu Summers a close third. The markings were ns follows, tho letters in the left hand column being the Initials of the speakers: On Ms. Holmes. TlblKittH.HmUh.TMl. II. H. A. Oracle.. !. 90 93 271.02 Hank.. 3 2 11 H. H. Oracle.. 91.40 OS 100 2VJ.40 Hank.. A 2 1 . 7 8. W. V. Orudo..J00,00 NO 94 27-1 Hunk.. 1 r. 3 9 !'. 10. K. Oracle.. 9.1. Vt M SO '.1.1.55 Hank.. 3 " ,3 II. W. Q. Oracle.. M.77 ' 22i.77 Hank.. 3 4 5 ' I,. J. A Orado.. KI.2S 100 90 279.25 Hunk.. 5 1 10 Delivery. Hammond. FrostMimger.'rtl. H. H. A. Orado.. 75 M) '75 ' 230 Rank.. 0 ' " 17 8. 8. Oawlo.. 90 7.'. 90 2.V. Hank.. 3 . ,0 3 12 8. W. 1. Oracle.. 100 M 2W Hank.,. 12 4 7 F. K. K. Oracle.. 80 100 100 280 Hank,. "ill 7 H. W. Q. Orado., 95 ' '"' 275 Hank.. 2 4 2 8 L. J. A. Orado.. 85 ; 90 M 255 Honk.. 4 3 5 12 Tho grand total gavo 8. W. Plnkerton grado 5M, -rank 10J H, W. Qualntanco grade MI.77, rank 10; Snowdon Bumnorw grade 544.4, rank 19; F. 14. Edgerton grade 541.55, rank 20; 8. J. Abbott grado 051.23, rank 22; H. H. Alexander grade 601.02, rank 28. Rectors sodaountaln, alwaya ready for use use It. HIS INDUCTION INTO OFFICE THE FORMAL CERMONY OVER Tho Iianoing was ijaokod to Hoar tho Chanoollors Inniugural Addroas- Estabrock'a tVItty Speech. With all ithe ceroniony and pomp be fitting such an ocaiolon, George Edwin Mac-Lean was inducted into the office of chancellor of 'the broska lost Friday great event in the university of No- nPternoon. It was a 'history of tho uni versity and the stite as well. Before 1 o'clock the people had be gun to gather In ront of the Lansing theatre, where the exercises were held, and by 1:50, the time the doors wore opened, the crowd, was even dense. Tho cadet battalion rid; band had been formed in tho nrm ry at 1:30 and a little before 2 o'clock co dd be scon marching down Thirteenth trjeet iro the theatre. 13y 2:20 every avail Lblo seat in the build ing had been talen and many were standing. Scarlet and cretin, the university colors, were everywhere In evidence. lum arch tho great ty was hung. From suspended, tho upper Above the prosce seal of the unlven it beautiful strca is wore some of them rea hlng to Ikxos, When ithe curtail was a burst of ap Uio stage were so:; visitors, ahe large bora of the faculty Tho exercises b went up at 2:35 there Iause from the audi once that almost spook the building. On ted the distinguished bhoriiH and the meni- fgan with a selection by the university orchestra, conducted by August Hngejiow. Tho Invocation was then offered ty Rev. O. W. Flfer of Geneva, a membir of 'the class of '89. President Morrill,' of the board of re gents 'then made ia neat little address, In which he welcomed the audience to the exercises aboit to take place. In closing his address Mr. Morrill pre senteel Chancellor ''MacLean with a United States flag and a charter of the university. Ho then declared ithe chnn. cellor formnlly inducted Into office. Chancellor MacLean made a brief reply, speaking with deep feeling. The flag, with -Its scarlet and cream stream ers, was unfurled and laid on tho read ing desk. The Inaugural hymn, written by William Reed Dunroy and set to music by Wlllard Kimball, was 'then sung by the largo chorus. Chancellor MacLean was Introduced and proceeded to deliver the inaugural nddress. In spile of its great length, the address was listened to with the closest attention. The history of ytate universities, especially during ithe lost ten years, was admirably developed. Almont every phase of university edu cation was given ample consideration. A great deal of (Information about our own university was given, and com parisons made between ithe work clone by It and other universities. The chan cellor thought that the Inevitable cul mination of tho state .system of educa tion miiKt be the establishment of a national university at Washington. Had the Nebrskan sulHcletvt spuco it would bo glad to publish the address In full. Governor Holcomb was Introduced to give the congratulatory address on be hulf of the state. He reviewed the ad vantages of Nebraska nd her achieve ments in education. Ho thought that the university hnd done a great work for Nebraska. The common school system was repre sented by SUite Superintendent Corbett. He thought ithat Nebraska could be proud of the intelligence of her oltlzonrf. No other commonwealth on earth had suoh a smull per cent of Illiteracy, ho said. The university was also highly commended. Hon. H, H. Wilson spoke on behalf of the alumni and students, He was glad that the university was endowed by the common people and that It of fered a free education -to the poorest of Nebraska's boys and girls. Mr. Wil son's address was eloquont.and sensible and secured -the applause 'It deserved. Hon, H. D. Estabrook, on behalf of the regents and faculty, gave an ad dress which those who heard it will never forget. Ho held President Mor fill up to good-natured ridicule In suoh way as to bring out round after round of applause. Ho referred to Chancellor Canfleld as 'that "sawed-oft Hercules with the static force of dynamite." Ho ald ithe faculty were "inspired beggar and wanted the earth." "Why," said he, 'only a few days ago I got an almost tearful letter from one of ithem begging me 'In the name of hoaven and by hook or crook to ralso a few hundred dollars to buy a wagonload of miscellaneous bugs. He said 'they were so cheap no family could do without ithem." Mr. Estabrook called tho chancellor 'Mho best valontlno he could got for the uni versity." President Cyrus Northrop of the uni versity of Minnesota, In responding on behalf of the slater universities, paid a tribute to the chancellor, who had been associated with him for eleven years In Minnesota. In conclusion, President Northrop took ithe chancellor by the ha, id, saying; "I welcome you to the oiy of college presidents. I want you to be fully equal to your task while en tering upon It with humility. You will need great firmness and wisdom. But I believe In you and your success. 1 pray God to bless and keep you and make your years of service years of Joy and blessing to the great state of Ne braska." The audience arose and Joined In singing "America," and the benedic tion was then pronounced by Chancellor Dungan of Cotner university. PROF. ADAMS' VIEW. As to withdrawing from the oratorical association Professor Adams thinks that the oratorical contests have not been as successful as all concerned would wish them to be, the fault restlntr chleflv with the iudces: 'ho docs not know certainly whether It would be advantageous to the university of Ne braska to withdraw from itho Interna tional state league and form one with Kansas, Missouri and Iowa; but could thev do so he deems It extremely neces sary Ho have a clearly defined program which would be carefully followed. To make this venture a success a dif ferent course must be adopted as some thing Is lacking in these contests. Provided) the four states conYbine in a manner that will call forth the best powers of the contestants, the new league would be successful. He thinks that tho missions of the contests 13 not clearly understood, therefore they are not what ahey should be. Prof. Adams thinks t'he fundamental question In regard to oratorical contests Is not whether we shall continue to be long to ithe present association or form a new one, but what wo shall try to ac complish by means of an association. Either the present one or the proposed one will do us good If, by means of it, we strive for good things. Sometimes we have failed to got bene fit from the old association because our Judges have been unwisely selected, and the ioor exercise has been ranked above the irood one: sometimes because our speakers have failed to see what Is good and 'the Judaea have consequently had only poor material from which to choose. Either association will benefit 'the uni versity If the participants shall come to understand the purpose to be striven for In an oration, and 'If 'the Judges shall be carefully chosen and directed by a wise set of rules. MR. FRANK M, BUSH TALES RIFLES DRILL. The Pershing rifles gave an exhibi tion drill Saturdayafternoon at 3 o'clock In honor of the university's birthday. A mass of spectators lined the parade grounds on 'the east and south, and It was all ithat a dozen guards, with fixed bayonets, could do to keep the crowd back. The company was marched upon tho parade ground, having 'that qulck sten ithat turns backward the 'thoughts of every old soldier more than a quarter of a century. They were given "rignt front Into lino" and halted Immediately In front of the chancellor, regents, the governor and other distinguished guests. And then with words ithat en thused even moro patriotism into tho veins of 'tho young men, whom he called the post-eniduatea of the military de partment, Chancellor MacLean, on be half of Lieutenant Pershing, the father of the company, presented handsome mvorda to 'the officers of tho company, Capt. J. W. Dixon, first lieutenant, C. C. Pulls and Second Lieutenant C. F. Scwartz. In the Central Law Journal of Febru ary 14 apiears an article on "Actions on Penal Statutes," written by Roscoe Pound of this city. Francis brothers, proprietors of tho Capital Cafe, have purchased a new coffee urn and aro now prepared to dfspenso a delicious ovp it any tirr.c of ' night or day. TO THE POL. ECON. STUDENTS In Reploto With tho Good Common Honso of a Praotlcal Buslnoss Man Subntanco of his Spoooh On Wednesday evening, Mr. F. M. Bllsh, Lincoln agent for R. G. Dun & Co., addressed tho Political Economy club on "Commercial Agencies and Credits." This its the first of a aeries of praotlcal talks by praatlaal business men to bo given before tho club thin semester. Mr. Bllsh traced the origin aiid growth of commercial ngonoles. From planes of experiment they havo risen to positions of authority. In their early stages these agencies battled against tho prejudices born of tho gen eral antipathy of the American people for speculators. When the real work of tho agencies bcca,inc better known, not only business men patronized, them, but the courts early exitended Judicial sanction. To Benjamin Douglas, a prominent New York business man, tho mercantile world Is Indebted for tho present complex olllce system of the agency. Tho object of the agency is to give a true statement of the condi tion of each man's (business thereby to establish and sustain confidence where due, and to protect all patrons against loss toy fraud and failure. The total social benefit to the community Is In calculable. By means of an army of about forty thousand correspondents, the agency of Dun & Co. Is enabled to keep In clo-setouch with over one million business flrms.The last Reference Book published contains 1,300,000 houses. Dally notification blanks inform each subscriber of the mortgages fllid, fail ure, or renewals of the day before. In addition, special reports of any par ticular business are furnished patrons on demand. Formerly the employment of local reporters constituted a weak ness in the system now avoided by tho employment of special travelling and responsible local agents, as well as "by ithe Improved system of transmitting news. Mr. Bllsh then showed the class the agency Reference Book, the Daily Noti fication sheet, and read facsimiles of special reports. The club eagerly ques tioned Mr. Bllsh on the imlnuto details of ithe business, all of whloh questions were very clearly and felicitously an swered. The club unanimously ex pressed Its ith'anks to Mr. Bllsh for tho ilnsbructlve address, 'then adjourned. Hon. G. M. LanVbertson will address 'tho Political Economy club next Wednesday evening on some phase ot the 'treasury question. Mr. Lambertson Is too well known among university circles to need recommendation) as a speaker. Every student interested in the praotlcal workings of American llnance should arrange his work so as to be able to hear one who, from his,, personal experiences and observations, ' Is familiar with every detail of tho treasury system. A Senior, a Junior, a Soph and a Fresh Were debating one dny on tho merits of flesh. The Senior, of eating said beef was the half, While tho Junior claimed nothing's bo tender as calf. Tho Soph thought that mutton com pleted the blU, And the Fresh aaild of pork lie could ne'er get nis All. A Professor In passing that way hoard tihem talk, And he reasoned it out ns he kept on tols walk, The bull-headed Senior tried hard to look wise, And the Junior has calf-love affecting his eyes, A Soph 'Is too sheep-ish to let his 'thoughts soar, While the poor little Fresh is always a boro, W. U. Counvnt. Burlington's personally conducted excursions to Utah and California. A Pullman tourist sleeping car will leave Lincoln every Thursday at 12:15 ip. m. for Denver, Salt Lake, Ogdon, San Francisco and Lob Angeles, Only $5 for a double berth Lincoln to Lob An geleB In ono of these cars. Romembor there la no change of cara, For full In formation and tlckota apply at Bur lington & MlflBourl depot or city ticket office, corner Tenth and O streets. G. W. Bonnoll, C. P. & T. A.
