THE HESPERIAN
The Hesperian boliovcs in freedom, in
tho utmost tolornnco and broadest liberality
of action on the part of tho university and
its authorities. So believing, it would
heartily favor the granting of Momorial
Hall to tho students for dancing purposes.
To such action thoro could bo, in tho minds
of all fair-minded and intelligent persons,
no possiblo objection. It is a course that
has been pursued in all tho largor denomina
tional universities and has novor yet caBt tho
slightest reflection on either tho morals or
religion of such institutions. Viewed from
a standpoint of strict right and wrong there
can bo no two sides to tho question.
But every student in this school is, wo
beliovo, the ardont friend and well wisher of
tho University of Nobraska. Thoro is not
one who would wish, by his or her actions,
to imperil its hold on the good will of tho
people of Nebraska, nor its further growth
as a great institution of learning. And
thoro is not a student but knows that thoro
exists a very great, unfair, unfounded and
unreasoning prejudice, if not hatred, against
tho University on tho part of many esti
mable citizens of this state, mostly membors
of church denominations. They have long
been inclined to doubt not only the religion,
but even the morals of our school. On
such grounds they have earnestly fought
university appropriations in every session of
tho legislature.
Now, the question is one of expediency.
Dancing in Momorial Hall would give these
people tho weapon they so long have sought.
Tho partisans of Wesloyan University would
ask for nothing bettor. Tho outcry that
would ensue would bo narrow, bigoted,
intolerant; wo grant it, but it would hurt
our university. It would keop studonts
from us. It would injuro our chances for
an appropriation. Of this thoro can bo no
doubt. TnE Hesperian boliovos that our
patriotic studonts would rather withdraw a
perfectly just and legitimate request than in
any way to imperil tho well-being of tho
school. Especially would it bo fitting, us
wo have it on tho very best of authority that
thoir request can by no possibility bo grant
ed, for tho reasons above stated. Our stu
dents are wise, fair-mindod and able to soo
a point whenever made. The Hesperian
does not doubt that thoy will see this one
and act accordingly.
The Kansas-Nebraska debate will be held
at tho Lansing theatre in just about three
weeks from tho appearance of this Hesperian.
Tho question to bo debated is as follows:
"Resolved, that tho Initiative and Rofron
dum should bo introduced into our form of
government, after the manner of tho laws of
Switzerland." Work on tho debate, both
at homo and in Kansas, has boon in progress
for somo time past, and thoro is no question
but that every nerve will bo strained on
both sides to win tho victory. "Tho dobate
will bo decided by three judges to bo choson
by tho chancellors of tho universities inter
ested. Tho three Nebraska debaters have
an added incentive to thorough preparation
in tho two prizes offered by Messrs. Man
dorson and Estabrook, of twonty and ton
dollars respectively, to bo awarded to the
first and second best dobators on tho
Nebraska side.
That tho dobato will bo a success, and
that from a Nobraska standpoint, thoro can
bo no question. The rcdoubtablo and un
conquerable Ajax Apollo Weaver heads our
list of talking machines, and this fact in
itself assures a glorious and overwhelming
victory. All schools havo orators and de
baters and doclarors innumerable Nobras
ka oven more than innumerable for our class
meetings, club mootings, conventions, otc.
havo long since demonstrated that every
single individual student in school from E.
0. Amos down to Prof. Clarke's justly
celebrated Hygiene class, is a well qualified
and able orator-dobator. But oven Nebras
ka has but one Ajax. And Ajax, Ajax
with his unansworablo logic, his heated ges
tures, his firo flashing oyo, his firmamont
splitting voice, his godly indignation and