THE HESPERIAN
11
maritan's care we will always remain."
This struggle was the making of the
Society. Its principles became clear to all
members. The bond of sympathy in
creased. All were seized with an Alex
andrian spirit of conquest, and up to the
time I left the institution, the Palladians
never lost a fight in which they entered,
or took a step backwards. Whether ov
er the HEsr-ERiYX management, a fight
against member of the faculty, or any
where else, th3 Palladian colors always
waved triumphant over the last ramparts
assaulted.
John P. Hahtman, Je.
Seattle, Washington.
The Adclphian Society.
From 'HlMuritmlSkotoh of the t'lillitdlnn Literary Soulety.
187) to 1671", 1j.v A A Cummlng
As the close of the second term of 1873
drew near, the spirit of faction in the
Palladian Society ran high. The issues
were ;nainly personal, but the contest
was bitter. Mr. Cassius M. Cropsey was
a loading candidate for the presidency,
and enlisted in his favor a majority of
the older and more advanced students,
lul i'miid little favor among the young
er class, and those who were there for
the first term. The movement in his be
half had many of the features of an aris
tocracy of rank, giving to the older
members of the society a superiority of
influence and privilege that was galling
to the democratic spirits of later arrivals
at the 'University, and there was no lack
of loaders to shape the revolt against he
reditary privilege in society management,
louring the previous term some of the
members had grown indifferent, and al
lowed fines and dues to remain unpaid
u"tU they had been suspended from
Membership. Now these were carefully
sought out, their views consulted and
their interests allied with one or theother
Party, in many cases by the payment of
their arrearages on the books so as to en
title them to vote, and reinstate them as
members. When the meeting for the
election of officers was called to order, the
Cropsey party resorted at once to the
only tactics that could save them from
complete overthrow, by an attempt to de
clare the restoration of suspended mem
bers by the mere payment of fines and
dues standing against them, and without
any action of the society, an illegal and
void proceeding; seeking thus to throw
out the recently reinstated members, of
whom they had secured few, or none,
and so reduce the ranks of the opposi
tion to a minority. This action was not
wholly unexpected by the opposition lead
ers, and they stood firmly by the position
they had taken. About two hours were
spent in heated controversy, the confus
ion increasing as the war of words went
on, until the president, unable to decide
who was entitled to the floor, a. id hope
less of bringing order out of the pande
monium that was reigning, declared the
meeting adjourned and left the room,
followed by the entire Cropsey party.
Thereupon the vice president took the
chair and called for order, entirely ignor
ing the action of the president in adjourn
ing the meeting, as there was no consti
tutional authority for such action, The
withdrawal of the Cropsey party left the
meeting without a constitutional quorum,
and business could not proceed until two
or three lukewarm adherents to the op
position, who cared less for the success
of their friends now than for future per
sonal considerations, could be found and
brought in.
The bolting party assembled in an
office down town and took the prelimi
nary steps for the organization of a new
society, which, upon its regular institu
tion, was christened the "Adelphian"
with the motto iPer ardua ud (utra? a
good motto; and none who are convers
ant with the circumstances which led to
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