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About The Hesperian / (Lincoln, Neb.) 1885-1899 | View Entire Issue (May 6, 1898)
s THE : HESPERIAN judges choHen failed to appear, a loeal politic ian and a reverend gentleman took their places. Moreover, our representatives had prepared on the question that Hawaii should be annexed to the United States while the Missourians insisted that the question was that annexation would he beneficial. In the Kansas contest, while our represen tatives showed more ability to argue, to refute argument and a better comprehension of the the question under discussion, yet they were clearly outclassed from the point of delivery. The Kansans had good stage presence and perfect self-possession, proving to be experi enced platform orators. thi: Missonii dkiiati:. The Missouri contest took place in the chap el of M. S. L. at Columbia, last "Wednesday evening, before a fair sized audience. Dr. Hicks presided. Chancellor Chaplin, Father O'Roilley and B. M. Anderson were the judges. Mr. G. II. English of Missouri, opened the discussion. He urged annexation because of the geographical position of Hawaii, the ne cessity of a coaling station and the commerci al advantages. Mr. F. G. Hawxby of Nebraska answered Mr. English. The speaker began with a dis paragement of the islands thinly populated and in the hands of an Asiatic hord. "It devolves upon the affirmative," declared the speaker, "to show the expediency and con stitutionality of annexation." After literally annihilating the argument of his opponent Mr. Hawxby showed that we would gain nothing by annexation which we have not without it, and that annexation would be a dangerous precedent. Mr. Highley, of Missouri, spoke next. His propositions were: 1 . The importance of con trolling the Hawaiian islands. 2, Their necessity for Pacific trade. .'. Their value from a commercial standpoint in securing Asiatic business. Mr. G. E. Kindler followed Mr. Highley. The speaker's exordium questioned the pro priety of annexation, and the danger of dissi pating the energies of the American people. Next followed an attack upon the islanders a badly mixed, unassimillative, licentious, ignorant and brutal people. The assimillativo power of the Anglo-Saxon race is now taxed OarMero's $3 Welt Slwes luuve tlie Style and to its utmost, lie concluded tnat the Hawaii ans were incapable of maintaining a republic. Let America attend to her business. Ameri ca ought not to bequeath to posterity the international complication which would result from the annexation of Hawaii. Mr. Coppidge, the next Missouri speaker proved to be rather witty. He urged that an nexation had been a slowly dawning necessity during fifty years (en passant) before the su gar trust gorged itself. Mr. Coppidge closed with the question: "The Kankas arc (lying. Soon a new race must live in Hawaii. Shall it be an American republic state, or shall an alien race menace the frontiers of our land?" Mr. Taylor, of Nebraska, was the last, speaker. Mr. Taylor entered into the status of the present Dole government of the islands. The Hole government was not a representa tive government. It had never been submit ted to the people of the the islands for their ratification, and the right of suffrage carried with it a property qualification of 8.3,000, which disfranchised every one but the sugar planters and their subordinates. Coolie labor prevailed in the islands and Coolie contract labor a euphemism for slavery. Mr. Taylor's argument in regard to the constitutionality was fine. Mr. English rebutted for Missouri in a flu ent and very effective manner. Mr. Hawxby closed for Nebraska in a forcible speech. He attacked the argument of the former upon the statement that Hawaiian sugar would injure American planters. Mr. Hawxby argued that annexation was not feasible. Tho ItfuiHiiM Debute. After two mass meetings, much advertising and street music by a brass band, an audience of four or five hundred turned out to the Funke, Friday evening, to listen to the fourth annual debate between Kansas University and the University of Nebraska. It was nearly nine o'clock when Supt. Saylor,of the Lincoln schools, made a few appropriate preliminary remarks and announced the question to bo discussed: "Resolved, that the English cabi net system of government would bo better for the United States than the congressional system." Mr. J. B. Cheadlo of Kansas opened the Wear of a $5 Slwe. Try tJienv. Foot Form