THE HESPERIAN
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Nebraska Debate.
"Should Uncle Snra construct nnd operate Nicaragua Ca
nal?" At the weekly mooting of tho Manila Debating Socie
ty in their hall in Binondo Saturday last, Mr. 0. W. Moier was
re-elected president for another three weeks term. After a brief
musical program consisting of recitations and comic and senti
mental songs, the debate oponod on tho question "Should tho
United States construct and operate tho Nicaragua Canal?"
The canal as a project was discussed from an engineering, fi
nancial and political standpoint. The negative debaters ob
jected on the grounds of tho difficult topography of the coun
try and raised the question of the competition which must en
sue between the big trunk lines of North America. The fail
ure of tho French lottery scheme with tho Suez Canal and Mr.
DeLe8seps' ultimate downfall was held up as an example and
warning and the bond question reviewed. The affirmative
held up the Suez Canal as a favorable precedent, for their prin
cipal argument. The importance of the Suez Canal to Eng
land as a short cut to her rich oriental possessions and her
diplomacy in gaining control in tho ownership, was an example
which in the probable event of American possession of the Phil
ippines and our growing interests in China and Japan would
be well to consider in regard to the Nicaragua Canal. This
would be an important factor in our commerce, and aB regards
the maintenance of a larger fleet and army involved in the
realization of such a scheme, our present Atlantic and Pacific
fleet with such an increase aa the eastorn possessions would
warrant, would surely bo sufficient for a safeguard to this new
highway of American commerce. Messrs. Motter, Riley and
Sobotka debated on tho affirmative and Messrs. Long, McElhoes
and Pearson on tho negative.
At the close of the debate it was proposed to hold joint de
bates with tho othor sociotios and a committee was appointed
to arrange the same. Tho question next Saturday will bo:
"Should civilized countries have tho right to conquer and sub
jugate semi-barbarous nations?" Manila American.
feel confident that it will compare very favorably with othor
annuals of its nature. Tho support of the student body and
faculty in tho enterprise is being well shown, and tho outlook
for tho financial success of tho book is not at all discouraging.
Nearly every organization in the University has given hearty
support.
Tho editors say that they still want more good material in
tho shape of rhymes, short snatches of prose or poetry, jokes,
gags, cartoons and drawings of all kinds, in fact, any old
thing that is of tho spirit of the University. Jokes on indi
vidual professors and students are especially desired. All
material should bo handed in at once.
The Junior Annual.
The Junior Anuual is now an assured success. The book,
much enlarged over all former editions, will be issued about
the middle of April or the first of May. Tho board of editors
are' crowding Jhe work forward as rapidly as possible. A
groat abuudanco of good material has already been handed in,
and much more is in preparation. Tho editors will soon begin
to cull the material over and prepare it for tho printer. There
will bo a groat many now features added to tho Sombrero of
tho class of 1900, and a groat many of tho poor features of
formor annuals eliminated. One characteristic of tho book
will certainly bo true, it will be original. A spocial effort is
being mado to include in it a great many cuts and drawings of
individuals, of organizations, of classes, and of the Univorsity,
Tho pictures for this purpose are being collected as fast as
possible. Subscriptions are being solicited, several hundred
subscribers having already signed.
Tho annual board express great hope's' for their book, and
THE NEW PIPE ORGAN.
Conspicuous among those things to be added to the Univer
sity in tho year 1899 will bo tho largo pipe organ recently pur
chased by tho alumni association for the use of the University.
The instrument is perhaps the largest and finest of its kind
over brought into tho state. It was exhibited at Omaha last
summor during the exposition and was pronounced by experts
to be one of tho highest grade, possessing unexcelled work
manship and in every way a thoroughly constructed instrument.
Its tone is said to cover nearly all the instruments of a com
mon orchestra and to bo of sufficient volume for an auditorium
seating three thousand persons. It is built of solid white oak,
with hand carved pillars and tastefully decorated speaking
tubes in the front. It has three manuals with forty-one stops
and pedal movements of forte and piano combinations to both
swell and great manuals, and balanced swell pedal. Its
dimensions are 29 feet in height, 10 feet in depth, and 27 feet
in width and contains 2,255 pipes.
Tho manufacturer, Mr. M. P. Moollor, of Hagerstown,
Maryland, who exhibited the instrument at the exposition, has
- been in the business twenty-five years and is a master in the
art of organ building. Tho regular price of the organ is
$7,000 or thereabouts, but the alumni association has been
enablod to secure it at a much lower figure than this. Th"e
alumni, in securing this instrument for the University, are be
stowing a magnificent gift upon their Alma Mater, and deserve
tho sincere gratitude of every person connectedwith tho institution.
Resolutions of Sympathy.
Wheueas, God, in His omnipotent wisdom, has deemed
best to take unto Himself tho beloved father of our president,
therefore wo, in behalf of all tho members of tho Union Liter
ary Society of tho Nebraska State University, extend our
heartfelt sympathy, in this hour of boroavomont, to Porse A.
Morse and all those who hold tho departed dear; and, in sub
mitting to tho Divine Will, we commend them to Him who is
over a strength in time of trial.
Lilian M. Chase,
Clifton J. Platt,
R. E. Hulett,
Committee,