THE HESPERIAN.
PALLADIAN ORATORS.
THIRD ANNUAL CHASE AND W1IREI.KR PRIZE CONTEST
IN ORATORY.
' Saturday evening, January 30, was the date for this friendly
trial of strength between members of the Palladian society.
The founders of this contest are two well known membcrsof
the class of '83, Messrs. Clement Chase and Dan. H. Wheel
er, Jr. who arc now engaged in business at Omaha. Their
gift of ten dollars for first prize is supplemented by a second
prize of five dollars given by the society. These contests are
of a character to draw out cultured and critical audiences, and
the present one was no exception to the rule. The chapel
had received no special decoration, as it is certainly pretty
enough for any kind of entertainment in its evcry-day clothes.
At an early hour the room was filled with University people
and a large sprinkling of citizens who as a rule show a gratify
ing interest in the literary efforts of the students. The exer
cises were opened with a piano duet, "II Trovatore," by Miss
es Grace and May Pershing, which was executed with th- vim
and dash so characteristic of the playing of these talented
young ladies. The first speaker, Mr. W. S. Perrin, was then
announced. He said in his oration on
A COSMOPOLITAN POET,
It is human nature to undcr-rate the ability of those who
cross our path. Modern literary criticism is not free from
this spirit, and literature suffers much thereby. The major
ity, however, freed from this spirit of ignorance and selfish
ness, acknowledge his right to fame the best, whose life-work
bettered most his fellow-men. One, thus successful, thus
ideal in much, and yet unduly criticised, is Henry Wadsworth
Longfellow. To prove him "unduly criticised," is the task
we undertake, to ofTcr our pitiful prsiie, the subject of our
tb;me. In proof that ?at. Longfellow possesses the higher
poetical powers, and csoecislly imaginative power, the great
est of all, we cite his "Skeleton in Armor." But he excels
in the mild and graceful, the artistic style, so befitting
Longfellow, the poet and gentleman. This craving for a dis
tinct national literature, is lamentable. Human nature is the
common theme, and human nature is cverywheic the same.
Universal sentiment must be the source of inspiration, and
genius, cosmopolitan the selfishness of others can never take
from us our literary heritage, and our own pride can never
create for us another. Shakespeare and Milton arc as truly
ours as if they had lived this side Atlantis' sunken isle, and
in this nineteenth century. Longfellow, then, sung a truly
native air, since he sung the superstitions and legends of his
country. That there are strains in his songs which ring of
other climes as well, proves him only a master of his art, that
he knows to choose the rest. His was pre-eminently a relig
ious work, to prepare his Puritanic countrymen for the new
phase of life, then dawning. This was his greatest work. It
was, withal, a work of preparation, and, as it is meet, was ex
ecuted by a master hand.
Mr. Perrin spoke with his usual earnestness, though suffer
ing from a slight cold that could but detract from the effect
of his delivery. The applause that followed the conclusion
of this well-finished production indicated 'that the efforts of
the speaker were fully appreciated by the audience.
Mr. W. N. Fletcher was then announced, and took his po
sition with deliberation and a firmness that promised well for
his first appearance on a special programme. His oration, a
synopsis of which is given below, was an eulogy on Stephen
A. Douglas, whom he characterized as
LINCOLN'S RIVAL
Douglas deserves an important place in American history.
He was endowed with wonderful talents, and they were al
ways given to his country, self made subservient to the
interests of his countrymen. Strictly partisan, yet never
swerving from the path of duty, never abandoning justice;
endeavoring always to raise his party, he at all times showed
a broadness of view that proves him to be above the dema
gogue. No mere politician, but a man of the people, it was
he who said "Let not that be forced upon a free people by any
power, which that people do not want." In the "War of
the Pamphlets," where he was matched with the most able
jurists of the American bar, he brought out clearly and dis
tinctly the creed and the truths of Democracy. In rank as a
statesman he stands with Washington, Webster and Clay.
His mission was that of mediation. He possessed the power
to overthrow the Union, but when the critical point came, de
clared himself for Union, first, last, and all the time.
Mr. Fletcher has a voice of extraordinary strength, and he
had no difficulty in making himself heard. His natural ten
dency to speak rapidly and vehemently was so far overcome
as to make his delivery a surprise even to his friends. The
oration was on the whole an unusual one, and very creditable
to the speaker. Under proper training Mr. Fletcher will dc
velope into an orator second to none in the University.
Following this number came a vocal solo "A Little Mount
ain Boy," by Miss Mary Leonard, which was enthusiastically
applauded
GRANT THE COMMANDER.
Was the subject chosen by Miss Glen Talbot. The object
of the inquiry was to determine his place in military history.
As chief Magistrate he was not a success, as general, he never'
failed. From no sudden dash, no single brilliant exploit,
sprang his fame. He won his way by steady work, against
the enmity of politicians and rivals. His clear judgment, his
calmness in every trial, his quickness of decision and firmness
gave him victory. He was not a butcher, but aman who did
not flinch when blood was demanded by the brazen gods of
war. He never flinched, and never was defeated. He com
manded more men than Xerxes, his forces extended over more
territory than those of Napoleon. Xerxes and Napoleon
met defeat, but Grant neverailed; he was less a butcher and
more a general than cither of them. Circumstances may
have been happy for the fame of Grant. The north was des
tined to crush the rebellion and would have done so inevitably
without him, but after making all deductions, history will find
his military career unsurpassed.
Miss Talbot's appearance was pleasing. She speaks
clearly and with spirit. Her style is hardly oratorical, how
ever, a fact disadvantageous to her in a contest. The oration
was compact and original, and was accorded an attentive hear
ing. The next exercise was a discussion of the decline of the
power of
SPAIN.
Mr. C. S. Polk said that the present condition of Spain
js due as well to the fact that she has not advanced, as it is to
the fact that she has receded. Spain, at the close of the 15th
century was the most powerful nation on the globe, but there
were elements of character in her people that prevented her
from remaining in that position. Superstition which was the
outgrowth of the Moorish conquest was one of the main ele
ments. Their disdain of labor and peculiar views upon what
constituted wealth, caused the decay of their industries and
led to suffering and starvation. She is today an
object of contempt, and has no hope for a
better future unless she sacrifices her pride and bigotry. She