THE HESPERIAN.
5
not take vengeance and be just, what object should it have in
view in punishing criminals. It should protect itself from a
repetition of the offense and it should seek to reform the
criminal. More than this it should not attempt. The qucs
tion of sanity should not enter into the trial. When a mur
dercr was brought before a judge the question would he
"Was the crime intentional and not in self defence?" If it
was, then let the criminal be imprisoned until it appears that
he will, in the future, obey the law. Further than this the
state cannot go without great danger of being unjust and
thus defeating its real object, the prevention of crime. This
leaves no room for capital punishment, for, while a man thai
had heen hung would no longer desire to commit homicide,
one could not say that he had been reformed.
When the London Times first published the forged letters
it seemed as if a great injury had been done to the Irish
cause. At that time the Times had more influence than any
other paper in England, and the fact that it published the
letters was taken, by many, as proof of their authenticity.
The letters hurt Ireland by associating her champions with
crime and bloodshed. The proposal to grant home rule was
denounced as an attempt to place a part of the government
of the British empire under the control of assassins. Since
the collapse of the Times' case, public opinion has under
gone a complete transformation. The concession of home
rule is a foregone conclusion, but if it involved the with
drawal of the Irish members from parliament, it is safe to
say that it would be conceded by the English people with
genuine bonow. I'amell, Davitt and Dillon stand next to
Gladstone in the public estimation. This change in public
opinion has been so great, I'amell and his lieutenants are so
justly popular, the cause of Ireland so nearly won, and all
this so largely on account of the forged letters that the
Times deserves the thanks of all friends of Ireland.
A bill, providing for the payment of a bounty of one cent
a pound on beet sugar, has been introduced in the legislature
of this state, and will probably become a law. The bounty
system has been tried many times. Many exotic industries
have been nourishc.l at the public expense. Russia paid a
heavy sugar bounty and the result was an abnormal
growth of the industry, then stagnation and panic. France
paid a bounty on sugar and as a natural result England
bought the article just that much cheaper. The merchants
of France could afford to sell sugar at less than cost, because
they made their profit on the bounty. France paid part of
England's sugar bill. It has been the same in every instance J
the many have paid the bills while the few have reaped the
benefit. When a state subsidizes one industry there is no
logic that will justify it in stopping short of subsidizing every
industry. The boot-black and the sugar raiser, the scaven
ger and ship-builder, they are all engaged in desirable in
dustries, they all deserve encouragement, and, as nothing can
be paid out as subsidy that has not first been paid in as tax,
each would receive what he gave and the community would
pay the tax-gatherer.
THE UNION CONTEST.
The third annual oratorical contest of the University Union
look place in the University chapel on the evening of March
9th. The audience that had filled the chapel were called to
order by H. T- Webber and the program opened by a piano
duett, Fantasia Orientale" by Misses Cochran and Pound,
which was beautifully executed.
The first orator was R. D. Church who spoke upon
"An Influential Class of Men." He outlined the character
of the typical American, and claimed New England as their
birth-place. It was the New England clergy who above all
others had influenced the development and growth of American
institutions. The colonial forms of growth gave them oppor
tunities and they improved them; they made the government.
They stamped their character indelibly on our institutions,
and arc today the type of American citizen. Mr. Church had
a well written oration but some figures, and the manner of
delivery were faulty.
Miss Edith Mockctt followed. Her oration on "Oliver
Cromwell," abounded in clear cut sentences and logical
argument; her delivery was distinct and catnest. She noticed
the never ending strife between liberty and despotism; the
human hatred of tyranny; the opposition to English tyranny,
organized by Cromwell, made England what it is today,
lie was not a religious fanatic, but the defender of political
liberty.
The next oration, on "James K. Polk" was presented by
M. I. Uigclow. He reviewed the political situation just
before the Mexican war and analyzed t he causes that pro
duced it. He charged President Polk with being the cause
of the greater strife that soon followed. Owing to a severe
cold Mr. Bigclow spoke rather hoarsely, yet his delivery was
forcible, argumentative, and well controlled.
II. J. W. Seamark then gave a tenor solo, True to the
Last," and received a hearty encore.
D. N. Lehmcr then spoke upon "Political Parties." His
production was well written and delivered in a free off hand
style. lie first concluded that no institution was wholly good
or wholly bad. Our government is the best representation
of the best system, but its greatest curse is its political parties.
They arc not democratic; they arc tyrannical. Let the people
and not party settle great questions and there will be more
patriotism and less demagogy.
Miss May Tower next gave, wjth a very pleasant, easy,
controlled, conversational delivery her oration on "A Momen
tous Question." She spoke of the great question pending
at the meeting of the twenty first congress, and gave a eulo
gistic review of the Webster-Haync contest. A review of the
ougin of the dispute with a description of the contest on the
floor of the senate, which settled forever the interpretation
to be put upon the constitution with reference to state rights.
The last oration, "The Best Occupation," was given by
A. M. Troycr. He believed that in deciding this question
three factors, health, wealth, and happiness should be the
guides; and held that the occupation of the farmer had many
inducements in this line; more independence, freedom, pur
ity, opportunity for development on the farm than anywhere
else. The arrangement was logical; the delivery easy and
unaffected. Mr. Troycr made an earnest, feeling plea for
the farmer and many a warmgrasp did he receive for it from
the farmer boys in the audience.
Dr. Eaton and Mr. Ilossack gave a banjo duett and were
repeatedly encored. Remarks and reminiscences by the
Alumni present were in order while the decision of the
judges was being made out.
The judges Messrs . H. II. Wilson, '78, S. D. Cox, 8o,
and C. E. Stratton, '80, awarded the first prize, twenty dol
lars given by the Union Alumni of '88, to Miss May Tower;
the second prize, ten dollars given by the society, to D. N.
Lehmer.
For fruits, confectionery, etc. you will do well to call on
L. G. Chevront, 1221 O street.
