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About Hesperian student / (Lincoln [Neb.]) 1872-1885 | View Entire Issue (June 12, 1889)
THE HESPERIAN. face! Why is bo much attention paid to the laboring man, and ho little to the laboring woman? Why is it one-third less wages are paid for work if done by a woman? Flogging servant-girls and the pillory are barbarities of the past. Of course, we are not bo cruel as our ancestors; but there are 1,000,000 women in this country who are little better than slaves. They say women cannot combine like men to get their rights. The more reason men should aid them to do so. Girls, the working-girls are not different from yourselves. They have the same souls, the same tastes and desires. But their labor wrecks the body and starves the soul. Our boasted civilization causes this condition. This age has another god before God money. It is yet a heathen land. Money is the Medusa-head which turns men's hearts to stone. Cheap goods means starvation wages. There are dark corners iu our civilization. One element is lacking just ice. The oration was spoken to, not ct, the audience. Miss Tower's apenrauce was very graceful. Some manner isms were noticed, which, however, detracted little from the force of the delivery. Music, in the shape of a soprano solo, " Bird of Ixive," by Miss Lillian Chamberlain, was next offered. A clear, flexible voice and unaffected manner made the selection most enjoyable. Unable to silence with a bow the uni versal applause, she reapieared and sung a ballad very sweetly. G. O. llearn then took up the uilirmative of a debate on "Compulsory Public School Education." Kdiication is now popular. It must be made universal. This is the work of compulsory education. Our present system is unsatisfactory. Farmers' and miners' children are put to work early, Poor children receive little education. In large cities thousands grow up in vice and crime with no education. Our criminal classes are recruited from these beggar children. In Germany compulsory education has diminished crime one-half and pauperism one-fourth. In New York and Massachusetts it is a success. It is argued that the state has no right to dictate in this matter. The state has a right to improve its own condition Public schools are objected to because religion is not taught. Our constitution guarantees freedom of ligion. Our schools are not against religion they merely leave that for parents and ministers to teach. Mr. Ilearu spoke iu a very low voice and indistinctly. He was forced to use his manuscript at times. L. II. 8 tough ton was the speaker on the negative. Compulsory education is plausible on its face. But there an principles at stake. Infringement upon human rights is only justifiable when it is necessary to present the rights of others. Ignorance and crime are seen to gether, but the first is not m-cessarily the cause of the second. The criminal classes naturally neglect educa tion. The most illiterate state in the Union has the least crime. The most highly educated district of France has the most criminals. Cultivation of the intellect only adds power to do harm. To prevent crime, train the emo tions. Public schools can not do this. It is said uni versal education will make men more happy. Can the majority decide for the happiness of all? A certain amount of exercise 'is conducive to health. Dares the government to require men to spend an hour daily in a public gymnasium? How does compulsory education benefit children if they must remain in bad conditions? Bettor that their intellects are not trained so that they may bo more skillful criminals. Compulsory education prevents parents from giving such education as best fits the child. It prevents parents from keeping their chil dren from contaminating influences. It ignores that noble sentiment love of offspring. Let the advocates of this idea use their time to tench morality, and they will remedy the evils sooner. Mr. Stoughton had a strong, well modulated voice, and was natural and forcible in delivery. A pin no duct by Miss Minnie 1). Cochran and Miss Edith Doolittle was next given. It was beautiful both in itself and in execution. The Indies responded to a hearty encore. 11. C. Peterson was the next iwrformer. lie spoke of "The Army of the Potomnc." This army was the em bodiment of Northern sentiment. It is the noblest army of history, for it fought for an idea the very life-principle of the nineteenth century; au idea against which acore of defeats availed nothing. It was a heterogeneous mass with one common sentiment. It was hurled against boasted Southern valor and the greatest military genius of his age. It possessed Northern iiereisteneo and en durancethe patriotism of Revolutionary heroes. But it was scoffed at by the Northern press and pence poli ticians; it was hampered by an un-military and dictato" rial government. It was a victim to military inexperi ence. Its generals were changed before every battle, and the command forced upon unwilling and incapable men It was forced into unplanned battles, against impossible odds. After the terrible defeats of Fredcricsburg, Cluin ecllorsville, and Gettysburg, it crossed the Bapidan under (Jen. Grant Foolhardy and conceited, he would listen to no advice. He recognized neither humanity nor expedi eney. Seventy thousand victims to the wilfulness of one man lie along the road from the Bapidan to Richmond. In grandeur and nobility theyare unapproachable. Most famous I'.rmics have fought under the stimulus of vic tory. The Army of the Potomac fought Itetter under the enervation of habitual defeat. It fought the fight of all ages the fight of the down-trodden against the op pressor. When the war was over, this citizn-army peacefully separated to their homes. Monarchical Europe looked and wondered. Mr. Peterson held the attention of his audience through out, and at the clow was very heartily applauded. A soprano solo, " If Thou Didst Love Me," was very sweetly sung by Miss Chamlwrlain. Iu response to con. tinued applause, .she gave another pretty and amusing selection. THE STUDIO RECEPTION. On Monday afternoon the rooms of the Art Department were thrown open for the annual reception and exhibition. The department is ernmjMxl for room, but the various studies, sketches, and models were arranged to good ad vantage. Studies in still lifennd life studies by the pupils, together with the work of the persiective class and that of the prepartory class were thechief attractions. Much of the work was very commendable. Miss Moore has made the department very popular. She has taught an art history class throughout the entire year with great success. The preparatory year drawing class is a new departure which materially assists the scientific students in their laboratory work. With a little more monoy and room the department inicrhfc be mnfln n mnh mr.ro ni. 1 uable adjunct to University work.
