TNJS HESPEklAfr.
f
America and degradation in the poorer dosses of Eu
rope, Washington was inaugurated. Dangers have
passed away. Independence has become a reality. But.
.whero aro the men on whom have fallen the mantles of
Washington, Adams, and Jefferson? Have wo a great
man not the product of war and times of peril? Imag
ine a president carrying out his will. Ho is a slave to
party. Reform begins at. home. Congress cannot bo
purer than its source. Increasing centralization endan
gers rebellion. Lot the government again bo of, by, and
for the people, or liberty will bo dethroned. America
does not lack good men ; every crisis brings them out.
Reform, unlike empire, takes its way eastward. Hero yet
linger pioneer enterprise and indifference to hardships.
High license was born in Nebraska, prohibition in Iowa.
Tho East follows. Let colleges teach rovcronco for tho
great men of tho past, but lot them teach also a knowl
edge of government and a prido in its purity. Independ
ence is as essential to tho individual as to tho nation.
Lot our colleges tench that fraternities and sworn broth
erhoods weaken individuality, if they do not destroy
character. Thus will our country become a really cath
olic nation gront, glorious and free.
"Restricted Immigration" was thoBubjectof tho foren
sic element of the program. F. II. "Woods took the
affirmative. He spoke with much force and expression.
Prompting was necessary once or twice.
To what is our country's present prosperity and wealth
duo? Largely to the immigrants who have enabled us
to develop our resources. Immigration has been encour
aged. Why change?
If tho character of the immigrants has changed, or tho
country uo longer needs such an in-pouring flood of pop.
ulation, wo are justified in restricting it. Since the voy
age to America has been mado easy, it is no longer the
skilled laborers, but the paupers and criminals who
come. Three-fourths of our lunatics, paupers, and crim
inals aro foreign. America is tho dumping ground of
Europe. Seventy-five per cent, of immigrants arc un
skilled laborers, useless even as farmers. Our land is
nearly gone. Look nt Oklahoma. Our incrense of popu
lation will fit! all our laud in ten years. Immigrants
flock to cities, raiso anarchy, tench murder, vote corrup
tion. It iB not just to our laborers to make them com
pete with such men. Tho American laborer is the Amer
ican citizen. His character must not bo degraded. We
prohibit the influx at tho Golden Gato; wo must restrict
thai of Custlo Garden. Leave the difficulties of tho prob
lem to tho American statesmen who have mot greater
problems.
J. II. Marble opposed Mr. Woods with an argument
equally logical. Mr. Marble spoke freely and rapidly,
directly to his hearers. Thero was a slight monotony in
his gestures, but his earnestness of manner went far to
carry conviction. Such a phenonomon as tho constaut,
vast stream of immigrants to America was never before
seen. It is a tremendous influence for good or for ovil.
Tho question resolves itself into two parts: Desirability of
donso population and the character of tho emigrants.
Dcnso .population is tho causo of our civilization. It
makes possible co-operation, division of labor, the ubo
of machinery. No danger from over-population. Power
increases faster than population. Public land may bo
all gone, but it is not half utilized. Magnificent mineral
resources aro undeveloped. Over-population does not
hurt Ireland, India, China. Tyranny and taxation does.
Whero are the populations of history? A fow Arabs in
Carthage, miles of waste in Asia Minor. 'Tho Creator
mado no mistake in tho size of tho earth. Wo aro told
that, tho emigrants of to-day are inferior to those of
the "good old days." Virginia and Georgia were settled
by couvicts and broken-down aristocrats. Tho pauper
Tilgrim Fathers begid corn of tho Indians. Competi
tion in labor is the true objection to immigration. Ma
chinery also competes. But neither cause tho present
labor troubles. Mal-distribution of wealth is the true
causo.
A violin solo by Prof. G. C. Menzendorr was finely exe
cuted. Being encored, horendered another selection with
delicate expression.
C. M. French followed with nn oration, "Birth of
Power." He showed himself at ease on tho stage and
nccustomed to public sjwaking. Periodicity is as much
the rule in history as in fashion. Tho past teaches us
how to act in the present emergency. In reform, period
icity is marked. Slavery stood in the path of progress.
The Abolitionists roused a sense of humanity. From
them sprang tho republican parti, which wiped away
slavery. Strikes and labor troubles arouse thinking
men to-day. Capital seizes tho mnchinery of govern
ment. Law makers are in tho market. The sons of toil
hold balanco of power, but vote with the millionaire.
Anarchy is tho handwriting on the wall of to-day. The
laboring man will fill congress. Purity of manhood will
bo set against shoddy plutocracy. Tho labor party will
become what tho republican party has proved a "Birth
of Power."
Miss Flora Hull entertained tho nudieuco with " Mark
Twain's Experience with an Interviewer." Miss Hull
was most graceful in her delivery and acted her dual part
well.
Mine. Weber closed tho programme with "Thine my
Thoughts Are, Margarita," sung with charming skill
and expression. An encore was insisted upon, and she
gave a low, Bweot cradle song.
CLASS DAY EXERCISES.
The credit of inaugurating "Class Day " belongs to the
class of '89, and the first program was a great success.
Tho exercises occurred at 9:.'i0 a.m. on Tuesday Juno 11.
President Webber called tho audience to orderand said
a few words in praise of tho class and its enterprise in
getting up "Class Day." Miss Tower, Miss Hnggard,
and Mr. Manloy, tho performers, sat upon tho platform.
Miss Laura Haggard was tho first to tako tho floor.
She read in too low a tone to bo well hoard. Wo give tho
main points of her
OKNKHAI. CIjAHR lllHTOUY.
Tho fall of '85 was momentous In tho history of tho University of
Nebraska, for then tho cIurb of 'SO received from thesmlllng registrar
their pink enrds proclaiming thorn Freshmen. K wns tho opsnlngot
a uow era In Unlvorsity nffnlrs, for tho class was larger, more enthu
siastic nnU cnorgotlc than any provlouR clnss.
Thuir first movo was to arouso tho unifying love nnil admiration
of tho faculty, tho registrar, and tho Janitor; tho first, by thclrsupor
nnturnlly brinlnnt endowments; tho second, by their suavity; nnd
tho third, by donations of eatables and tho rendition of Boveral
choice musical compositions. Then tho class organized nnd con
tested for offlceH In tho dignified and conciliatory manner natural to
Freshmen. Mr. Gcrwlg had tho honor to ba tho first president; Miss
Mockott, vice presidont; Mr. Holmes, historian ; Miss Maker! secre
tary. ,
The class found intellectual food alono.inpuvnclont, nnd nn enjoyn-
