National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-11-20
INTERESTING DEBATE.
THE STATESMAN AND THE SOLDIER
DISCUSSED.

THE STATESMAN AND THE SOLDIER
DISCUSSED.
At the last meeting Of the National University
Debating Society the following subject was DIS
cussed:
"Rssolrsd That America Is more indebted to
the statesman than to the general or SOLDIER.
The disputant in the affirmative, Mr.. EmrOns,
opened the debate, giving clear anc concise
logical remarks; and, in the absence Of Mr..
Crypt PRlmoni, the disputalt in the negative,
Mr. Wilson assumed that side of the argument in
a mastery manner, Mr.. EmmOns called the at
tentiOn Of those present to the leading position
that our country has attained among the nations
Of the EARTH and ascrbed and attributed It to the
stupendOus Efforts and genius Of our noble states
Among those great men which our country has
produced he referred TO and quoted the noble
Adams and his descendants, who took as leading
and as influential position almost as he occupied;
to Jefferson, to Webster, Clay, Calhoun and many
the minds Of his listeners the circumstances under
which our noble Constitution had been formed,
and Of the effect 1t had upon cur country and the
world in general, Of the evils which Il remedied
and Of the deficiencies which Il supplied. This,
the speaker claimed, was an everything, noble
monument, which can Withstand the storms of
ages and the shock Of future eVents-which will
ever shine forth and remain pre-eninent as the
grandest work Of the greatest statesmen that the
Mr.. ], P. Wilson then obtained the floor, and
replied TO Mr.. Emmons in an elaborate and terse
argument. He said that he would admit what his
predecessor had claimed in regard to the Consti-
tuition, and that he was very proud OF 1t. He also
admitted that the Legislatures OF our country
had adopted some remarkable and astounding
resolutions; for instance that one which, in thuR-
der tones, enacted, ave will have no taxation
without representation" He maintained that
statesmen could have passed such acts from day
to day, from month to month, and from year to
year M TO the present time, and we would, in
stead o. to-day being free people, be slaves and
yagaboads, for honor and great and lasting credit
is due to the soldier who so nobly, and in such
selEsscrihSing manner. enforces those laws on
battle-ields, amid the t1re and smoke and during
the cries of the wounded and dying, and amid the
bloody cOrpses Of the dead.
He also, in strong terms, Impressed upon every
one the fact that many statesmen are corrupt
while the soldiers motives are always pure and
undetiled, fighting for liberty and nothing more
men in civil life and those of our heroes who
Rove among us as generals, as soldiers, In their
military stations.
few extempore and eloquent remarks in the
negative, stated that he would give some incl
dents upon the issue involved. He commenced
by calling attention to the career Of Washington,
and wildly portrayed his troubles and difficulties
showing how he called upon statesmen for aid
and how they disregarded his appeal. He
charged that the alliance should have been made
with France sooner than il was, and laid the
blame at the statesmen's door. He called atten-
ton TO the career Of ScOtt-hOw in his capacity
as general he won victories by sword and pen
alike; how he settled the boundary question, the
South Carolina difficulties and the removal Of
the Indians toward the setting sun. He called
attention TO the faults Of statesmen which caused
the capture Of our capital by the British, and he
claimed that If General Winder had been prop
erly supported the disastrous event would not
have traRspiTed. He quoted many other Incl
dents, and closed by claiming that the great
achievements Of mighty generals. such as Napo-
leon, Cesar, Wellington, Alexander, Frederick,
&c, brought about the great improvements
which have taken place in the progress Of nations
since the dark ages; that these events caused the
links of progress to be Joined together, forming
one immense outer she'll, which century ago
burst asunder, revealing the smiling, fragrant
rose within its bosom, which gave birth to the
charming fragrance Of liberty that now pervades
the aimOspher of our country.
Judge p. Z. O'COunOr was the next speaker,
who claimed that statesmen originated all the
grand measures Of our country, and laid in feel
ing and eloquent terms much stress upon this
idea, and Mr.. Beall in reply asked the question:
How could those measures be demonstrated or
Put into practical operation without the aid Of
our generals and soldiers" stating that Wash
ingtOn really received no support or aid from
statesmen, but carried on the whole cOmpaign
without advice or orders from no one but himself.
Mr.. John p. O'Neil here stated that what Mr..
Beall had said was true, indeed, for Congress sd-
lOUrned to Annapolis, leaving Washington in full
charge to do whatever he pleased.
Alter few eloquent and brilliant remarks
from Mr.. EmmOns the society adjourned.
Judge W. b. Smell, of the Police Court. at
tended this debate, and remained an attentive
and apprecative listener to its close after which
he uttered some kind words Of encouragement TO
the students.