The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-04-10
THE COLLEGE BOYS
Meet I'm Annual Contest at the
Grand Opera House,
And 4. j. Beverage, Representative OF
De PAW University, Carries
on the HOaOrs.
Full Text OF the Grafton OF the Success
full OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES of the
Other Addresses The
BanQuets Last
Night.

Lie COubSeb VI ctdbe OlhtOTlCdl
Assoc alton took place ct the Grand Opera
house last evening, with representatives
present from each of the six colleges which
form the Association. By o'clock the
main auditorium and the first gallery were
crowded, there being large delegations from
the several colleges, and the secret societies
coming up to the Support" of their
representation in the trying ordeal through
which he was destined TO pass. AS on for
mer occasions. Indianapolis showed its sp-
probation of the event, the audience being
composed in great part py ladies and gentle
men Of this city. BlOomington's delegation
was unusually large, the troubles rising ont
of the criticisms OF Young Dunlap no
extra exerii0n IN his interest,
FrsDklin's delegation came on the evening
train, both the college and the city sending
representatives to testify to the interest in
Van Cleave's behalf. Greencastle emptied
itself into Indianapolis during the day, and
Charlottesville, IrgiDgton and Hanover We're
no less ambitious to demonstrate the interest
which they felt in the superior abilities OF
the champions who earned the belt in
the primary contest. Thus supported
and inspired, the curtain rose upon
the indomitable six at the Grand, aud the
event was greeted with applause in all parts
of the house. the enthusiasm in many cases
being in anticipation of a favorite,s victory,
but in the msjorlty no doubt from an ire.
pressible desire for the college thunder to
begin rolling along the Imaginary vault of
representative oratoTy. After an Rppro-
pirate prayer by Rev. Everest the
first orator Of the evening, Mr.. A. J.
Beverage, OF DePsuw University, was in
trcduced, and addressed the audience on
The Case of Labor and Capital" The
speaker was graceful IN his gestures, clear
and distinct in his utteTances earnest in his
manner. and made fine impression upon
his auditors, as well as the judges, as shown
by awarding him first prize. The following
is verbatim report OF his speech.
THE CASE OF LABOR AND CAPITAL
Most conflicts in society result from reactions.
Power sccumulates in the hands OF the few, is
abused, the many mlstrust, some bold mind in
flames their discomfort and leads them into the
opposite extreme. Whist was the French Rev0lu-
ton The reaction of the masses against the op-
preston OF caste. win DentOn and ROsseau 10
lead II What is modern skepticism? The reac-
ton against the heathful conservatism OF creed,
with lngersoll 10 lead It. What is the socialisic
tendency OF modern politics? The reaction OF
labor against capital. with a Henry George 90
lead it.
Few problems nsve been solved from the stand
point of such extremes. Upon the passiOnless
heights between whence unpcej udiced reason M Y
sweep the whole field OF thought. is ever fOuud
the comprehensive truth and only when extremes
Rs this ' 6 6Si ah '0 6een eaSSad
The result OF the French Revolution was the
rejection OF extremes and the union of iudividu-
al liberty and social restraint. The issue OF the
conflict between science and dogma must be the
rejection OF extremes and the union OF faith and
reason. The ultimate solution of the labor prob
lem must be the abandonment of extremes and
the union OF labor and capital.
This conflict OF labor and capital is the question
OF the age. Ii is filling the universal mind, die
tating political platforms, anon bursting into
riots and strikes like the complaining murmurs of
coming storm, already tracing upon the walls of
our legislatiy chambers the fatal meme, Meme
Tekel, UpharsoD." IL was this conflict that but
eight years since kinded the flames OF Pittsburg
this that inspired the late riots in Hooking Val.
ley and South Bend; this that but yesterday
shook London with an earthquake strange and
fearful; this conflict between labor and
capital waxing hercer and iercer. running
bullets unseen, training guns invisible. muster
ing forces unconsciously that, II unchecked, VIII
| one cay rouse as with drum beat and Ougle call.
Increasing population brings IL each day nearer.
Alresoy We have i,Oo0OoO unempioyec men; al
| really 2OOO,WO laboTers In secret organization;
| already fifty newspapers spreading the gospel OF
| seditiOn and excess. and our population is
| doubling every twenty Ave years.
Great cities cradle this conflict, aud With Chi
cagO, New York. san Francisco, a score OF cities
| equal to Paris, what must we expect? With an
| hundred Others equal 10 Marsailes what? When
| the fortunes of Vanderbils snS Goulds. Ill got.
ten, III kept are filling the masses with bitterness,
what An was Mecaulay dreaming when h9 told
| US OF our coming Huns and Vandals? Was Car
| lyle dreaming when his prophetic voice warned
| America OF mat nearing Struggle tEdf WOui0
strain our nerves and break our heart? Was
Wendell Phillips a mad man when he said that
the problem of the rich and poor would yet try
] our souls as slavery never tried them prob
lem this 10 which We must earnestly address our
| selves now ere extremists have thrown labor and
capital into conflict
in behalf OF toiliDg poverty have the splendid in.
| telIects OF Rosseau, Lassalle, Spencer and our
own gifted George proclaimed war against our
/ social system They represent ideas and they
| must be heard. for an idea glowing with the i'm
| mortality OF some mans convictions can not be
| put tside but by the strong hand OF convincing
| these social extremists demand the overthrow
| OF oGr social system. They see wealth. powerful
| and heariless; poverty. ignorant and reveDgeful
among the poorer classes. drunkenness. theft and
| murder rife at spreading, and say: Surely pow
eIty this why does il exist among the pool
| aloDef But the poor have equal rights TO hsppi
| ness with the rich. Why DO they not have itR Be
cause society is unjust Because conditions are
/ unequal. Because one man owns thousand
| acres while his neghbor is furnishing. Thei
| remedy is cleer. Right the injustice; make prop
| eTty common, as air is common and sunlight anC
starlight are common. Surely the land belongs e
| all. just The air aud sunlight belong 10 all
make conditions equal, as nature made then
| equal. When all have plenty no Jean Vatican vii
take the forbidden loaf: at the gates of tue rich
| ana mighty will no Lazarus beg Tor crumbs.
But their argument rests on false premises. Nic'
| and slotn and attendant wretchedness do not pre-
| vail became OF poverty; poverty prevails because
| of them. Il is the old, old pro olem OF human
| nature. its frsi,ty and its fall and human natur
| they disregard.
| But IS their remedy just What gives property
| It's vsluee Some mans toll: some maus thought
Yonder marsh is worthless but drain snd il teen
| with richness. Now, is ii right when one maj
| gave IL value for all to enjoy il equally Mani
| feSlly not Equality Of condition is neither RICH
| nor natural. Great capacity deserves more thsl
| mesn capacity. An Edison deserves more thar
| his engineer. The parable OF the talents fashe
| back The vision OF natural justice and up0l
natural justice is modern society founded: an
though tue rains descend ana the floods come an,
the winds blow and beat upon IL, il shall not fall
for IL Is founded upon a rock.
Their remedy Is SIS impossible as IL Is unjust
Could you make property common. condition
equalg Who should dwell upon the shores g
grand old Hudson? Who amid the sage-bu.h @
Missouri? Who should choose? Who decide
Would there be DO iavoritism. no fraud no dissa
isfactionf Alb. look Just beyond this frost-wor
OF ian cy and there flashes the glisten OF bsyonei
and the swords rough-ground OF suarchy-sy
| grim and BACKED warriors standing TO thei
smoking guns. Equality of condition is imposs
| BILE until every sunlit mountain and lsughin
| valley are level plains. climate alike the worl