Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-03-13
THAT CONTEST.
Nrtera Deal Of Internal { ross Fire the Ora
toriraI Contest Rec"mes Matter Of His
tory.

in spite at the conflicting Iumor-. ana u
spite of cards from acting presidents, III
anticipated joint contest between the l'hIlo
>ophiau and ENCelSor societies took plac
at Blacks opera house last evening, a> wa
advertised and was attended by small hu
~tlrrt audience.
There has been a petty and underlande'
opposition on the part of a certain disap
pointed faction which has rendered the pa
>ltlon OF the performers peculiarly umpIeaS
ant. and they deserve much credit for per
srycring A. they have. A. literary an'
intellectual treat the exercises of last even
ing were highly enjoyed by those VIII,
were present. II is lamrntable that W.
have not more Of such entertainment
After music by the orchestra and an in
vocation by Pres. Ort, the regular pro
granlme was entered upon. According Il
arrangement. J. {. Bassett was 10 have
opened the exercises with an Grafton, a
MARTYR 10 the Cause of Justice Thir
gentleman. however. having, i'll the charac.
ter of acting president. exhausted his
literary resources in contributing de
prcratimg cards 10 the daily papers. did
not appear Justice is still yearninG for
her martyr The first speaker, therefore.
was Fred l.. Sigmund. who delivered his
Grafton upon The Development of an Amer
lean Manh"od." This gentlemau's stage
presence was easy. and his delivery graceful.
lie spoke of the various characteristics
which enter into American manhood love
of liberty, education and morality. Moral
ity without Christianity NAV be pagan. The
great deSidrratUm i ChriStianiZcd moral
ity. In the citidrl of Athens there stood
three statues of Minerva. In the future cit
adel of America there will stand three
statues of our country. the first typifying
the birth of our nation, the second, COM
mrmorating our victories, the third EN-
dying the comSummatiun of American
mamhood. This speech was we'll received
by the audience.
The only orator from the PhiIo Society,
Mr.. HeibertShaw sen. spoke concerning
The Chinaman. The gentlrmans pro
ductIun was thoughtful and comprehensive.
and his delivery WAS well suited Ia the sub
irrt matter. 4 slight nervousness of man
nrr was noticeable. which detracted some
what His treatment was Enthusiastically
America.
Mr.. kephart'S Grafton on True Great
ness" was next. A lack Of unity in treat
ment would be the main criticism against
this gentleman'S production. He was easy
on the platform and spoke in a forcble
manner. No truly great man ever lived in
vain. They have been our leaders. They
stand out like the masterpieces of nature
the mountains and the CataractS. lie spoke
Of Grant. NamderhiIt, and other individual
examples. All cannot he great. but all can
be the greatest that lies in their power. All
cannot he hero or saint. but all can live and
die mohly. The debate concluded the eN-
rrri>e> Of the eN ening
Resolved. That our colleges and uniyrr>i-
cular authorities.
The speaker on the affirmative. Mr..
Mower. has good stage presence. and pre-
Sented his arguments in a clear and logical
nlauurr He hesitated slightly al times,
but. oi course, could not. in debate. have
the fiIrnCy of an Grafton. The tendency Of
the times i toward SeculariSm in education.
The t.crle>Ia>tic> have too long uSurpated
our schools and colleges The aim of edu-
cation should be To make good citizens.
This is the life of the state.
and should be its chief care Ann
Arbor i a striking example of a
university under the control the state Mr..
Iierkert ON the negative showed careful
preparation. and brought forth convincing
reasons for the continued control Of the
church. He spoke gracefully and with fiu,
ency. His debate was well received Tse
principal argument Of the negative was that
education without positive instruction in
morality is productive of no good. But
since the state has no religion and hence
cannot teach morality Oh the authority OF
divine truth, its incapacity to educate is he.
y"nd doubt. Again. il i against our Amer
lean traditions. and also since the state i
ever liable Ia political rev NulsionS, our high
er institutions must not be made subject I,
political ChIcantry.
After the prOnOunCing of the benedictiOI
the audience adjourned. STUDENT.