The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-04-09

nsxt orator was r. 8 Thompson, Of Wabash
| College, whose theme was 'sSkepticism and
Poetry" He held that the only power to create
a supreme and lasting ideal has 5een and is the
religious principle. Poetry, the language OF the
soul, Is the emanation of the imaginative
faculty and behind this power, aiding in its bet
| ter development and creating for it responsive
tendency in 1.-THE mind of the reader, there must
be an exalted moral nature. Looking back
twenty five centuries, modern thought says the
religion of the Greek furnished standard crude
and imperfect Yet it met in the highest degree
the demands Of the Greeks imagination. 1t sa-
tiated the cravings of early genius it inspired
epic and dramatic poetry that lives to-day
in grandeur and strength. The religion of the
present, furnishing the sublime ideal of all per-
lection, OF infinite power and goodness by reve-
iation from the Almighty himself, has been the
source whence for 1000 years have flowed the
sweetest song, the purest poetry. Skepticism
tends to weaken and destroy mans faith In this
religious ideal by denying the existence OF that
which constitutes its essence. Indirectly, but
none the less fatally, it strikes at the creative
power, whitening its perfect development This
tendency is clearly discernible in the history Of
periods of doubt and religious darkness. The
master poets of Greece lived and wrote during
times when faith in the gods was universal. fresh
and strong. 1t is in the observance of religious
rites that we see the rise of Attic drama, with
its grand purpose Of impressing the Greek idea
of morality. At length, comes the spirit of skep-
ticism to blight its lofty standard and degrade
its purposes. Philosophical and learned liter
AZURE gains the ascendency, and from the time
OF Aristotle Greek literature presents no great
work Of creative genius Coming to modern
times we see the same influence at work. We
see lofty, poetical eapability struggling
against the tide of its own unbelief
We see mighty genius enshrouded in
darkness far below the submits which are its
own. In the city of Weimar. side by side, are
two monuments. Beneath them .ie the remains
Goethe and Schiller. The grave of Goethe is
unadorned with flowers; that Of Schiller is ever
green with the tokens of popular alteration.
Why this discrimination Goethe possessed a
belief in God but his lack of firm conviction is
shown in his own imperfect morals, and carried
out in the vacillating, "watery, Werthery In
stability" of many of his characters. He gave to
the world what scholars denominate the greatest
poem ever written; while Schiller, a man OF high
moral character and deep religious feeling, with
his simpler genius, gave to Germany the poetry
the people love-
The orator of Butler University, B. F. Daily,
presented the Dangers Of Social Caste" He
held that there never was time when free gov
eminent was more generally guaranteed, and
that nevertheless, discomfort pervaded the whole
structure Of human society. Liberalism would
unravel the whole texture of social caste and
weave again the fabric of social equality. Wild
speculations in science are pursued with avldity;
and their applications are executed with wonder
of the day are reserved for the theorist
who has no means of executing his plaEs nor OF
testing his proposed reforms Free trade and
cvil-service reform are the questions which 60 to
make up the political issues of the day; while the
principles of true democracy and human rights
are considered as unworthy q place IN party
politics. Legislative assemblies concern them
selves in maintaining the national honor
abroad, in regulating the tariff, and in
granting power to railroad corporations and
monopolies, while the common people of our
country suffer for the necessities of life on ac-
count of unwise legislation. Shall we squander
millions of dollars to create q navy to repel q
never-expected invasionq 10 the grave question
that agitates Congress. Where is the bread that
is to repel starvation from cur honest is the I'M
answerable question to millions of American
people, Poverty is found in the midst of plenty,
and humanity suffers in a land whose ships of
export cover the seas of the commercial world.
Vice and crime Turk at the threshold of
the temples of justice and religion,
while ignorance and want are found under
the very shadow of institutions of learning
tremes of social caste in America grows broader
and deeper Millions are annually snatched
from the pockets of the plowholder and placed in
the pockets of the bondholder. Board of Trade
gamblers gobble the profits of the farmer, and
tamper with the Nations commerce. Monopo-
lies grasp the wealth of the Nation. Mr.. Daily
hoped the clouds of the tempest that threatens
such dire destruction to our social and political
fabric will merely serve as the background to
heighten the play of the lightning, whose fash
will rekindle civilization. Let human rights
form the basis of society; and social feudalism
will be broken up, and q new reformation will
enlighten the world. Give the masses the ballot
with the intelligence to use 1t rightly, and pure
government will soon adorn an advanced civili-
zation.
Hanover College was represented by Howard
K. Fisher whose subject was s'The Crucial Test
of Our Institution" The speaker said we failed
to see or heed the one great danger that threat
ems us on every side, as a nation and as individ
uals With great patriotism we throw fear aside
and trust to time as the panacea for all wrongs.
He proceeded to show that America was, with
its enormous and constantly-increasing mass Of
ignorance, peculiarly liable to revolution, and
showed the danger that threatens in our great
cities, into which flow the disturbing elements
of European society-Nihilists, Socialists etc.
They get into our city politics and run them, SO
that many are again crying: America for
Americans" Our danger lies not in him who
tis the SOIL but in the dweller in the cities. He
lighted the fires at Pittsburg he led the mob at
Cincinnati, and marched through Chicago
to storm the building of the Board
of Trade. He did not think education
were not to be reached by those methods,
and 1t was not in him, an undergraduate. to
say he had found the key to unravel riddle
over which gray haired sages of our own and
other lands have raoked their brains in vain. He
shouSut, uoWcvcT, ~ WoulC 70 well lOI US W
in our selfish careers, and do what is possible to
stem the tide of rising discomfort, and keep the
turn of this country from being next to suffer.
The judges, J. N. Study, M. L. Gilliland. John
B. Elam. w. R. Myers and E. E Smith then
got together and arrived at the conclusion that
j. M Adams. Of DePauw University, was emit
tied to the first prize. and Miss Emma Turner,
of Franklin College. to the second. Three of.the
judges voted for first place for Mr. Adams and
two were for awarding that place to Miss Tur-
ner
THE ORATORICAL ASSOCIATION.
The Customary Fractional Row Occurs Over