The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-03-23
MI SIGMA RHO SOCIETY.
Annual Debate Last Nieht-A Large Crowd
Present.

Present.
In the chapel of Richmond College last
night, long before the hour arrived for
the commencement of the exercises a
large crowd had gathered 10 hear the an
nual debate of the Mu Sigma Rho So
ely: and when the hour for
The beginning of the exercises a
rived the spacious building could not
seat the large audience, and many anx-
i)us hearers could only obtain standing
on.
Promptly at o'clock the participants
i'm the exercises. in full dress, marched
up the aisle and took seats upon the los
rum amid great applause. After
PRAYER had been offered by Mr. II. W.
Jones. Mr.. W. Owen Carver, the presi-
dent of the society, delivered the saluta-
tory in his usual happy style, and an
nounced that TO the qualification OF all
Captain Frank Cunningham had just al
rived and would sing a solo, and win
his usual magnifcence of style and sweet
ness of tone rendered the beautiful Sc
lection. Marguerite"
The president then introduced Mr.. b.
B. Robinson, of California, who, in an
exceedingly charming and magnificent
manner rendered a defamation en-
titled "The Conyicts Soliloquy.' After
which Mr. +. i. Greenwood sang "The
Blacksmith with pleasing effect. The
president then introduced as the next
upon the programme Mr NJ W. Thomas,
OF MARYLAND. who read the amusing
selection a Railway Matinee III such a
manner that he kept his audience in
continual uprOar OF laughter.
Messrs Cunningham and Greenwood
then sang a duet in pleasing manner,
and were loudly applauded by the audi
ence. and sang a. an cHc0ro the iatter
part Of the same selection. The presi-
dent then announced that the debators
for the occasion had selected AS their
subject. Resolved That Nations Great
ness Depends More upon her Generals
than upon her Statesmen and an
nounccd Mr. T.. W Greaner, Of
Maryland, as the nrst upon the alirma-
tive, who opened his argument by eA-
planning the relations between states
manship and generalship, and referred
10 the countries which had been pre-
served by great generalship, and how
necessary il was TO use generalship in
The government in any nation, and with
out exercising generalship no nation
could reach the summit of greatness.
Mr.. Greaner was followed by Mr. \. :.
II Brislow, of Virginia upon the neg
alive. who made quite an elaborate argu-
mcni. He founded the basis OF his
argument upon ancient history. citing
quite "a number of instances where "A
nations greatness depended solely upon
statesmen, and compared the world :
great generals with her great statesmen,
showing the superiority OF the latter in
an instances. and closed his able speech
hy referring to the time when all shall
receive their final reward, that the states
men who achieved greatness for his
country by truth aud right would re-
coive higher reward than the general
who fought only for glory and fame.
Captain Cunningham then sang Il solo.
after which the president intro
duced Mr. r. l.. Motley, OF Viz
ginia. rs the second upon the ailirma-
tive. who opened bis finely-prepared ar
gument by relating what generalship had
done for the world; that il was not Jeiier-
son that wrought freedom for America
because he had written the Declaration of
Independence. Washington, who by
his great generalship had achieved lib
erty for his country, and closed by thor
Oughlv reviewing the whole grounds OF
the question and used sound logic and
beautiful illustrations to convince his
hearers that a nations greatness de-
pended more upon her generals than
statesmen.
Mr. Motley was followed by MI j. W
Whitehead, OF Virginia, who produced
very effective argument in sustaining the
negative side of the question, and showed
the default of his opponents in taking
their views upon the question: that II
was not a question between one or two
men. but from general standpoint. No
country could reach greatness through
generals alone, but through the great
acts of her statesmen she could reach
true greatness, and when he had closed
his well prepared speech was greatly APP
plaudcd by his audience.
Nh Greenwood then sang solo emit
tied warrior Bold, after which Presi-
dent Carver delivered the yaledictory
and the exercises closed.
Through the kindness OF DR. Ryland
the library WAS lighted up and the yisi-
tors INDUCED in promenade in that
building, until one by one the party re-
turned to their homes. thus closing the
enjoyable and instructive evening.