New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-02-04
NAPOLEON rs. WEBSTER.

NAPOLEON rs. WEBSTER.
The benefits which may be derived from we'll
conducted debating clubs are many. They are
the nurseries of eloquence-National kindergartens
| Of literature-and it is to be regretted when dis
| cord breaks out in one of them. In local Iowa
newspaper we find graphic and apparently truth
full account Of some recent occurrences IN the
| Johnson's Ford Lyccum and Literary Society.
For some time this society prospered, we are told,
| and decided that Washington was greater man
| than Columbus that the OK was more useful to
mankind than the horse that the enfranchsing
of the negro was wise, and that the spots on the
sun had no influence on terrestrial affairs. 10
| had also passed a resolution demanding revision
| Of the tariff. and another commencing the re-
| publican movement in Brazil. All of these
| weighty matters were safely disposed of by the
Jolnsons Ford Lyceum and Literary Society, only
TO 90 to pieces on this apparently harmless cues
ton: Resolved. That Napoleon was greater
man than Daniel Webster.
The leading speaker for the affirmative was
Mr. Ben Weeks of Ripley City. Mr.. Weeks be-
gan by making pertinent inquiry into what
constituted true greatness. He concluded that it
lay rather In acts than in words This the
difference between Napoleon and Webster-Na-
poeon did something, Webster's fame rested only
on words Who the speaker asked, could forget
Napoleon's famous motto, " HOni soft qui NAL y
pense" which might he freely translated, "If
YOU are going to do anything, do it," The speaker
would not cast any reflections on Daniel Web
ster's great Electromagnetic from it. But he asked
his hearers TO look at Napoleon on his famous
retreat from Moscow, after having burned the
city: first taking the precaution TO- as it were,
spike the enemy's fre-engines. Even in defeat
Napoleon was great. witness him on the field OF
Waterloo, when, beaten back by overwhelming
numbers. he cried. My kingdom for horse
lay on, McDuf!" Mr.. Weeks took his seat amid
hearty applause
When quiet had been restored Mr. Peter An
dcrson, of Johnsons Ford, the leading negative
speaker rose 10 reply. Mr.. Anderson said that
he felt great trepdation in following so eloquent
and learned speaker, lest the contrast between
his able opponents brilliant effort and his own
feeble remarks should be too great for the criti-
cal audience which he saw before him. How
ever he would do his best. First. he must re-
sent the insinuation that Daniel Webster did lit
tie or nothing but write his great dictionary
Who stood on top of Bunker Hill monument and
delivered the great speech wherein he used these
words: Give me liberty or give me death" ? The
dictionary was merely side Issue, compiled in
his hours of recreation at Tarrytown Nor must
we forget his famous spellingbOOk, with the words
arranged according to sound, and the graphic sto
ries of the milkmaid who longed for the green
silk gown, and the lawyer whose OK was gored
Could Napoleon have done any of these things Mr.
Anderson thought not. Had Daniel Webster sim
DIV written the unabridged dictionary, or been
statesman only the speaker would admit Ma
poleon's superior greatness; but under the
circumstances he could not. Mr.. Anderson had
heard it said that Daniel Webster was
the real inventor Of the cottOn-gin. This, how
ever, he did not believe The fame of Daniel
Webster did not need to be boStered up by false
claims. lie may have given some hints to the
celebrated inventor Of the cotton-gn but tho
fame for this great labor-saving machine which
had done so much for American industry must
forever rest on the brow where il belonged-on
the brow of Edgar Allan Poe. Mr.. Anderson
took his seat amid applause
These two speakers followed by Others
who mainly echoed the sentiments of the leaders,
till it came to a pale young man about eighteen
years old named Burke, who had just returned
from school at Des MOines. lie was on the
Napoleon side, and began by saying that he had
been much amused by the speaker who had pre-
coded him. He then threw a frebrand into the
camp by declaring that they were all mistaken
that there were two Websters, Daniel and Noah
the former being the statesman and
the latter the photographer, and this being
the case, by the admission of the
other side itself, Napoleon must be decided the
greater man. lie was just starting TO say that he
would rest his case with the intelligent judges
when Mr.. Peter Anderson could contain himself
no longer and rose up and seized the young man
by the collar At this young Burkes father
leaped for Mr.. Peter Anderson Mr.. Ben Weeks
jumped in, half the lights were eXtinguished and
a general engagement followed. it lasted for
twenty minutes, and though no one was seriously
hurt it hopeessly broke up the debating club
Half the people at JohnsOns Ford will not speak
to the other half, and it is thought that the feel
ing developed over the matter will not subsde 50
that the Lyceum be recognized before an
other winter at least.
If The Tribune may presume TO offer advice to
the people of Johnson's Ford, it would be to for
get the past and get together and again organize
the club. No matter whether the young man
was right or notion with the debate. Neither
Napoleon nor the Websters lif there were two of
them would have allowed such a thing as this
to break up so valuable society.
If there is one city on the continent which is