The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1890-04-12
. SPEECH OF
o. i. SIM PsoN,

In defence of the negative Of the ques-
t;on-"Resolced that the United
States are Indebted more to her
Statesmen than to her Warriors."
i March IA; 1890.
rat the request of Mr.. Simpsons class
mates of the Centenary College Jack
sou, La, (where this speech was deliver
ed before their debating society, we
checrfully give space for the following
production. We always delight to honor
particular merit in our Lafayette boys
and encourage it; besides, the speech is
really good and does the young man
much credit.
!. Mr.. President, Gentlemen, Of the
Committee, Ludies and Gentlemen:
The vivid flashes of eloquence that
painted up the heavens so brilliantly
1 have faded away; the rolling thunder
OF argument has ceased; the raging
storm of logic has spent its strength
and in the c;1Imness which naturally
succeeds such a disturbance Of the
rhetorical elements, let Us with minds
unbiased examine and review mnutely
the merits Of the question under dis
Ecuss;on. The negative can not hope
/ to cope with the affirmative in orator
I, iva, i, ability, yet, from the justice qi
our caasc We gain strength AID are
inspired to strike blow in defence of
those heroic warriors who blave]y
fought, blcd and died on the field of
battle that we might live and enjoy
the blessings Of liberty. 1t is not our
purpose to question the double pane
gyric so lately dedicated to tie histo-
ric memory Of Americas Great States
men, far frola it, we trust we have too
much patriotism to either wish to de-
tract one iota from their high reputa-
ton or to parade their faults aud Vi
tiate their virtues. We cheerfully
coucede all that rightfully belongs to
them and justly feel proud in claim
inc them as Americans. We honor
and revere them for the great truths
they uttered; we love and cherish
them for the services they have rem
1 dered aud their memory linked with
such holy canse will be held sacred
as far as possible in the parellel which
we are about to dtaw. Questions Of
comparison are difficult indeed to pre-
sent clearly and satisfactorily to the
mind. We might narrate circum-
stance after circumstance and fact
after fact until the mind would be
wearicd and burdened with historical
review and we might be no nearer a
conclusion. The mind requires some
foundation from which it can reach
out, ascertain, compare and measure
facts. This is supplied in Science by
axioms or first truths in Philosophy
by things known" and we propose,
Gentlemen, before proceeding farther
to give you the basis upon which we
have reasoned, upon which we have
measured this, question and in fact
upon which we erect our defence.
I'VE have seleded for this nucleus
around which all argument will re-
volve and to which every thing else
viii be subservient no obscure or equi-
vocal statements but on the contrary
they are notable for their brevity and
simplicity.
First, We recognize those as great
er bcnefactors who have conferred the
more lasting benefits;
| Second, Those who have labored
most in accomplishing the benefit
conferred;
Third, Those who have suffered and
sacrificed most in accomplishing SAID
benefit.
Upon these three major statements
and several minor which will yet ap-
pear, we base the remainder of this
discussion, trusting to weave link by
link an argumentative chain strong
and firm enough to fully and com
pletely establish every premise. That
we may the better comprehend the
merits Of this question it will be. nee
essary to sift the speeches Of OR op-
ponents and examine their salient
points, if in our undertaking we pro-
duce truths in their favor, which they
have failed to present we most hum
bly, beg their pardon, but we are per
fectly willing to sacrifice a little in or.
der to reach the fundamental princi-
Piles that underlie all great truths,
Technicalities will be strictly avoided.
Warriors as we understand the term
means any one yersed in military
science, from the common sailor to
the admiral and from the plebian sol
dier to the Commander-in-chief. In
4 this definition we are supported By
Webster, Worchester, and Joknson.
]Cur only object shall be toxlkriye al
the truth and present it ly FOL
your honest. considerations. With
these preliminaries as a foundation
we will now turn our attention to the
/ great work accomplished by the States
1 men and that done by the Warriors