The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-12-07

said in substance that the United States in annexing Cuba would break every precedent in their history, for never hitherto have we annexed territory without it's own formal consent or cesson of sovereignty. But we should especially break our promise made on the 18th day of last April, a promise made with full knowledge of existing conditions and one which has twice since it was first made been reiterated once in the peace protocol and again thl ough our peace commission.
 The arguments urged for the viola tion of the promise are either illusory or discriminating; for if it be urged that Cuba would be benefited by annexation, we have already shown you that Cuba would reap more disadvantage than advantage from annexation. And if it be urged that the United States would be benefited, then in the light of what we have shown it must be seen that the United States could only gain such ad- vantage to the detriment of Cuba, and we should be violating our avowed poli- cy of doing the best we can for Cuba
 For the United States to violate both
 
 unequivocal promise would lose for us an amount of political prestige in the eyes of other nations wholly dispropor- tionate to any possible gains.
 Other nations before us in the flush of victory have believed, and have be- lieved sincerely, that it was their mani fest destiny" their duty to civilization to plunge ahead upon course which they could not justify or explain upon any other grounds Alexander and Napoleon believed it to be their duty to conquer the world. France, in the revolution, believed it was her duty, her duty to civilization, to reform the inst- tuition of the world. Spain believed it to be her destiny to Christianize the western hemisphere. But the trail of blood and disaster left behind by these nations or individuals demonstrate that this conception is an enormous if not a criminal one. Let the United States then still exultant with her naval and military success at Manila and Santia- go, and driven on by this dangerous idea of manifest destiny" look oara- fully to and heed the lessons of hist cry and avoid a course so notably disas- trous in the past.
 On the five minutes allowed him for closing the debate each speaker at- tempted to nail down his arguments which the opposing minds had loosened and to add some further argu- ments. At this point Yale's superiority of preparation shone out especially bright. The argument of her clos ng speaker MT. Mitchell, was a model of it's kind.
 The order of speaking for the closing debate was as follows:
 Conover English of Princeton, Ashley Day Leavitt of Yale, Joseph Addison Jones of Princeton, Philip Cory Wall colt of Yale, Nathaniel Smith Reeves of Princeton, Cornelius Porter Mitchell of Yale.
 The judges were Professor John B. Clarke of Columbia university, Hon. Charles B. Hubbell of the New York beard of education and George F. Rives, a prominent attorney of New York.
 While the judges were de1iberating upon their verdict the Rev. MT. Twich ell made a few remarks compIimenting the ability and skill shown by the de- baterc.
 The decision of the judges was an- nounced by MT. Rives who said the judges were pleased with the excellence of the debate.
 Princeton's alternate debater was Alexander Armstrong, Jr., '99, of Mary land. Yale's alternates were John Kirk land Clark, '99, of New Y; Winchester Moves, "99, of New York, and Eugene Walter Dug, 1900, Ohio.
 Princeton-YaIe Banquet.
 After the debate a banuuet was held at the Tontine, at which the debaters and alternates, coachers, judges and in- vited guests were present. Rev. Jo5eph H. Twicheil officiated and good feeling and fellowship reigned supreme.
 Professor c. T. Hadley spoke for Yale and Professor George M Harper performed the same office for Prince ton. George L. Rives responded to the toast, ''The Future Scholar in Politics." Professor John B. Clark responded to Theory and Public Policy" and the Hon. Charles B. Hubbell to "The Rem aissance of Oratory.
 Those present as invited guests were Rev. J. H. Twichell, Professor George