Evening star., 1898-02-23
Young Men Competing for a Much.
Wished Prize.
SUBJECT tEb ARGUMENTS
Those Who Took Part at CASTOR
Hall Last Night.
DIS STIN UISHED JURY

The twenty third annual debate for the
Merrfck gold medal by the members Of the
Phiodemic Society was held last evening
in CASTOR Memorial Hall Of Georgetown
University. The occasion drew large au-
dience, that occupied every seat, and left
standing room somewhat scarce. 1t was
an audience which contained many people
prominent in social ard official life in the
city, and some members of the diplomatic
CORPS among the latter being a representa-
tion from the Chinese legation. 1t was an
appreciative audience, too, and tho good
points made by the debaters were ap-
plauded.
In honor of the event the hall was pref
tily decorated, especially in the vicinity of
the stage Two immense American flags,
gracefully draped, hid large part Of the
stage and left good prosceniun:. Palms
were scattered at different points. adding
to the scene. and placed conspicuously on
an easel where 1t could be seen by all. was
a crayon portrait of the late Judge Richard
I. Merrick, through whose generosity an
endowment was made for the annual pre-
sentation of the gold medal for eloquence.
A university pennant, with the college moH-
ogram, was placed in front of the crayon.
The stage itself was well set and decorated.
resolved, That 1t would be expedien. for
the United States to establish a national
university. having control over all collegiate
degrees'' was the subject under discussion,
|
on the negative being heard. The Judges of
the debate were Senator William ". Roach,
senator Louis E. McComas and Rev. Be
naiah L. Whitman, D. D., president of Co.
lumbian University A banjo sextet
mandolin quartet and the Mandolin Club of
the university furnished music for the oc-
caslon. The debate this year was much
shorter than on previous years. and the
commencement Of the same was made al
| most on schedule time.
The chairman OF the debate was Henry
Introductory remarks. He thanked the peo-
pie for the interest taken in the debate by
| turning out in such large numbers, and
spoke of the day as one worthy of the ex-
pressing of eloquent words. The speakers
or the evening, he stated were selected by
ballot from among the ranks Of the MEM
bers OF the Philodenic Society. 1t being
| considered great honor to be one OF the
chosen. The question under considerat ton
was one of great Importance. 1t was no
question of constitutionalty, Congress
ereignty of the states. By legislative en-.
actment the difficulty could possibly be
avoided. He closed by introducing the first
speaker of the evening, Edward Joseph
Brady. '9s. of Maryland, who opened the
affirmative side
The Debatcrs.
Mr. Brady in his opening remarks spoke
of the bequest made by George Washing
ton. the father Of his country, in the first
volume of the official records Of the or
phans' court of the District, of fifty shares
of the stock in the Potomac Company for
the establishment Of a national university
In the District, to be conducted under the
| auspices of the national government. Thus
! for over one hundred years the idea of
| national university has occupied public at
tention. Conceived by the fathers of the
| country, 1t has since been recommended
by Presidents, the public has demanded il
! and the greatest scholars and scientists
| have urged it's expediency
referring to the scope of such a univer-
| sity, the speaker stated that it should be
| postgraduate in character, high and above
| all other institutions of learning while every
FACULTY should be afforded for scientificaI
ground exists, the speaker stated, against
| the foundation OF such. Instructors, COM
| petent men, are needed all over the coun-
try. A national university such pro-
| posed would attract the best teachers of
| the entire world and would turn out men
! mt to fill positions demanded Of them The
Old world recognized the demand and diff
| Guilty OF the time, and has met the same by
| the establishment of national universities
No college in the country" Mr. Brady
continued. lis properly equipped for the
| higher education. The establishment of a.
national university would not rival any ex-
listing institutions, but would be above and
beyond them" He spoke of the fact that
annually 5000 American students travel
| abroad to complete their education accord
| ing to statistics, because of the lack of fa-
cilities at home. The establishment of such
an institution would attract students from
| all over this country and from South Amer.
lea. Our country, he said, never faltered
and was ready for every emergency ma
ton cannot be judged by it's power and ter
ritory so much as by it's knowledge and
| virtue.
For the Negative.
The negative side was opened by Maui
| rice Brown Kirby, '9S. of the District of
Columbia. He remarked that the plans OF
| washington were now nearer oblivion than
success, and ready to topple over the preci-
pice which divides the irrepressible pas
and the hopeful future. At the time OF
coTsnns masnssioh TO III. mere We're only twenty-five
OF 100000. Now we have something like
400 colleges and population of nearl,
ao,Oo,ooo. Ihe folly Of establishing a uni
versity endowed by the general govern
ment Is apparent when we consider thai
tne M @ debt OF the country at present is 81 300
OooOOo. The cost of establishing such a
| suitable buildings would be at least s15
100000. to say nothing of the cost of on
lowing chairs or the salary of professors
| and the general running expenses
According TO statistics the average cost
| OF tuition at colleges is $3.50 per annum
II scholarships were given free they would
only be of benefit to residents of the Dis
trict and vicinity. To those. who live in
the extreme west the cost of TRANSPORTS
| ton would more than equal the cost of
saving in tuition. The speaker referred tn
me statement that 1000 or 5000 students
from America are enrolled annually in for
e1gn university. If this was due to lack
| OF educational facilities at home whv was
1t that several hundred thousand Americans
annually visited Europe to purchase gar
ments. a,ans'.o Was it because the tailors of
america were not good enough? Travel
abroad was a magnet that attracted ali
and not the lack OF facilities at home. Mr.
Kirby spoke of the injustice Of making de-
grees from all universities equal, which
would have to be done if national unit
yersity was established. The degree Of
bachelor Of artslfrofh the Oklahoma Uni
versity, established in 1892. would be equal
TO the degree of A. b. from Harvard He
sectarian control. and taught philosophy
according to thefr creed. If q national uni
versity were established the same course of
instruction would have to be taught i'm ali
colleges, which is not in consonance with
the principles of this country