The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-05-30
WINS GOLD MEDAL.
A. P. Cunniff Victor
in Holy Cross
Debate.
BRILLIANT AUGMENTS MADE.
The Gradual Disarmament
of Nations the Subject
for Discussion.
BRILLIANT AUGMENTS MADE.

OF an excellence unsurpassed by any
thing of it's kind held at Holy Cross
College, was last nights public debate
of the Philomathic Debating Society of
the college, in which Augustus P. Cum
milf, Of the class of 1902, was the vic
tor, winning the gold medal donated by
Mrs. G.. B. Donnelly of Chicago Ill.
The debate was held in Fenwick hall
before a large audience which mani
Tested its pleasure throughout the four
speeches which were delivered by the
contestants. The resolution for discus
sion was, Resolved, that the time has
come for the gradual disarmament of
nations"
The four young men who contested
were the representative men of their
society. On the affirmative side We're
John F. Murphy, '01, who won second
hOnors, and James A. Noonan, '01, OPP
posed to Augustine Cunniff, OF, and
George ]. Hurley, '01, on the negative
side of the question. The judges We're
alumni of the college, Hon. Jeremiah
], Desmond, rs, of Waltham; Rev.
Patrick, e. MCGEE, 'S5, of Providence,
r. l., and DR.. Peter O. Shea, 49, of
South birmingham.
Previous to and between the speeches
of the debaters the college orchestra
played selections under the direction of
Prof. William J. Howard, Jr., of Bos-
ton. Promptly at o'clock, Chairman
Eugene L. Mcguire, '01, stepped upon
the stage followed by the four young
Demosthenes and in his opening speech
announced the subject under discussion.
He then introduced John +. Murphy,
01, as the first speaker. Mr.. Murphy
dWelt upon the approach Of the time
for the general disarmament of nations,
and said that the time was close at
hand and all things pointed in that di-
rectiOn. He was followed by Augustine
P. Cunniff, '02, who won the debate.
Mr.. Cunniff dwelt upon the great good
that armies had accomplished among
the civilized nations of the day. He
said that industrial progress went hand
in hand with an army that was able
to give its people the protection ne
cessary to establish their identity
among nations. He said that history
showed the effect of disarmed nations,
for where a nation had neglected its
army that nation fell into gradual de-
cay. And it was only when the nations
of the earth desired universal peace
at the foot of the Prince of Peace,
would the possibility of a general dis
armament of nations be accomplished.
He was followed by James A. NOonan,
'O1 whose arguments were clearly to
the point. arguing that standing armies
were a constant drain upon the people
and the laboring class in particular.
The armies crushed the working class
and then followed anarchy and it was
necessary to 60 away with armies lest
such an ending occur. George ]. Hur-
ley, 'o1, in a very strong and Jealous
manner, hurled bolts of invectives
against the arguments of the opposition
and showed how impossible it was that
nations should do away with their ar
mics. He laughed to scorn the meet
ing of the peace commission at The
Hague, saying that so long as nations
looked with jealous eyes upon one an
other the time vas not at hand when
armies would become a thing Of the
past.
At the close of the debate the judges
retired and Hon. jeremiah J. Desmond
announced the winner of the debate
among a hail of cheers and applause.