The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-29
PHOCION SOCIETY DEBATE.
Increase of the Army Discussed by
Gonzagn College Students.


The annual debate OF the Phocion So
ciety of Gonzaga College took place at
College Hall, AZ | Street northwest, last
/ night. A large audience, composed of old
/ graduates of Gonzaga, students and
friends Of the participants in the debate
| listened TO the arguments presented on
| the following question: Resolved, That
| the maintenance of a regular peace es-
Enlistment of one hundred thousand men
| is for the best interests of the United
! States" According to the rules gov
erning the debate the decision OF the
! judges will not be made public until COM
4 mencement day, when the debater making
| the highest record will be awarded a
, handsome gold medal.
The programme was opened with in
strumental selections by Samuels Orches-
ira. John p. Meagher, 1902, the chairman,
| then made the Introductory address, in
which he briefly sketched the history of
the Phocian Society, which was estab-
lished in 1855. Many prominent Wash
ington business and professional men,
graduates of Gonzaga, were members of
the society during their college days. In
concluding his remarks Mr.. Meagher in
troduced the first speaker for the afiirma-
tive, Edward b. Quinlan.
Mr. Quinlan said that the growth of
the United States in the past few years
brought forward more than ever the
need for an army OF 100000 men. He con-
tended that this increase was needed in
order that sufficient troops would be pro-
vided to maintain peace in our new pos
sessions. garrison forts in our remote
Territories, defend the frontier of Alaska
from possible encroachments of Great
Britain, and to man the new sea coast
defences. lie said that the expense of
maintaining such an army would be lit
tie felt should the funds be raised through
the war revenue tax.
Frederick J.. DeVereux, 1902, the first
speaker for the negative side of the ques-
ton, said that a war spirit had taken
possession OF the country at the begin
ming of the Spanish-American war and
nad been 1ostered from that time until
the present, by the policy adopted by the
Government, in the Philippines Porto
Rico, ana Cuba. He contended that even
with all these possessions on orr hands
there would scarcely be need for an arno,5
OF 100000 men. He thought one-fourth
that number would be sufficient TO nre-
serve peace In the archipelago
In his presentation OF the affirmative
rancls j. Diemer, 1902, quoted the state
ment once made by Abraham Lincoln to
the effect that had the United States pos
sessed n large standing army there would
have been no civil war. He denied the
allegation OF moral dangers attendant
upon large standing army, and said
that TINS fear was engendered by the con-
duct OF the volunteers during the late
war. lie said that the strict discipline of
the Regular Army would prevent ex-
cesses.
The last speaker OF the evening was
charles NJ. Mattingly. 1902 who referred
10 the essay OF Cardinal Newman dealing
with the fate of the Ottomans, in which
the statement is made that civilized ma
LIONS always are destroyed from within
ne speaker held that lasting glory never
accrued from 4 large army but that tbp
Inauguration of such an institutton r,nS
the beginning of the end OF four natinns
In support of this theory he. cited tbe
downfall of ancient Governments
Arbitration, he thought, was the i,ron
er mode OF settlement OF inter- ationaI
difficulties. He said arbitration was dis
tlnctly successful and stated there had
Deen Sixty instances Of complications set
tied by arbitration among them The En-
Slish-N Venezuelan boundary dispute
The judges Of the debate were the VAr,,
Rev. James A. Burns, G. s. C. President
OF Holy Cross College; the Very Rev
Thomas J. Shahan, ID. D.. Catholic ITni-
Nersiiy of America. and the Rev. lanes
u: y. Mulraney, =. j., Rector of Trinity
Church. ''
Following is the list of officers of the
President; Francis ]. Diemer 20 Record
ing Secretary; owen J. Ciearv. Core
spending Secretary; Luke j. Clancy 40
Treasurer; Charles NJ. Mattingiy '02
Censor: Edward A. Brosnan, '0l First |
Librarian; Edward b. Quinlan, Second |
Librarian.