New-York tribune., 1901-03-03
JUSTICE BREWER ON DEBATE
PLEADS FOR FORENSIC ORATORY IN
THE YALE NEWS"-FAVORS LEGlS-
LATIvE TRAINING AT COLLEGE.

New-Haven. Conn.,. March (SpeciaD.-'The Yale
News this morning prints interview with Jus
tlce David j. Brewer anent debating In univer-
sites of the country, and particularly regarding
Yale. Justice Brewer says:
I think that debating should have an important
place in the curriculum OF a college My impress
sion is from my observation through the country
that debating carried on more the professional
schools than in the colleges, and vet there is a
complaint in many of the professional schools that
not had any experience. II is great power. that
OF the de6ater The world is flH Of men men,, Tho
grand thing for Yale or any institution 70 main
tnuaiiy particiGsta' The 9ue stion is whether
there will be greate- need and value in the ability
always be need Of IT. The news51per press is one
great field Of discussion, but at the same time the
pup!lc orator, or the VINO can take any part
the coIntrv hccause hn Vii more ard more have
the opportunity 70 mould public opinion When l
Was a young man the lecture platform was q great
means OF reaching the pubic mind The lecture
platform seems To have died down of late, but l
believe that it is Eo9s to he reinsiated ' To sT Tb
college graduate if he is TO be leader must m nave
~ ~ tif @ OF itb BE rooutb roach
public opinion. he cannot expect TO be a leader,
practical man the educated man will always be the
leader. More. and more is public goyernment a
lie debat" is opinion formed Indeed I think that
while the press reaches perhaps more people be
of its circulation. there Is nothing that inI'u-
who while on the platform give expression to
his views N Such a way command attention
Without any dsrespect TO the press, believe that
the public speaker will come more and more INTO
power in days TO come.
Forensic oratOry. Oratory in the courts. tney say
has passed away. Cases tried I'm very difter-
ent manner from that which formerly touowed.
and the arguments In court. instead or be-
ing speeches ny lawyers. really dehateS between
the court and the lawyers Yes. eioquence IS 4
boon. and always will be- But this age Is hecorIl-
ing so very practical. deals with facts so much:
that n who presents the factS anu
the arguments compactly and as torcioy as
possible Then again, no man makes successful
deba ter who does not believe what ne says Inc
idea that you present question. and tn2t ~
does not make any difference upon which side
speaks. is in Judgment mistake y man
alWdVS talks the better. makes a more poWerIui
sneaker. and a stronger debater who IS advocat-
ing the thing he sincerely believes IN nave
seen many instances where very grace1h ana Foi-
ished men made speeches, and some eoody arose on
the other side who desperately in earnest ana
although his language not as rnlShed yer. De-
cause he pounding on what he believed u haa
far greater weight No man was ever YET great
was ever great debater who did not believe every
thing that he said
As to Yale Justice Brewer said
The organization or the Yale Debating Union N
the form Of a congress. in which several parties
are represented and public questions are debated,
is practical way OF acquiring the valuable aolity
% debate Although this reorganization Is a step
in tn. right directioa l think IT would be SUI!
better method have the Senate and the House OF
Represent Ia lives and not merely have II matter
of debate but have bills prepared with view 20
having them naSSed. II is OF the utmost import
ance that those who draft bills should he able TO
phrase their language in such a way as 90 express
with accuracy their meaning. J have seen many
cases where bills were tntroduced aRd pasSeI pass.
where II would seem that the thought OF the party
yv1s MT exureSsed and the legislative body had
PASSED that which did into the statute the
real object OF those who prepared the oiIls'