The times., 1901-03-29
PHOCION SOCIETY DEBATE.
Increase of the Army Discussed by
Gonzaga College Students.

Gonzaga 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-
tabIishment 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 viii not be made public until COM
mencement day, when the debater making
the highest record will be awarded
handsome gold medal.
The programme was opened with in
strurnental selections by Samuels' Orches-
ira. John p. Meagher, 1892, the chairman,
then made the introductory address, in
which he briefly sketched the history of
the Phocian Society, which was estab-
Iished 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. MeaSher IN
troduced the first speaker for the afirma-
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. He 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-
tion, said that a war spirit had taken
possession or the country at the begin
{ ming of the Spanish-American war, and
had been fostered from that time until
the present, by the policy adopted by the
Government, in the Philippines Porto
Rico and Cuba. He contended that even
with all these possessions on our hands
there would scarcely be need for an army
of 100000 men. He thought one-fourth
that number would be sufficient to pre-
serve peace in the archipelago
In MS presentation OF the affirmative,
trancis j. Diemer, 1902, quoted the state
ment once made by Abraham Lincoln to
the effect that had the United States pos
sessed large standing army there would
have been no civil war. He denied the
dlitSdtiou OI moral hangers attendant
upon a large standing army. and said
that this 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. Mattingy, 1902. who referred
to the essay of Cardinal Newman dealing
with the fate OF the OttomanS. In which
the statement is made that civilized ma
/ tions always are destroyed from within
The speaker held that lasting glory never
accrued from 4 large army, but that the
inauguration Of such an institution was
the beginning Of the end Of four nations.
In support of this theory he cited the
downfall Of ancient Governments
Arbitration, he thought, was the prom
er mode of settlement Of international
| difficulties. He said arbitration was dis
tinctly successful and stated there had
! been sixty Instances Of complications set
tied by arbitration, among them the En-
| glish-N Venezuelan boundary dispute
The judges Of the debate were the Very
Rev. James i. Burns g. 5. c. President
/ OF Holy Cross College; the Very Rev
( Thomas j. Shahan, ID. D.. Catholic Uni
versity Of America. and the Rev James
! T. y. MulTaney, :. j., Rector of Trinity
| Church.
| Following is the list OF officers of the
/ President; Francis J. Diemer, ". Record
| ing Secretary; owen j. Cleary, Core
! spending Secretary; Luke j. Clancy 'G2.
| Treasurer; Charles NJ. Mattingly '02
! Censor; Edward A. Brosnan '0l First
| Librarian; Edward Is. Quinlan, Second
! librarian.