The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1904-05-07
POWER That LIVES in DEBATE.

TUWEn tf1AI EtHEO TN VEBH G
One night last week., at the Sat- Lake theatre
an affair came off upon tie stage more wholesome
! intellectually than the popular comedy. Those
who took part were not professional actors. Nei
Their were they orators in the sense applied to ele
giant eloctition. Thcy were boys, young men from
the University of Utah and from the Colorado col
lege. The teams from both schools engaged in d
debating contest The question of debate the
ever present one of labor and the settling of labor
disputes. The affirmative TO maintain and argue
that the adjudication of such disputes should be
made part of the regular administration of JUS
tice. The negative to deny and demolish the ar
guments set up b. the affirmative side.
The decision given to the Utah boys, who
assumed the affirmative position in the debate.
But that does not matter Directly it has no bear
ing on the labor question; neither does the decision
obscure the merits of the negative side. Listen
ing to these boys the Catholic could not help put
ting this mental query to himself: Why is it we
hear of no debating contests among the students
of our Catholic colleges? If such have taken
place the fact has escaped our attention. Some
years ago in Butte the writer visited ST. Patricks
parochial school. For his pleasure the pupils in
4tS duS dHVSH eldsSeS engaged III a qepa1e on the
Philippine question, which no. one can deny has
tive sharply defined and opposite points 1t was an
entirely impromptu affair with no preparation for
eloeutionary effect. And this was what impressed
the writer most forcibly and fa7orably-a happy
relief from the monotonous drawl of big boys
voices getting off something "learned by heart
The writer left that building with new light
Illuminating his mind. For the first time he was
convinced of the superior excellence of the paro-
chial the public school, especially as these
are maintained in Butte
The value Of debate lies in its gift of ready
reply formed in language distinguished for
strength rather than ornateness; aimed at the
buls-eSe rather than scattered over a wilderness
Of thorns and roses. An example of this was Civ
en- in the last days of congress in the debate be-
tween Dalzell, of Pennsylvania and Bourke Cock
ran Reading the reports one might conclude that
Daizeli~ sat up nights preparing an attack upon his
adversary in words committed to memory After
the old fashion, he assumed that he could thus take
advantage of Cochran, as the latter, unaware of
MS intention and bssfully ignorant of the nature
IT the charges could only make lame and halt !,
ng defense. There is where Dalzell made the mis-
axe of his life. If Bourke Cochran is great
'rator (and there appears to be no 'if" about it)
lie is abetter debater.; That is to sayifhis excel
ence lies in the first his strength is Jest displayed
II the other Those who read his speech delivered |
day or two before, and then read the debate pub
shed in theTpapers as, the outcome of that famous
peech, recognize the power of ready reply over
ct forms of oratory
We are beginning to think that oratory is ont
date. The oratory that is padded to consume
me and bore listeners has long Since been de-
AIRED intolerable. In our congress long speeches
re delivered to empty benches, and very freouent-
speeches are printed in the Record of the house
lat are never delivered By word of mouth. In
ngland today the most effective speakers are not
ators and this. fact is the foundation for fire.
lent generalization that in parliament now debat-
G power is everything and eloquenee is nothing
reat as is the power of words, they are impotent
not ready to be spoken in apt reply
Persons ambitious to become public speakers
n, never attain their goal by committing
dresses to memory, If they forget portion,
some way the whole becomes teescoped A
tuist father, and one whose success in mission
= work IS emphasized BY the strength of his
ort sermons in conversation with the writer adj
ed against the practice of young priests commit
g their sermons. TO memory. First know how
Y will begin" he said "and how you will end
lr discourse. Get the language fixed in your
nd. hen go ahead with the confidence that the h
idle of the sermon will take care of itself"
This Paust father, not uncharitably, but in p
tone that goes for warmer faith, remarked y
t long sermons had "a tendency to diminish T
lrch attendance at the high mass. We believe Is
is right, After all, it is in human nature to
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