The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1904-06-02
ANNUAL PRIZE DEBA TIE.
The Influence of Greece and Rome
Discussed by Contestants.

Dy bnree members OF eaCh OF tne mems
societies of Montpelier Seminary was
held in the Seminary chapel on Fri.
day evening Principal e. M. Howe
was in charge of the meeting Each
of the speakers was limited to fifteen
minutes for arguments and four min
utes for rebuttal. The prize will be
awarded for individual, not for team
work. The first prize is SIS and the
second $40. The prizes are awarded
by a system of marking in which
merits of argument, logic in arrange.
ment, manner of delivery and ora
tory are considered. The judges were
f. B. Thomas, O. A. u. jackson and
M. M. Borne. The decision of the
Judges, in a plain sealed envelope,
was placed in the hands of the princi.
pal. This envelope will not be opened
until commencement day, June I6.
The question under debate was Ere
solved, That Greece has exerted
greater influence in the development
of civilization than has Rome" The
disputants were as follows: Affirma.
tive, j. G. Howard, Fred E. Dawson,
Bertraln M Mcbride; negative, Scott
F. Cooley, Harvey M. Drenan, Wesley
@. Atkins
Mr.. Dawson in opening for the
affirmative spoke in part as follows:
Development is an unfolding. Rome
aimed to keep men in subsection
Greece opened their minds to know
ledge The speaker made three main
arguments. /. Roman conquest was
not a civilizer. Conquest does not
civilize. Only semi civilized nations
fight for cong uest. If conquest ad-
vancd culture the world would have
been further ahead befors the time of
Greece than it is now. The Olympic
games represent the difference, be-
tween Grecian and Roman culture.
Grecian teachers followed the Roman
armies and the intellectual develop
ment was derived from Greece 2. Good
government did not exist in Rome I'M
til an embassy was sent to Greece to
bring back the underlying principles
of the Roman law that was then
formed. Rome saw the Importance
of culture in it's national life and
turned to Greece for it. With refine
ment came the want of literature.
3. The system of education developed
by Greece has greatly Influenced the
world. English has received much
from the Greek language Grecian
architecture is today the standard of
the world. The Renaissance was
caused by revival of the study of
Greeks and things Grecian. Scientific
spirits philosophy and Liberty origin.
ated in Greece. Rome did not devel-
OPP along these lines.
Mr.. Cooley, in opening the mega
tive, spoke in part as follows: In
fluence is measured in effect. Greece
lacked the unity to produce influence.
The genius of the Romans was essen
TALLY practical. War, government and
jurisprudence are the three avenues
of greatest influence. War is the sur
est and quickest way of establishing
civilization and influence. Thus
Rome gained eminence and power.
After Rome had conquered she gave
her best to the conquered, and from
them gathered their best of customs,
laws, etc. In the old world and in
the new, that were conquered by
Rome. there was mutual assimiltion
and thus she ''reared constitution
of the Kingdoms of Europe and the
United States - The influences as
simulated from the East caused Rome
to fall and die but from her sprang
forth stronger nations.
Mr.. Mcbride argued for Greece, in
part as follows: Men today turn TO
Greece for the higher branches Of cul-
ture and education. The speaker
supported this argument by mention
ing the Greeks famous in the different
branches of culture. The Greeks did
much for their own time In litera-
tuIo bil6y WIOt6 bu6 masterpieces VI
the world. The same is true of ora
tory. Roman literature was copied
from the Greek. The tisrt great
" Roman" writer's were Greek. Rome
copied her calendar, measures of time
system of weights and measures from
Greece. In the eighteenth century
revolution took place from Roman to
Grecian thought and culture America
looks to Greece because of the latter's
democracy Greek sculpture. art and
architecture are around us today
Mr.. Drenan took his points in part
as follows: The age of Greece was the
age of production, that of Rome the
age OF development and that of Amer
lea the age of harvest. Rome devel-
oped strong, good government, lib.
eral in it's tendencies, that has in
fuenoad all civilization Roma nv