Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-02-02
AUCUSTANA wins.
Debating Team of This City
Given Unanimous Decision
Over Luther College.
PRESENT SUBJECT WELL
Question Was Ethica! Quality of AItru
istic and Egotistic Motives
Upheld Negative.

By unanimous decision. AuguStan;,
was announced the winner in the de-
bate against Luther college of Deco
rah, Iowa, held at the Augustana chap
el last evening. The question debated
Resolved. That altTuistic motive have
Ia higher ethical quality than eGoistic
motives was upheld by n. A. Olsen
]. o. Holum and Arnt Waller of Luther
college as the speakers on the affirm
ative side, while the negative was de
Tended by Otto Z. Peterson. J. r He
line and C. o. Bengston of Augustana.
The announcement was by 10 means
a surprise since the abilities of the
three representatives of the local col
lege were we'll known. For two sue
cessive years Augustana has been de-
feated by the Luther college debaters
and although there was no fear that
defeat would be administered for the
| third time, yet such crushing defeat
against the visitors by the home debat-
erS was not expected When the an
nCuncement was made by DR.. E F.
| Bartholomew, chairman of the evening
that Augustana had carried every
point in the contest. joy was unbound,
ed and cheer upon cheer for the vic
tors rent the air
| The AUgustana boys won the debate
| through their superiority over the Wis
itors in every point of contest. The
debate was judged on delivery. thought
and composition. and on the arguments
brought forth. 1t is admitted by all
that Augustana had the most difficult
side OF the question and in the almOs;
universal public mind the wrong side
Yet their system of argument was st
worked out that almost every pOint
brought up by the affirmative side wa;
almost without a single exception read
lily refuted In point of delivery they
also overshadowed their opponents
The DecOrah men put up a stiff fight
to the very end. They are a strons
team of debaters and they were all o
them orators of ability. They lacked
a good system of argument and il
Tmdny Instances failed to opruye-. thei
point as mere statements in debate
without proof carry but little weight
Hence their Waterloo.
Use Evolutionary Theory.
The affirmative side opened The
lysis of the question they began witt
the theory of evolution. Barbarisn
taught to live for self. but Christianit,
taught live and do for others. As tht
virtues which show present day altru
ism. they introduced charity. benevo
lence. heroism. brotherly love, moth
ers love. and patriotism Altruism i
the regard and the love for others Al
truism is necessary in order to accom-
plish anything for humanity.
Self Before others.
The negative side debated the ques
ton from three distinct viewpoints
Egosm in the individual, egoism in tn
service of church and state. and in tn
service of society The first speake
was Otto Z. Peterson. He was 70
lowed by Mr. Heline and the las
speaker was Mr.. Bengston. A yer
brief synopsis of their leading argr
lments follows: Egoism is not Sefsl
ness. Egoism is love of self though i
regard for the welfare of others; sci
4 ishhess is love of self in disregard fo
others. Egoism is self idealism: it
the development of self for the goo
of others: it is the development of tn
I soul made in the image of God Chris
was a great egoist. not an altruist. II
taught individualism, self realization
Self sacrifice and self denial develO
with egoism. Self must be develope
before it can be impaired The frs
duty of every individual is the salv;
: tion of his soul. Before anyone ca
save the souls of his fellow men h
E must first save his own The rebutta
were given by J. o. Holum for I'll
, affirmative and by Otto E. Peterson ft
the negative. In the rebuttal for II
negative Mr. Peterson showed muc
ability as debater by the manner
, which he summed up all the argumen
for his side, by his splendid oratory
l. his final appeal. 1t was a fitting clos
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