The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1922-03-16

tie nnuseU hphln, "ntlnly' '"'h
struggled on. II have been requested
to state that the German Imp-Empire
that II certainly isn't right for those
Dutch-Germans mean-they haven't
got any more business IN Belgium than
have myself hut II feel constrained
to say that ! had 10 accept whatever
side Of this debate got on the postal
card and so ! am constrained To take
the side ~ the Dutch. ! mean the
Germans The Dutch are sometimes
called mean the Germans are some
times called the Dutch In this country,
hut they aren't Dutch, though some
times called Dutch In this country.
Well. and 500. well the war began
last August or about then, anyway,
and the German army invaded the Bel
gian army. After they got there the
invasion began. First, they came
around there and then they com
menced invading. Well, what ] feel
constrained"
lie came to the longest of all his
pauses here, and the awful gravity OF
the audience almost suffocated him.
We'll" he concluded, st don't look
right to me-"
-Four minutes" the chairman an
nounced. for Ramsey's pauses had
worn away great deal more Of this
terrible interval than had his elo-
quence. Opening statement for the
negative: Miss ID. Yocum. Four min
utes"
As Dora began to speak, Ramsey
experienced a. little relief, but only a
little-about the same amount Of relief
as that felt by a bridegroom when II
10 the brides turn to respond" not
really relief at all, but merely the
slight relaxation Of q continuing
strain. The audience now looked at
Ramsey no more than people look at a
bridegroom, but he failed to perceive
any substantial mitigation Of his
'rightful conspicuousness. lie had not
The remotest idea Of what he had said
n setting forth his case for Germany,
and he knew that II was his duty To
listen closely to Dora, In order to be
able to refute her argument when his
!wo-minute closing speech fell due;
,ut he was conscious Of little more
han his own condition. His legs had
row gone wild beyond all de,ilry. and
re had to keep shifting his weight from
me to the other In order even to hope
hat their frenzy might escape gen
,ral attention.
He realized that Dora was speaking
rapidly and confidently, and that some
where In his ill-assembled parts lurked
a familiar bit of him that objected TO
her even more than usual but she had
used half Of her time. at least, before
he was able to gather any coherent
meaning from what she was saying.
Even then he caught only a fragment,
here and there, and for the rest-so
far as Ramsey was concerned-she
might as well have been reciting the
Swedish alphabet.
In spite Of the rather startling fee
bleness Of her opponents statement.
Dora went at her task as earnestly as
II II were to confute some monster Of
casuistry. Thus, having demonstrate
ed that all war is wrong" she said, ap-
preaching her conclusion. at Is scarce
ly necessary to point out that what
ever the actual circumstances Of the
invasion, and whatever the status Of
the case In international law, or by
reason of treaty. or the German oath
to respect the neutrality Of Belgium,
which OF course was grossly and dis
honorably violated-all this. | say, Ia
dies and gentlemen Of the Lunen so
clety, all this is beside the point Of
morals. Since. as ! have shown, all
war is wrong, the case may be simpli-
fed as follows: All war Is morally
wrong. Quod erat demonstrandum
Germany Invaded Belgium. Invasion
is war Germany, therefore, did moral
wrong. Upon the legal side. as began
by pointing out. Germany confessed In
the reichstag the violation Of law
Therefore. Germany was justified In
tnt INVASION neltief inoIdlly hoi "kh'
ly: but was both morally and legally
wrong and evil. Ladies' and gentlemen
OF the Lumen society, await the
refutation Of my opponent"
Her opponent appeared to be having
enough trouble with his legs, without
taking any added cares upon himself
in the way Of refutations. But the
marvellous Dora had calculated the
length of her statement with such
nicely that the chairman announced
-Four minutes" almost upon the In
slant Of her final syllable; and all
faces turned once more to the uphold
or of the affirmative. "Refutation and
conclusion by the affirmative said the
chairman. MIR II. Milholland. Two
minutes"
Herewith. Ramsey coughed as long
as he could cough. and when he felt
that no more should he done In this
way, he wiped his face-again an act
OF necessity quaveringly began ::
Gentlemen and ladies', or ladies and
gentlemen. In making the refutation
OF my opponent, feel that feel that
hardly anything more ought TO be
said"