News

HMS Is Facing a Deficit. Under Trump, Some Fear It May Get Worse.

News

Cambridge Police Respond to Three Armed Robberies Over Holiday Weekend

News

What’s Next for Harvard’s Legacy of Slavery Initiative?

News

MassDOT Adds Unpopular Train Layover to Allston I-90 Project in Sudden Reversal

News

Denied Winter Campus Housing, International Students Scramble to Find Alternative Options

English VI.

Debate of November 22, 1894.

NO WRITER ATTRIBUTED

Question: Resolved, That free institutions in the United States are now in danger."

Brief for the Affirmative.H. A. BULL and J. W. WORTHINGTON.

Best general references: Theodore Roosevelt, Practical Politics; Testimony before Lexow Committee in New York Tribune, Oct. 2-Nov. 4, 1894; Century, XLVI, 151, 314, 475, 635, 789 (1893); Bishop J. H. Vincent in Forum, XV, 261-268; E. D. Mead, The Roman Catholic Church and the Public Schools.

I. The people are indifferent to public affairs. Nation LVII, 4.

II. Our political institutions are in danger. - (a) Management in the hands of bad men, e.g., Quay, Gorman. - (b) Spoils system. - (c) Bribery: Jenks in Century, Oct. 1892; F. J. Stimson, Address on Bribery. - (d) Excessive representation of ignorance.: small western states. - (e) Foreign vote: Pol. Sci. Q., IX, 426 (Sept. 1894).

III. The rights of the individual are in danger. - (a) Suppression of the vote: Hart, Essays on Government, p. 32. - (b) Lynching: Forum XVI, 300 (Nov. 1893). - (c) Oppression by legal authorities: Lexow testimony. - (d) Excessive organization.

IV. There is danger in existing social conditions. - (a) Right to earn one's living abridged: Century, above. - (b) Hostile feeling of labor towards capital: Homestead and Chicago strikes. -(c) Monopolies.

V. The Roman Catholic Church is dangerous to free institutions. - (a) Its power is increasing. - (1) By growth. - (2) By centralization of discipline: Satolli. - (b) Its policy. (1) Destroys individual liberty: W. E. Gladstone, Vatican Decrees and Civil Allegiance, p. 13. (2) Keeps Roman Catholics apart from other citizens: Parochial schools, and C. M. B. A. - (3) Is political and asserts supremacy over local government: Pope's Encyclical in Amer. Cath. Q., XIX, 785 (July 1894).

Brief for the Negative.M. A. ALDRICH and W. S. YOUNGMAN.

Best general references: C. W. Eliot in Forum XVIII, 129 (Oct. 1894); C. W. Eliot, Phi Beta Kappa Oration for 1888, in Our Day II, 106 (Aug. 1888); Jas. Bryce, American Commonwealth, 2nd ed. II, 354-364, 474-486; Jas. Bryce, The Predictions of Hamilton and De Tocqueville; J. R. Lowell, Democracy; N. P. Gilman, Socialism and the American Spirit; E. Boutmy, Studies in Constitutional Law, Part 2, Section 6.

I. The imperfections in our free institutions are magnified. - (a) Similar evils in the past have been met. - (1) Shay's Rebellion, Van Holst I, 35. - (2) Whiskey Rebellion, Van Holst I, 97. - (3) Slavery. - (b) Even supposed dangers have hopeful aspects; C. W. Eliot in Forum XVIII, 148-141,

II. The enormous advantages of our free institutions are underated. - (a) As they stand our institutions are second to none. - (1) They unite the advantages of English institutions with greater individual freedom: Jas. Bryce, II, 474-486.

III. Our people are fully able to cope with emergencies. - (a) They have already done so. - (1) Secession. - (2) Slavery. - (3) Chicago Anarchists: J. E. Gary in Century XIV, 803 (Apr. 1893) - (b) They are doing so today. - (1) Movement toward restricted immigration. - (2) Scientific charity. - (2) Civil Service. - (4) Universal education: W. L. Wilson's Boston Lecture, Nov. 12, 1894. - (5) Ballot Reform. - (6) Social reform. - (7) Overthrow of Tammany.

IV. Our Constitution is adequate. - (a) It developes, - (1) By Amendment. - (2) By Interpretation. - (3) By usage: Jas. Bryce, I, 350-397.

Want to keep up with breaking news? Subscribe to our email newsletter.

Tags