Seattle University - Aegis Yearbook (Seattle, WA)

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TII E P A L E S T U A i batFH OWING to an increase in membership and to the zealous co-operation of our Reverend Moderator, Father Oliver, the Debating Society had an exceptionally successful year. The debates were carried out in strict parliamentary form. The excellent way in which the debates were delivered, speeches carefully prepared and thought out, the freedom with which each side took up the opponents’ arguments, have rendered the meetings instructive and agreeable to all present. We publish a partial list of the motions that were discussed during the year 1914-1915: October 16. “Resolved. That the illiteracy test is unfair to immigrants.” October 23. ”Resolved. That it is for the best interest of the state to vote against the prohibition amendment.” October 30. “Resolved. That it would have been wiser for the United States to have recognized Huerta at the time of his presidency.” November 13. ”Resolved. That Congress should immediately provide for further strengthening of the Navy.” November 20. Resolved. That the presidential form of government is preferable to the parliamentary form.” December 11. Resolved, That our government should own and control the telegraph and telephone systems.” January 15. Resolved. That the Chinese should be excluded from the United States.” January 26. Resolved. That the jitney bus is a better mode of transportation than the street car.” March 12. ”Resolved. That the Federal Government should own and operate all railways in the United States carrying interstate commerce.” March 26. Resolved, That the states should establish a schedule of minimum wages for unskilled labor constitutionally conceded.” April 16. Resolved, That the power of the Federal Government should De paramount to that of the states in the conservation of natural resources, limited to forests, water power and minerals.” April 23. Resolved. That the rapid awakening of the Mongolian race is perilous to the Caucasian supremacy of the world.” J. McAtebr, Secretary. 17. « (£ljr (0ratur If we consult the history of nations we find that oratory has been a powerful element in the shaping of their destinies. For the orator holds within him a power that neither statesmen, warriors or kings were capable to wield for the welfare of the multitudes. ‘‘It is he,” says Cicero, “who can hold enchained the minds of an assembly by the charm of speech, who fascinates their hearts, impells their wills whithersoever he pleases, and diverts them from whatsoever he desires.” We could multiply examples, both ancient and modern, to show that the speech of the orator has had even more power over the wills of a nation than the laws of statesmen, than the tactics of generals, or the mandates of rulers. Cast your eyes upon the past and sec there a proof of the magic influence exercised by the orator. By the power of his speech Demosthenes rouses the Athenian people from their national torpor to an enthusiastic love of their country till they cried out: “Lead us against Philip.” It was the eloquent word of O’Connell that lashed into

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S K A T T L K COL L K C K A A’ XU A L who was among the first to sign the Declaration of Independence, gives us a glowing example of the earnestness with which he prizes his liberty when in addressing his fellow countrymen, and exhorting them to fight to the last, he exclaimed: “But as for me give me liberty or give me death.” We, who share the blessings of a beneficent government, who live in the land of tolerance. should guard as a priceless heritage 21 this freedom, which has cost the world so dearly, and be ever wary lest some retrograding step be taken, lest some of the work accomplished be again undone, lest the fanaticism of a misguided coterie of individuals prevail upon the weakness of a notoriety-loving legislature. pervert the ends of justice and threaten the very existence of those relationships which the eternal laws demand shall remain sacred among men. Lovell Spellmire, '16. SNOQUALMIE FALLS A silent moon entranced ’mid pleasant skies In wondrous awe gloats down upon the sight The falls aglow with kisses of the night. Before me beckon to my feasting eyes A seething mass whose onrush never dies. It fumes and roars and tumbles from its height As twere to burst the manacles of might And rend asunder Nature’s lasting ties. What clouds of hoary mist and foam rise i ow From off the eddies of that troubled brow! And yet how soon this agitated sea Shall turn from surge to raptured streamlet’s claim, Whose only course, and solitary aim Allures the brambled dingle, vale and lea. Raymond Beezer, ’17.

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S E A T T L E C () L L E G E A X X U A L fury the patriotic Irish race as his voice rose and fell upon their hearts and minds. And to take an example from our own United States, if at the present day we enjoy the sweet boon of liberty it is due to the orator who with thrilling tones made America ring out with the shout of “Give us liberty or give us death.” Fellow students, it is easy to perceive the importance of oratory. A college student, trained and formed with all the knowledge of a liberal education, cannot ignore this art if he wants to utilize his college training to the 23 an eloquent shape or form which to them was the result of the constant study of the application of those rules that arc usually laid down for a persuasive speech. The orator speaks to please at times but more frequently to persuade. And the power of persuasion can be learned by study, thus bearing out even in our times the Latin saying, “Poeta nascitur, fit orator.” The poet is born but the orator is made. A writer on this subject has said: “Eloquence is not a gift but an art, not an inspiration but an acquisition, not an intuition but SKNIOK DKUATINC SOCIKTY OKKICKItS JOliy A. DorcilKItTY................................President JAMKS MoATKKU.......................................Secretary LKSTEIt SCIIOItN ..... Sergeant «t-Ann In-st advantage for the welfare of his church and country. Frequently the opportunity will present itself when he can express his views on subjects of importance for the good of the community in which he lives, of the government which he supports, of the church he has to defend. But it is not simply the word which we shall speak that will win an audience to ourselves, but the way in which we put that word. We are sure that Demosthenes at Athens and Cicero at Rome magnetized their audiences not by the mere enunciation of a:i argument, but by putting that argument in an attainment.” In studying the models of eloquence an objection may present itself at the outset. Can we form an ideal for ourselves from such extraordinary and exceptional men as these models often proposed to us? Certainly an ideal must be formed from the best representatives of an art and yet we may answer that although such men as Demosthenes. Cicero, Daniel Webster and others were exceptionally prominent, were the best representatives of the art the world has ever known, yet they were not and ought not to be beyond all imitation. The ideals which inspired their speaking and won the applause of