tleman thinks that there has never been better feeling between North and South since the foundation of the republic than now. The gentleman attributes the late strikes to demagogues and the financial crash, and after predicting the future greatness of our country, closes an impassioned address to the ship of State with these lines: "But humanity with all its fears, Mr. Montgomery's delivery is very good. Mr. Brownfield, the second debater on the affirmative, was next introduced. The gentleman said that preliminary remarks by him would be unnecessary, and he proceeded immediately to bring forward his arguments: we are not presumptous enough to say that the causes now operating will overthrow our government, we can only say that the signs indicate as much. As to the historical illustrations brought forward by the negative, they cannot be good, because not existing under the same circumstances. We cannot say what vast effects gun-powder and printing will have on our future destiny. Internal strife may, indeed, be beneficial, but it is also destructive. In our government, history is repeating itself. There is no example of a republic returning to its primitive simplicity and purity. The gentleman here brings forward examples from history. Constitutions or forms of government are at best pliable, and ours is far on its way towards a radical change. The inauguration of the last President struck a death-blow to one of the fundamental principles of our government. There is not much hope that one political party is better than another. He said that he did not wish to borrow trouble, but that the evil had been long growing and had taken such strong root that no power on earth could uproot it. The audience listened with interest to Mr. Brownfield's bold and argumentative discourse. Mr. Watkins, the second debater on the negative, next came forward. He complimented the appearance and delivery of his opponents, but declared that their speeches consisted of assertions merely. We condense his reasoning: the country is not in the hands of demagogues; a great Englishman has said that our people are pre-eminently a law abiding and law enforcing people; the advantages of universal suffrage are acknowledged; as long as we have it in its purity we are comparatively safe; there is no danger from this source; the people will support what the people have established; no danger is to be apprehended from the negroes who are gradually rising in political intelligence, as shown by their conduct in late years; danger cannot be justly feared from Presidential elections; the people are trained to forbearance even when things don't go exactly right; our constitution is still carefully studied; our old traditions preserved; witness the result at Chicago; the two great national parties may be compared to the centripetal and centrifugal forces that keep the planets in their orbits; the effects of the late war are rapidly passing away; the resumption of specie payment in January, 1879, is not the least among the encouraging signs. The gentleman's address is good and his delivery marked by great earnestness of manner. After Mr. Watkins' speech, the President, Mr. Ewing, dismissed the audience. ALUMNI. [It is only through the active co-operation of the alumni themselves that this department of our periodical can be made interesting. We, therefore, solicit them to aid us by sending us news of the whereabouts and the doings both of themselves. and others of our alumni who may come within their knowl edge, as well as of any other persons that may, for any reason, justly claim an interest in our Alma Mater.] . J. B. Guthrie, '72-'73, is practicing medicine at Hulseville, Tensas Parish, La. Jas. Poague, '58-59, is practicing medicine at Newellton, Tensas Parish, La. Geo. Winchester, '69-'70, is married and in business in Natchez, Miss. Jno. Langworthy, '72-73, is practicing medicine at Davis' Bend, Miss. Lucius Desha, '69-'70, is living in Cynthiana, Ky., and occupies the position of County Judge. His brother Jack is married, and is farming near the same place. Jas. McCluer, '74-'75, is a professor in Jefferson College, Miss., of which J. S. Raymond, an ante-bellum graduate of W. and L. U., is President. Geo. J. Denis, '76-'77-'78, is practicing law in New Orleans. Fred Ogden, '77-'78, has just graduated as an M. D., and has a situation as assistant physician in a New Orleans hospital. Ben. F. (Flax) Kirkpatrick, "73-74-'75-'76-77, is in Lynchburg. He is "learning business," and is fluent in traditions of W. and L., and of what happened when "he was here." It was reported that he was going to marry some charming widow. Great goodness! Ben, is this true? Wm. McElwee, '77-'78-'79, is in Chicago getting wealthy. There is some talk of his endowing a scholarship at W. and L. as soon as he is worth $500,000, which will be quite soon. He gets $5.50 per week, and pays $4.75 for board. Has 75 cents to squander every week. C. M. Cooke, '77-'78, when last heard from, was wandering about in Colorado on the lookout for a place to hang out his shingle. forward. He complimented the appearance and delivery of his opponents, but declared that their speeches consisted of assertions merely. We condense his reasoning: the country is not in the hands of demagogues; a great Englishman has said that our people are pre-eminently a law abiding and law enforcing people; the advantages of universal suffrage are acknowledged; as long as we have it in its purity we are comparatively safe; there is no danger from this source; the people will support what the people have established; no danger is to be apprehended from the negroes who are gradually rising in political intelligence, as shown by their conduct in late years; danger cannot be justly feared from Presidential elections; the people are trained to forbearance even when things don't go exactly right; our constitution is still carefully studied; our old traditions preserved; witness the result at Chicago; the two great national parties may be compared to the centripetal and centrifugal forces that keep the planets in their orbits; the effects of the late war are rapidly passing away; the resumption of specie payment in January, 1879, is not the least among the encouraging signs. The gentleman's address is good and his delivery marked by great earnestness of manner. After Mr. Watkins' speech, the President, Mr. Ewing, dismissed the audience. ALUMNI. [It is only through the active co-operation of the alumni themselves that this department of our periodical can be made interesting. We, therefore, solicit them to aid us by sending us news of the whereabouts and the doings both of themselves and others of our alumni who may come within their knowl edge, as well as of any other persons that may, for any reason, justly claim an interest in our Alma Mater.] J. B. Guthrie, '72-'73, is practicing medicine at Hulseville, Tensas Parish, La. Jas. Poague, '58-59, is practicing medicine at Newellton, Tensas Parish, La. Geo. Winchester, '69-'70, is married and in business in Natchez, Miss. Jno. Langworthy, '72-'73, is practicing medicine at Davis' Bend, Miss. Lucius Desha, '69-'70, is living in Cynthiana, Ky., and occupies the position of County Judge. His brother Jack is married, and is farming near the same place. Jas. McCluer, '74-75, is a professor in Jefferson College, Miss., of which J. S. Raymond, an ante-bellum graduate of W. and L. U., is President. Geo. J. Denis, '76-'77-'78, is practicing law in New Orleans. Fred Ogden, '77-'78, has just graduated as an M. D., and has a situation as assistant physician in a New Orleans hospital. Ben. F. (Flax) Kirkpatrick, "73-74-'75-'76-'77, is in Lynchburg. He is "learning business," and is fluent in traditions of W. and L., and of what happened when "he was here." It was reported that he was going to marry some charming widow. Great goodness! Great goodness! Ben, is this true? Wm. McElwee, '77-'7S-'79, is in Chicago getting wealthy. There is some talk of his endowing a scholarship at W. and L. as soon as he is worth $500,000, which will be quite soon. He gets $5.50 per week, and pays $4.75 for board. Has 75 cents to squander every week. C. M. Cooke, '77-'78, when last heard from, was wandering about in Colorado on the lookout for a place to hang out his shingle. |