DEBATE OF MAY 1, 1889.Question: Resolved that the welfare of the United States requires a large and powerful navy.

Brief for the Affirmative.O. M. Anderson and W. R. Bigelow.

Best general references:- J. W. King, War ships and Navies of the World, pp. 337, and Congressional Record. vol. XV part 2, pp. 1489-94.

I. Every commercial country needs a navy:- King, pp. 611-613.

II. Our present navy is utterly inadequate. (a) to guard the coast; (b) to protect commerce; (c) to police the seas; (d) to uphold our dignity abroad:- Donaldson's Public Domain, p. 464, Congressional Record, vol. XV., pp. 1089-94; Nation, vol. XXXI, p. 225.

III. We need a navy in anticipation of war; (a) war is usually unexpected; North American Review, vol. XCVIII, pp. 462-467; (b) time is needed; (1) to build a navy and to train seamen.- Nation, vol. XLI pp. 503 et. seq. (2) to encourage better methods of naval warfare.- North American Review, Jan., 1889, p. 15, quotation; Fortnightly Review, vol. L. pp. 546, et seq.; Forum, vol. VI., pp. 370.

Brief for the Negaive.J. M. Newell and C. E. Wright.

Best general references: Century Magazine, April, 1889; The Nation, April 18, 1889.

I. The expense of constructing and maintaining a large navy is enormous: Congressional Record, Vol. 18, page 1812; British Almanac, 1889, page 253

II. The value of modern ships of war is doubtful:- Edinburgh Review, vol. 162, p. 234. (a) They have not been tested in any great naval engagement:- Porter in North American Review, January and February, 1889; (b) they are constantly being rendered useless by new inventions:- Forum, vol., 6, p. 370; Lippincott's, vol. 29, p. 346; (c) other means of warfare would be more serviceable to the United States:- Porter, North American Review for February, 1889, p. 213; Speech of Ingalls, Congressional Record, vol. 18, p. 108; speech of King, Congressional Record, vol. 18, p. 2346.

III. The possession of a large navy is an incentive to war:- Speech of Oates, Congressional Record, vol. 17, p. 2344; Cobden's speeches, pp. 264 and 274.

IV. The United States do not require a large navy. (a) We have no distant colonies to defend:- Holman's speech, Congressional Record, vol. 18, Appendix, p. 97; (b) we have proved our ability to maintain our rights without the support or a large navy, e. g. the Oregan Question, (see Schouler's History of the United States, vol 4, p. 503); The Alabama claims:- (see McCarthy, History of Our Own Times, p. 374).

V. We ought to take measures to protect ourselves at home rather than to make ourselves formidable abroad.- The Nation, April 18, 1889, p. 319.