The question for debate at the Harvard Union last night was: Resolved, That President Harison was justified in appointing Mr. Hart postmaster of Boston.

The debate was opened for the affirmative by A. P. Stone '93. He said that the act of declining to appoint Mr. Corse when his time had expired, cannot be be considered unjust to Mr. Corse, because he knew perfectly well when he took the office that he would not be reappointed if the Republican party came into power. On the other hand the appointment of Mr. Hart did no harm to civil service reform, because it is admitted on all hands that President Harrison has made an admirable appointment.

The debate was begun for the negative by L. Jenks '92. He said that this question is not restricted to the post-mastership of Boston, but involves all the offices at the disposal of the President. He sketched the rise and development of the spoils system, and showed the utter demoralization wrought by it in every branch of the United States government.

The debate was continued for the affirmative by E. P. Jose '93. He showed that out of 30 appointments made by Mr. Corse, 25 were Democrats, and therefore the removal of Mr. Corse was consistent with the principles of civil service reform.

The debate was continued for the negative, in the absence of F. B. Williams by J. F. Morton '92. He said that injustice, in connection with this question, is not a personal matter; but "justified" means "that which is right" in the abstract sense. The people of the United States demand that the officers of the government should be appointed not for partisan reasons, but only for reasons of merit.

The debate was then thrown open to the house, and a number of men spoke.

The voting resulted as follows: On merits of the question, affirmative 4, negative 10; on merits of the principal disputants, affirmative 5, negative 9. The question chosen for debate at the next meeting was: Resolved, That the recent lynching at New Orleans cannot on the whole be justified.