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THE MAROON TIGER
a reply to a constitutional argument made by Alexander
H. Stephens, of Georgia, in the Congress of 1875-77.
Rainey, a native of South Carolina, when in Congress
had quite a tilt with the celebrated “Sunset Cox”, the
popular and oratorical Democrat from New York.
“Perhaps, on the whole,” said Mr. Hoar, “the ablest
of the colored men who served with me in Congress,
although each of the gentlemen I have named deserves
commendation, was John R. Lynch, of Mississippi.”
Lynch made the keynote speech in the National Con
vention of 1884, when the “Plumed Knight,” from
Maine, was unhorsed and his shining spear shattered
by the surprised explosion of “Rum, Romanism and Re
bellion.” Lynch, who became temporary presiding of
ficer of the Convention, was nominated by Henry Ca
bot Lodge, and seconded by Theodore Roosevelt and by
George William Curtis. He was an admirable presiding
officer, it is said. Lynch was a native of Louisiana.
DR. W. A. SCOTT: Three Mottoes
We sorrow deeply at the passing of Dr. W. A. Scott,
that grand old American, preacher, teacher, sage, father
of fine children. It has been nearly five years since that
noble and stately man spoke to the students at More
house assembled at the chapel hour. He was not there
to speak, only visiting quietly to look over his sons
attending school. But he was called on to speak, which
he did very graciously and modestly and well. Those
who remember the incident will recall that Dr. Scott
spoke very charmingly indeed on three guides in the
full and complete life—the mottoes of Socrates and
Marcus Aurelius and Jesus of Nazareth: of Socrates—
“Know Thyself: of Marcus Aurelius, the emperor, sage
—“Control Thyself”: of Jesus of Nazareth—“Deny
Thyself”. The mere mention of these are provocative
of thought. A glow of fellowship and understanding
suffused Dr. Scott’s face as he told interesting incidents
from the life of the wise man of Athens; as he told of
the stately bearing of the emperor and stoic; as he
pictured the fullest and completest life, a life sacri
ficed and serving, of the Carpenter from the rustically
quiet village of Nazareth.
Dr. Scott's sermons, “Christ is All and All”, and
“How Much Do You Owe to God and Man?”, are among
the most scholarly and finished and fervently religious
we have heard. Eine father of fine sons, he walked quiet
ly and lovingly among his fellows. If you would know
the persisting power of a peerless life, know him. For-
ever was he digging trenches to irrigate tracts of life
hitherto desert, and digging such trenches, was able
to supply them with the abundance of his life. For a re
vival of one’s religion and reason and real living, one
needed but to know Dr. Scott, who could shut his ears
to all the clamant ballyhoo of our raucous times and. in
quiet reflection, see life clear and see life whole. He re
minds one of Owen Meredith’s lines:
“No life can be pure in its purpose or
strong in its strife,
And all life not be purer and stronger
thereby.”
ENDEARING GOLDSMITH
November 10th was the occasion of the anniversary
of Oliver Goldsmith, born 1728, died 1774, known and
loved wherever the English tongue is spoken. The mel
ody and beauty and enchanting quaintness of “The
Deserted Village” increases the endearment of the pen
niless wanderer with the years. Goldsmith was one of
those individuals whose every frailty renders them lov
able to all who know them. At school he was the ever
present blockhead. Later, having studied medicine and
having attempted practice without success, he turned
to the ministry, only to have himself rejected after ex
amination. “Resolved to emigrate to America, he left
his house in Ireland for Dublin with thirty guineas in
his pocket, only to return in six weeks, penniless. For
three years he tramped about Europe, earning with his
flute a night’s lodging wherever he could get it. Because
most people are stupid at times, however, because they
are frequently improvident, and because they sometimes
like to leave old moorings to see the world, humanity
has given its heart to Oliver Goldsmith. His kindly na
ture, his early failures, his prodigality, and absurdities,
are all a part of the mysteries of life”.
Goldsmith, with Samuel Johnson as the lion, David
Garrick. Edmund Burke, Adam Smith, Charles James
Fox, James Boswell, Bishop Percy, and Edward Gibbon,
form one of the most remarkable groups the world has-
ever seen.
FROM THE STUDENT VIEWPOINT
THE POWER OF DISSENT
H. R. Jerkins, ’30
What a shock did Southern tradition receive on elec
tion day when the Solid South lost enough of its solidity
to warrant any appelation other than solid: for
convenience we’ll call it the New South. It was quite
interesting to hear the results of such an unprecedented
occurrence in “Dixie”, such wholesale breaking down
of conventionality that has stood for generations. We
are almost forced to pinch ourselves to believe the Old
Dominion state, where Southern pride was bred, where
sleeps the bones of General Lee, would forsake the
Democrats to follow the Republicans; not to mention
Florida and the rest.
This surprising movement seems representative of
certain tendencies in modern youth who is often
styled, “the convention-breaker.” This incident may
also indicate the rising of a new element in the South;
an element over which, perhaps, hide-bound, irrational
custom will have no influence. To see men almost
overnight, lay aside party affiliations, difference of
convictions is, indeed, encouraging. It is indicative of
the power of dissent; that gigantic force that has ever
played a dynamic role in progress.
But what meaning does it have for our group? Will
it help to solve our economic, social and political
problems? To these questions no definite answer is
forthcoming hut the results provide a source of hopeful
anticipation. We wonder if we are standing upon the
threshold of Utopia, gazing upon the dawn of El
Dorado or entering sweet Elysia and all that poets
feign of bliss and joy. The results show that the people
wanted a continuation of the Grand Old Party whose
emblem is the elephant, the symbol of strength; and as
an unfailing memory is the characteristic of the ani
mal, we do not doubt that he will forget the support
given by the Negro votes. Although there are some in
our group who believe the G. O. P. is under no obli
gation to us.)
Dissent has no limits; it is universal. It affects all