Feilding Debating Society.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 63, 11 September 1895, Page 2

Feilding Debating Society.

DEBATE WITH PALMERSTON SOCIETY. A public debate was held in the Feilding Assembly Rooms last evening between the Feilding Debating Society and tbe Palmerston Mutual Improvement Society. The subject of the debate waa " Does money exercise a greater influence than moral power ?" Palmerston was represented by Messrs R. Leary, Anderson, Lilly, Laurenson, and G. Grant, and Fiilding by Messrs T. Watson, J. H. Stevens, J. Cobbe, Revs A. Innes Jones and W T . H. Judkins. There was a large attendance of the public. The Mayor (Mr W. A. Sandilands) presided, and previous to the debate commencing read the conditions on which the judges were to decide, they were, briefly, that tbe award was to ba given on the merits of the debate, and not in accord with the judges' personal opinions on the subject. The judges were Messrs H. L. Sherwill, J. Greenwood, and C. L. McLean. Mr Leary was tbe first speaker, and his arguments were in the direction of showing that the influence of money and moral power were necessities of each other and worked together— money was the moving and morality the guiding power. He pointed out the dominating influence of money over moral convictions in the guidance of " moral " England in , commercial transactions as a nation. It 1 was the profits arising from ber actions which moved her. He argued that morality in politics was scorned. In social affairs, money would give access to society where it was impossible for a man with only morality as a recommendation to be accepted. Morality did not govern trade, it was money. He concluded by referring to the number of men who risked their lives for uedlh. Mr Watson followed in support of moral power as against the influence of money, and contended that the history of nations proved that moral power was the gieat influence in actuating mankind, wealth being but an adjunct. It was their higher culture which created the wealth aronnd us. The history ot men who made tbeir mark showed it was owing to their moral power, which was force of character. Look iuto the minds of the people as tbey \ go to their businesses. It was not the ' love of money which urged men on, it was their desire to provide sustenance for those depending on tbem. If money were the greater power, this life would be the greatest failure of the universe. Mr Anderson went on to show that money gives a wonderful amount of life to moral power, but the former decided the pre-eminence. He dwelt on the importance of financial questions to nations. Mr Stevens commenced by asking if the creature mouey could be greater than its creator— moral forc9. God created man, wbo, in turn, created money. He asked was it by moral power or wealth that Christ held such power over the ' world. He mentioned the names of men who had made their mark in support of ' his contention tbat the nations were guided by moral power. ' Mr Lilly contended it was necessary ' for a nation to have money to draw them on, morality being a secondary conside- > ration. The Church at Home had sunk ; her moral power to save her bequests, f Bi-metallism was said by authorities to be the only panacea for human ills, and it was her wealth which made England ' great. Mr Cobbe combatted the idea that 1 money exercised the greater influence, and said India was gained in the first a- instance and afterwards held by moral power. Money did not exercise so great an influence in Scotland as John Knox. ■ The Tammany Ring in New York was I crushed by the moral power of the » people. The greater moral power created t wealth. The effect of money was easily seen as it frothed on the top, wbile moral power is quieter aud deeper. The liberty we enjoy was due to the moral power and not to money. Mr Laurenson said they were there to give their opinions N on the question before them, and, much as they deplored it, had to admit money was the ; ruling power. His side could quote i people who were influenced by money, ; which was the safeguard of tbeir con- ■ stitution. He pointed out how money ■ dwarfed a man's decision. Mr Jones contended that if money were eliminated from a community it I would be a happy one* He pointed out ■ the influence of the Pilgrim Fathers who went to an uninhabited country to carry ■ out their moral principles. Money with- . out morals could do no good and , rel quired the latter power to give it the ; greater influence, i Mr Grant argued that money com- > manded health, knowledge, and culture, and without it these objects could not i be attained. Wealth was the ambition ' of mankind, the majority of whom endorsed the sentiment and acted on the i principle. They were there with shame to confess tbat money exercised the i greater influence. The greed of gain destroyed friendship, and a person was more ready to serve rich people than the i moral poor. As to tbe greatness of the 1 Scotch people being due to their moral power, he said it was due to their care i of the bawbees, and money was supreme. The Rev. Mr Judkins did not agree that money was the actuating influence, as history showed it was morality which i triumphed. The world despised gain where principle was at stake, and the power of Christ accomplished greater effects than money. It was the moral power which held them together. Mr Watson summed up for his side, and in doing so said money in itself had no power. The emancipation of slaves in the West Indies and United States was due to moral power, and not for monetary gain. Mr Leary then replied, stating that people think so little of church that only one-sixth attend once a week. The moral giants were so rare that they could not help admiring them. The judges gave their decisions individually, Mr McLean deciding in favor of Palmerston, aud Messrs Sherwill and Greenwood in favor of Feilding, the latter thus winning the debate. Resolutions were passed thanking the judges for their services, to the Palmerston gentlemen for their attendance, and to the Chairman. Mr Leary, qn behalf pf his party, returned thanks for vote accorded them. At the conclusion of the debate, which was attended by several visitors from Palmerston and Campbelltown, the visitors were provided with refreshments by several ladies connected with the Feilding society.