6
UNIVERSITY COURIER.
passed. Where were the Douglas county representatives? One of them, we heard, was so surprised to find that a Law department was attached to this institution, that he could not regain his breath in time to say a word in favor of our College. A good record for Lawrence and her delegation. One of which she may well feel proud.
THUS far four strange tongues have seemed enough for the most ambitious student, but now the present and pressing need of our University is a course in yet another, in Spanish. The rapid development of Old Mexico is making it one of the best fields for wide-awake and hard-working young business men. The movement in that direction has awakened here much interest in surveying and engineering, so that in these studies large classes have been formed. The greater part of these students expect to find their work in this new southwest. Certainly it would be a great benefit if they were to have a knowledge of that country's language. Hence the need of at least a short course in Spanish. As many students would take Spanish as now study German. Doubtless the effort should be to give rather a speaking than a reading knowledge of the language; to teach the students to talk, then let them pursue the literature if they will. As the study of French has always been rather a perfunctory matter, why not substitute Spanish in the Scientific course? Or better still, teach the B. S. to read French, to speak Spanish, to do both in German. The writer has been informed by the Professor of Modern Languages that two sessions are enough to give any hard-working student a speaking knowledge of Spanish, especially if this work be founded on a thorough Latin drill in the Preparatory school. Considering the vast amount of German and other foreign tongues that the universal English has overwhelmed, there can be no doubt that it will in the end displace this corrupt Castilian. But until that change shall be accomplished, an acquaintance with Spanish will be of the greatest value to any young American seeking his fortune in Mexico.
"R."
TOPICS.
A NEEDED CHANGE.
Murders are becoming altogether too frequent in the State of Kansas. Scarcely a week goes by but some of our papers record a death in their vicinity from the bullet or the knife. It is to be hoped that the Legislature will find time in the midst of its wrangling over the railroad and prohibition questions, or the scurvy schemes of starving our State institutions, to act upon the advice of Governor Glick regarding the death penalty. The present law which makes it optional with the Executive whether the criminal shall die or not, is a fraud upon the people, is cowardly and unsatisfactory in the extreme. No Governor will be so cold-blooded as to willfully send to the gallows a man with whose crime and its circumstances he is not familiar.
If it is any one's duty to order and provide for the execution it is that of the judge or jury that has carefully weighed the evidence and decided the guilt. The existing law virtually abolishes the death penalty. The sentimental twaddle which applies its energies to doing away with capital punishment had better devote itself to helping the widow and orphans made by its protege's hand. As it now is, the man who kills his neighbor has less to fear than he who steals his horse.
Our statutes make every allowance for provocation, sudden passion or unpremeditated action and give the criminal the benefit of every doubt. The man who intentionally and deliberately commits a cold-blooded murder and is convicted under process of our laws which make almost every kind of a loophole for escape is of no use either to himself or society. A law making the fate of the murderer the same as that of his victim would lessen the number of desperate deeds committed, would do away with Judge Lynch trials, would inspire a greater respect for the law and would remove from our penitentiaries and asylums a class of men no more fit to live than an equal number of mad-dogs.
G. M.
THE SIGNAL SERVICE.
If our signal service bureau is not corrupt as is charged by partisan newspapers, it has undoubtedly given reason for suspicion that all is not right in that department. Corruption enough has been unearthed to give materials for an attack upon the management, and an investigation has been demanded. At the end of the civil war Gen Myer was made head of the bureau, chiefly to requite him for his services during the rebellion. On Myer's death Gen. Hazen was appointed, not for any qualifications which he possessed, but as a gross piece of favoritism on the part of President Hayes. The corps has been constantly enlarged and the appropriations increased, yet all the real work is done by a few captains, non-commissioned officers and private. The principal occupation of the greater number of the officers appears to be to work up public opinion in favor of the department. The defalcation of Howgate and the incompetency of Hazen have directed the public gaze upon the workings of the signal corps, and it is very probable that it soon will be transferred from the War Department to the Interior in accordance with the recommendations of President Arthur and Secretary Lincoln.
ARTHUR AND REFORM.
In his appointments of commissioners, as provided for by the Civil Service reform bill, President Arthur has shown great wisdom and a clear understanding of the wishes of the country. By putting the management of the act into the hands of his friends, he has shown his friendship toward the interests of reform and has added another to his already long list of statesman-like acts which have made his administration notable for its far-seeing policy. The commissioners are all men who will command the confidence of the people and their action will be awaited with the expectation that if civil service reform can be promoted by this bill these gentlemen will do it.
The finest assortment of Picture Frames in the city at Bafes & Field's.
M2. Now I look at the box...