Depew's Speech

Chauncey M. Depew clelivered the jpening address of the Students' Lecture Association course, in University iall, last Saturday evening. Ilis subject as aunounced was "Americana at Home and Abroad," and for about ten minutes he spoke very entertainingly apon that subject. At this point, tliough, he branched off, and delivered in entertaining political talk for the remainder of the hour. He made the turn very ingeniously, saying that the American was very fond of making political, topics that were not so. Matiy questions that were in no sense politieal we made intensely so, contrary to the method prevailing abroad. There many of these same questions are studied scientiflcally, asthey should be. So the question of currency was not a political, but an academie question, and should be studied academically. As he was in an academie position for the time he thereupon began to consider the question in that light, but to the casual hearer it sounded so amaziogly like Chauncey's political style that it would scarcely be recognized as different. He considered the question historically and philosophically, and made a straight out talk for the gold Standard, illustrating throughout by a number of humorous stories, which kept the audience in a good humor. The question of interference with the operation of trains, and its suppression by the federal government, also came in for his attention. This sort of interference he said was plainly unconstitutional, as that instrument guaranteed to every man life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The stopping of an overland train might leave unprotected people in a position that would lose them their lives; it interfered with their liberty to sact business; and if, as was liable to be the cnse, there were men on that train going to see their sweethearts, it certainly interfered with their pursuit of happiness. ïhe Lecture Association management disclaim any responsibility for the political trend of his address. A member of the board went to Xew York city especially to guard against that. Dr. Angelí says the speech certainly violated the rules governing the use of the hall, but the whole speech was so ingenious, so huinorous, and so enjoyable, that he thinks there will not be much fault found. Xevertheless, permission would have been refused if they had knowu the tenor of his remarks.