THE American Protective Tariff
League in offering to the student’s
of senior classes of colleges and uni
versities in the United States a series of
prizes for approved essays on “The
Advantages of a Protective Tariff to
the Labor Industries of the United
States,” will, no doubt, excite many
students to a broader study of the tar
iff question, an issue which has called
forth more discussion in the history of
nations, and has been the incident of
more political trickery, than any other
public problem. Since college profes
sors of political economy almost univer
sally incline to the side of free trade,
many a student will enter upon a treat
ment of the other side with reluctance ;
but he may find in the growth of Amer
ican industry along with its actual his
tory as regards protection, ample facts,
sufficient indeed to prove the benefits if
not the necessity of a protective system
in a country like ours.
THE sports of our college have al
ways been conducted in a very
loose manner; to be candid, we are
obliged to be mute about our accom
plishments in line of athletics. Most of
our sister colleges are well aware of
this, deficiency, for they have seldom
met us in the field. Nevertheless, the
base-ball club has exchanged games
with several of our neighbors from time
to time, and, if we mistake not, has al-
THE FREE LANCE.
ways won; a foot-ball team has also
frequently asserted itself; last fall the
most noticeable thing about the tennis
tournament was'that we have excellent
material for athletes.
Therefore, much needs to be done.
A tennis and an athletic association
have lately been organized ; the base
ball club may grow into an association.
These steps are encouraging, and it is
sincerely hoped that the present enthu
siasm in this direction will survive the
novelty of innovation. We have the
assurance of aid from the authorities;
for they doubtless recognize that, be
sides being of great service in raising
the standard of our college, the exis
tence of a well regulated system of
athletics will do much toward securing
order among the students. Why forget
the necessity of a two-fold develop
ment ? Nature will assert herself in
some way or other, to her own delight,
if not always to the satisfaction of those
concerned! If students do not have
the advantages of systematic exercise
under supervision, they will fall to “in
explicable dumb shows and noise,”
making the halls the seat of rampant
boisterousness. As long as this viva
city, a most wholesome quality in itself,
is let go unbridled that desired harmo
ny and civility will be absent.
It is the duty, and to the interest of
every student to join one or more of
the departments of exercise and do all
in his power to build them up, not to