The Art of Public Speaking by Dale Carnegie and J. Berg Esenwein online

XXIII INFLUENCING BY ARGUMENT

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BRIEF OF AFFIRMATIVE ARGUMENT

First speaker--Chafee

Armed intervention for collection of private claims from any American nation is not justifiable, for

1. _It is wrong in principle_, because

(_a_) It violates the fundamental principles of international law for a very slight cause

(_b_) It is contrary to the proper function of the State, and

(_c_) It is contrary to justice, since claims are exaggerated.

Second speaker--Hurley

2. _It is disastrous in its results_, because

(_a_) It incurs danger of grave international complications

(_b_) It tends to increase the burden of debt in the South American republics

(_c_) It encourages a waste of the world's capital, and

(_d_) It disturbs peace and stability in South America.

Third speaker--Bruce

3. _It is unnecessary to collect in this way_, because

(_a_) Peaceful methods have succeeded

(_b_) If these should fail, claims should be settled by The Hague Tribunal

(_c_) The fault has always been with European States when force has been used, and

(_d_) In any case, force should not be used, for it counteracts the movement towards peace.

BRIEF OF NEGATIVE ARGUMENT

First speaker--Branch

Armed intervention for the collection of private financial claims against some American States is justifiable, for

1. _When other means of collection have failed, armed intervention against any nation is essentially proper_, because

(_a_) Justice should always be secured

(_b_) Non-enforcement of payment puts a premium on dishonesty

(_c_) Intervention for this purpose is sanctioned by the best international authority

(_d_) Danger of undue collection is slight and can be avoided entirely by submission of claims to The Hague Tribunal before intervening.

Second speaker--Stone

2. _Armed intervention is necessary to secure justice in tropical America_, for

(_a_) The governments of this section constantly repudiate just debts

(_b_) They insist that the final decision about claims shall rest with their own corrupt courts

(_c_) They refuse to arbitrate sometimes.

Third speaker--Dennett

3. _Armed intervention is beneficial in its results_, because

(_a_) It inspires responsibility

(_b_) In administering custom houses it removes temptation to revolutions

(_c_) It gives confidence to desirable capital.

Among others, the following books were used in the preparation of the arguments:

N. "The Monroe Doctrine," by T.B. Edgington. Chapters 22-28.

"Digest of International Law," by J.B. Moore. Report of Penfield of proceedings before Hague Tribunal in 1903.

"Statesman's Year Book" (for statistics).

A. Minister Drago's appeal to the United States, in Foreign Relations of United States, 1903.

President Roosevelt's Message, 1905, pp. 33-37.

And articles in the following magazines (among many others):

"Journal of Political Economy," December, 1906.

"Atlantic Monthly," October, 1906.

"North American Review," Vol. 183, p. 602.

All of these contain material valuable for both sides, except those marked "N" and "A," which are useful only for the negative and affirmative, respectively.

NOTE:--Practise in debating is most helpful to the public speaker, but if possible each debate should be under the supervision of some person whose word will be respected, so that the debaters might show regard for courtesy, accuracy, effective reasoning, and the necessity for careful preparation. The Appendix contains a list of questions for debate.

25. Are the following points well considered?

THE INHERITANCE TAX IS NOT A GOOD SOCIAL REFORM MEASURE

A. Does not strike at the root of the evil

1. _Fortunes not a menace in themselves_ A fortune of $500,000 may be a greater social evil than one of $500,000,000

2. _Danger of wealth depends on its wrong accumulation and use_

3. _Inheritance tax will not prevent rebates, monopoly, discrimination, bribery, etc._

4. _Laws aimed at unjust accumulation and use of wealth furnish the true remedy._

B. It would be evaded

1. _Low rates are evaded_

2. _Rate must be high to result in distribution of great fortunes._

26. Class exercises: Mock Trial for (_a_) some serious political offense; (_b_) a burlesque offense.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 25: McCosh's _Logic_ is a helpful volume, and not too technical for the beginner. A brief digest of logical principles as applied to public speaking is contained in _How to Attract and Hold an Audience_, by J. Berg Esenwein.]

[Footnote 26: For those who would make a further study of the syllogism the following rules are given: 1. In a syllogism there should be only three terms. 2. Of these three only one can be the middle term. 3. One premise must be affirmative. 4. The conclusion must be negative if either premise is negative. 5. To prove a negative, one of the premises must be negative.

_Summary of Regulating Principles_: 1. Terms which agree with the same thing agree with each other; and when only one of two terms agrees with a third term, the two terms disagree with each other. 2. "Whatever is affirmed of a class may be affirmed of all the members of that class," and "Whatever is denied of a class may be denied of all the members of that class."]

[Footnote 27: All the speakers were from Brown University. The affirmative briefs were used in debate with the Dartmouth College team, and the negative briefs were used in debate with the Williams College team. From _The Speaker_, by permission.]

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