New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-09
THE UNION ALUMNI DINNER.
FREE DISCUSSION OF PRESENT PROB
LENS N AFTER DINNER SPEECHES.
ADDRESSES Ky DIR RAYMOND. PRESIDENT OF THE
COLLEGE. WHEELER II. PDrKuAM. FRED


Alumni Association of New-York. held last evening
81; the Hotel Savoy. was remarkable for something
else than the good cheer and good fellowship that
attend such an occasion necessarily II was re-
rnarka bic for the freedom OF discussion Of the
prob,ems that are now confronting this country
several whose opinions carry more than ord-
nary weish with the citizens OF Ncw-York were
included among the after-dlnner speakers and their
theme imperialism. All shades OF opinion
seemed TO be represented and each speaker had his
supporters and believers among the men who sat
about the little tables IN the beautiful banquet hall
Before the dinner there was a business meeting
Of the association. which is one of the largest
alumni associations in the city, at which the fol-
loving officers were chosen: President. Daniel NJ
Stirnson. GA; nrst vice-prcsident Frederick W.
Seward ~: second vice-presdent. Charles d. Mott
81. secretary Edgar S. Barney "a; treasurer
Bavard Whitehorne. so. Executive Committee
Charles f. Spraguc. go; Frank Bailey. 81 G. Her
Der, Daley. '92 George \. Hughes 'sS: Clarke W.
Crannen IS: ]. v l. Pruyn. 80: Andrew IL. Smith
IS. William X. Gilchrst, SO: Douglas Campbell a.
Joscph Alan O Ne 81; CORTLAND V. Anable, 81 :
Edwin Enston. 81; George J. Schermerhorn. 66;
Charles y. Meneely, 81. and William CT. Brown, '95.
While the dinner was in progress the college
rlee club brought down for that occasion. made
things merry with the songs OF Union In which
the older boys" for such they will always be 10
each other joined.
sias Z. Brownell presided over the after-dnner
exercises on his right sat the Rev. DR.. Andrew
Y Y Raymond president of Union College, and
o, his left Wheeler II. Peckham Among the hun
drel others present were Ex-Governor Alonzo Il.
Cornell George Haven Putnam, the Rev. DIR.
charles f. jefferson. General Daniel Butterhed,
Genera. Henry r. Tremaine f. w. Crittenden.
william T Meredith. Edward Schenck. ex-Sena
Tor Warner Miller. John NJ. Scribner, George j.
sohernerhorn William Wells. w. II. II. Moore.
George l. Plmpton. Frederick w. Seward, John
p Van Wormor. Frank a. DE Puy. John II. Starn.
Frank oomis j. {. Breckenridge Frank 5. Ely.
Professor Franklin H. Giddings, the Rev. DR.. Shell
don Jackson the Rev Or. George Alexander. Doug
las Campbell Andrew W. Gleason and Professor
Maurice Perkins
Mr. Bsownen introduced President Raymond, who
was greeted with cheers for "Prexy." DR. Ray
ruonds address dealt almost entirely with the sort
OF college Union might be- the peculiar field that
was open for Il. lie summed up this ideal thus:
distinctive field opens for the college that Will
limit is ambition to SIZE and whatever its
resources hold itself rigdly the mission Of
providing the greatest educational advantages for
fixed number of students This will mean an in
st!tu,ion. let say of four hundred students.
which ! believe Is the largest number that can
be successfully trained under faculty giving
all necessary and attention 10 the individual
ana preserving the best traditions Of The Amer-
can college. The faculty for such college should
number not less than forty-possibly fifty, and
the policy would be TO bring together in this
faculty the creates, teachers that be secured.
big-hearted. broad-minded men. trained for their
work. selected company receiving salaries com
mensurate with their ability and services. ana
guaranteed a generous provision for old age To
have d place in such faculty would be the worthy
ambition Of the best teachers the country affords
from generation t. generation.
In keeping with such corps OF instructors would
be the general equipment OF the college buildings
with perfect sanitary arrangements each building
adapted TO its special purpose, laboratories light
and airy and completely furnished with the most
approved appliances, library sufficient Tor all
needs and all the surroundings Of the college at
traciive and refining in their influence. That COL
lege thus equipped and manned and maintaining
the highest standard of academic training would
be sought by many cannot be doubted Inc mere
limiting of the number admitted would make it
mark Of distinction belong to it, policy OF Sc
lection would be necessary and this would put
the emphasis upon the thoroughness OF prepaTa-
ton, examinations would determine who would be
accepted-not necessarily all who passed the eX-
animation but those who passed best up 10 the
fixed number 10 be admitted each year. II two
hundred passed and only one hundred could entef
these would be the best students. the result would
be select company of young men, fitted 10 make
the most OF their opportunities. There would 'e
no RECOGNITION Of fictitious distinctions. The bright
est minds whether trai0ed in poverty or wealth
would be brought together under the most favora-
bic conditions for further development. This Is
the kind OF an institution that has not yet arisen In
our educational world, and believe there is
place for it and call for IT,
Frederick w Seward started the discussion
about expansion He Outspoken in favor of
the policy of President Mckinley. He said in part;
There was a Governor of one Of the Southern
States who had been himself a Confederate gen
eIa ana was pTesi6ing al "a in him and said
hey noticed among The m Di 5ne f no b
flag but they thought that under the circum-
stances i was little inappropriate 70 the J., oc-
self w BOYS " said he bring that nag here.
So they brought It, He took it and, standing
Boys" said he many years ago you and and
all Of us marched under that nag into Mexico
And II was victorious! And a few years ago you
and and all Of us marched against ba th9 hec nns
AID again It was victorious Now IL mas o,n,rv
ana may it always be vic;oriousi''
think can near the echo OF the oio governor rho
words coming up TO us from Santiago de cuDa,
from san Juan de Porto Rico, and from distant
Manila. in the Philippines: AYE. aye sir 1t Is
And now a word about our new possessions II
is right that should earnestly discuss our future
policy n regard to them IL Is nat4Ia ha' p we
should differ 10 what that policy shail De. bu t
preseni~nto; OF to-morrow. but Of to-day. The
wiScst OF all advisers has told us that II we CIV
not worry much about those OF tomorrow We'll;
our duty to-day toward Cuba and Porto f<ico ana ana
We are performing H. We are giving mem no ,be3n
We are giving them trade We are st'dhgd t dann
gers from within. We are giving them instruction.
just fast they use II IN all the acts OF
and progress and elf-eoVcrnment., Is
there any better wiser or more American poHcy
than this? Why should we not continue IL ,,o
you another / give you: The two presidents,
Of Union College and OF the National lnion-fTesIc
dent RAYMOND and President McKinley-each OF
whom Is doing his best TO enlarge the Union over
which he presdes."
The applause that greeted Mr.. Stewards senti-
rnents had scarcely died away before Wheeler H.
Peckham was on his feet responding to the toast
Of The Union Of Our Fathers" Mr.. Peckhams
views were diametrically opposed to Mr. Sewnrds.
He took the ground that there were plopi'"S
enough now unsettled to make the ADDITION OF new
ones by territorial expansion undesirable IN lac.
the addition Of forcign territory al the preseh.
fjme NJ, peckham thought would be distinct
step backward He instanced as among inc pron-