The record-union., 1899-04-22

| itary-Address of DR.. AngelI
Before Students of Colgate Uni>
versity.
| HAMILTON, April 81. - Fully LOCO
students, alumni and friends of Colgate
| University assembled to-day to hear
| the patrons day address by Presidents
| James b. AngelL LID, of the Uni
versity of Michigan
| Dr Morrill, the new President of Col-
gate, presided.
Rev Jesse Hungale of Homer, N. Y,
offered the invocation.
| DIR. Angel was greeted with great.ap@
plause by the large audience. His adj
dress was upon the subject of Our
Diplomatic and Consular Service
President Angel said. in part:
Il have thought that perhaps / might
render some service by Offering a few
suggestions on the diplomatic and con-
sular service of the United States.
shall aim to show that the diplomat of
our country is worthy of higher appre-
citation than he generally receives, and
that the consular system is in need of
some important changes if it is to rem
der the assistance it ought to give to
commerce and to the security of pros
! perity and life.
Il choose this theme now because all
are convinced that we are henceforth
to have more intimate and extensive
perhaps in some respects more delicate
and angerous-relations with foreign
Powers than we have had in the past.
We all see that we cannot live longer
in the comparative isolation we have
enjoyed. Even if we 90 not have great
er complications in our political rela-
tions-though it is probable that we
shall-Sti1 there can be no doubt that
We are to play much larger part than
ever before in the commerce of the
world, since we are now prepared to
supply the markets of the world with
many products at cheaper rates than
any other nation.
These facts make it important that
we should appreciate more justly than
we have done the value of efficient Dip
lomatic service and the absolute neces-
sity of a better consular system"
Dr. Angel then proceeded to show
how, in all nations, there has been a
tendency to forget the worth of diplo-
matte achievement and glorify mills
tary achievements. The peace of West
important diplomatic settlement of tho
last three centuries, since it practically
established the modern State system Of
Western Europe. But the historians
who gave whole volumes to the thirty
years war which it closed do not even
mention the names of the great men
who made the treaties Our school his.
tories which eulogize all our Generals.
rarely condescend to tell us who nego-
tiated any of our principal treaties.
He then rapidly reviewed the splendid
diplomatic work of Franklin, JAY John
Adams, John Quincy Adams, Monroe,
! Livingstone, Webster, Hamilton Fish
and others, and asked where, in our
school books, do we find adequate men,
ton of their deeds. He showed how
even influential journals often recon-
mend the abolition of our diplomatic
service.
He commented on the insufficient pros
vision for the support of our representa-
tives and the neglect of our Govern
ment to furnish them residences. Until
lately the representatives to the great
courts were subjected to the disad-
vantages by having a lower rank than
that of ambassador. AS it was clear
that we were to have closer relations
with foreign Powers, it was hoped that
there would be entire appreciation Of
the Importance of these functions and
better provision for them Might we
not also hope that historians will teach
the coming generations the names of
the men who have won the victories Of
peace as we'll as the victories of war?
In conclusion he expressed the hope
that some method would be adopted
which would open our foreign service to
our young graduates on terms which
would make it worth the while
of some of them to prepare themselves
for it and enter upon it, He counted III
a good omen that college students aTe
now so much interested in public aft
fairs. He besoug1t those of them
who should go into public life to carry
with them the high ethical inspiration
which the noble life of the university
gives them, and he expressed the hope
that the institution which had done so
much for the church would not be
wanting in contributing some of its best
sons to the diplomatic and consular
service of the State.