New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-25
MAHAN ON RECENT WARS.
THE NAVAL HISTORIAN SPEAKS AT THE
CITY COLLEGE ALUMNI DINNER.

THE NAVAL HISTORIAN SPEAKS AT THE
CITY COLLEGE ALUMNI DINNER.
HE PREDICTS GREATER CONCENTRATION OF
POWER FOR THE ENGLISH SPEAK
ING PEOPLES AS A RESULT.
although confessedly speaking with reserve upon
subjects regarding the merits Of which his hearers
might hold differing views, made many pertinent
and pointed comments upon some of the momentous
questions Of the day in brief address which he
delivered last night at the annual dinner OF the
Associate Alumni of the College Of the City of
New-York. The keynote of his speech was the
influence OF sea power. Drawing attention first to
the war with Spain. he said Il had resulted in the
United States being pitchforked almost against It's
Will into the Philippines and then. abiding TO the
proposal to build the Nicaragua Canal, he pointed
that that waterway would lead a still greater
development OF the power of this country.
And then take he proceeded 1.-The which is
being carried In South Africa. There is
nothing that should be thoroughly appreciat-
ed than what will be its effects Whatever may be
its issue-and suppose there is little doubt TO
what that issue will be-certainly thing will
come of t-Great Britain will be a greater Power
She will be able TO transmit to any cart of the
world greater forces than ever before. The result
of that war in South Africa has been to increase
to consolidate and to develop her power to carry
her forces by means OF the sea TO any part OF the
world to extent that never existed before.
Taking these two wars together, see first that
the United States forced into becoming
power and in that connection I may say that do
think If Mr.. Bryan to be elected tomorrow
he would be able 10 recede from the Philippines
The result of those has been to intensity
the power Of the great English speaking
tions, and there is going to be no back track That
impossible.
A STANDING NAVY THE NEED.
I'VE are talking about the necessity of large
navy but one of our most pressing needs is that
We want men. Il is for us TO accustom ourselves TO
the idea that must have standing navy. The
standing force of men in our Navy is now about
fifteen thousand That number is not enough
unless are prepared to say that expansion Is
mistake and that must recede, therefore. from
the position we have taken One of the most essen
tial things must have is not a standing army
but standing navy"
More than two hundred members of the assoca-
ton and their guests attended the dinner which
was held at the Hotel Savoy. Seated with Edward
NJ Shepard, the president, at the guest table
were Captain Mahan, Seth Low, Corporation Coun-
sci John Whalen, Professor Herbermann Vernon
M Davis, Oscar S. Strauss United States Minister
to Turkey; General H E. Tremain, Maurice Grau,
Professor Fabregou the Rev. Samuel Schulman
and Senator Nathaniel A. Elsberg. Among others
present were Register Isaac Fromme, Albert Bach,
Professor Werner, Professor Sickels, T. NJ. Banto.
E. A. Doty, DR.. B. Briggs James c. Byrnes, H. c.
Jenkins Professor Tsdan, w. Wckham Smith
Barlow S. Weeks, Townsend Wandell, Ferdi-
nand Shack, r. Van Santvoord, B. Frank
Hayes, E. Lauterbach, F. J. Foster, F. f. Stanton.
W. B. Boyd. Edmund Burke, DR.. c. A. Elsberg c.
E. L.ucke Wilbur Larremore, H. NJ. Smith, Otto
Kinkeldey, J. A. K. Blauvelt, G. f. Damorest j.
R. Chanler. NJ. ]. Kohler H. E. Dresser A. p.
Ketchum, Wilson Bergman. H F. ONen, Pro-
fessor McGuckin. c. E. Lydecker. Professor Mandel
and r. r. Bowker.
PRESIDENT sHEPARD's HOPES.
In the course Of his address of welcome Mr.
Shepard said:
Comparisons with the graduates of other colleges
who will look at the list of men who have gone
graduates of the College of the City of New-York
have not taken second place. We do much to
institution of learning in the country. We hope to
epe 0Es hs SqGs e of h G no o
OF the city. but of the entire country.
We are concerned about our new building The
work looking toward its erection has proceeded as
rapidly as possible, but We earnestly hope that
the work and get us into our new building
as they
Mr.. Shepard also stated that a bill had been
introduced in the Legislature which would have the
effect Of reforming the government OF the college.
Since its organization the college had been gov
erned by the Board of Education. but the
| bers of that Board busy with other Official
/ ork they had been unable 10 give to the college
| that attention which necessary in the inter
| ests of its welfare Therefore 1t proposed to
| establish body Of trustees who should have no
| public charge in their hands except the College
| of New-York.
Seth Low, in extremely felicitous address,
referred to the work which Mr. Shepard had per-
formed counsel to the Rapid Transit Commits
| sion;
| You all know he said, that the contract for
| the Rapid Transit project signed to-day. People
have thought the Commission slow In accom-
plshing this work; but one who has been
member of that body / know the difficulties that
| have had to be encountered and overcome To no
man does the Commission more for the finish
ing of this preliminary work than to your earnest
! and energetic president. who is counsel for the
Board The tunnel will be a great benefit 10 the
| city. What the completion of the road will mean
nobody can oVerestimate. To bring Harlem River
within hfteen minutes of the East River Bridge is
| an achievement fraught with much that will inn
prove the city. have no doubt that there viii
| eventually be an underground system In this CITY
! that will extend under the East River to Brook
! Ign, and probably under the North River. This
Will allow the city to expand in every drec-
/ ton, instead of in direction so that this
/ city of ours, which is already so great prom
/ Uses TO be very much greater l not one
much OF the Improvement can be accomplished by
! the colleges and the that educa ed In them
Therefore. they deserve well of the community
! Corporation Counsel Whalen. responding TO an
tration toward the construction of the college
promised in the name of the city government that
least the main building of the structure
should be built before the present administration
goes out Of office.