The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-05-17
N. CAMBON IN CHICAGO
FRENCH AMBASSADOR VISITS
 WINDY CITY.
From His Arrival at 9 A. N. Until Late in Evening He Was Gen. tral Figure in Series of Re-
 captions and Feasts.

SuCdSO, may 4os-1ls JuicB SaAnooAs the French Ambassador to the United States, was the guest of Chicago today and from the time of his arrival over the Pennsylvania road at a. m. until late in the evening when a banquet given in his honor at the Union League Club was concluded, he was the central figure in a series of receptions and feasts. M. Cambon came to the city to officially recognize in behalf of the republic of France the union of the Alliance Francaise with the University of Chicago. The Alliances purpose is to increase the use and study of the French language in all countries.
 In the afternoon after being escorted to Kent hall, Chicago University, in which the formal exercises of the day were held. M. Cambon was greeted on behalf of the University by Professor Edmund J. James, who delivered the formal address of welcome. He spoke in part as follows:
 "In the name of the trustees, the faculty and the students of the Univer- sity of Chicago. bid you, sir, hearty welcome to these halls. I esteem 1t a great honor to speak for a body like this to the representative of such peo- pie as yours. Such an occasion, sir. brings with peculiar vividness to the mind of every student of human his tory the pre-eminent services of the French nation to that common civiliza- tion which Is the most precious heri- tage of us all. For Q thousand years France has been the center of Europe in a sense which can be asserted of no other country. It has been the schoolmaster of the world in all that makes for culture and refinement. Our debt to France Is reflected in every aspect of modern life. thought. taste and action. Every department of human achievement has fallen in turn under her domination and at times all of them togetler. No other nation has led on so many different occasions and in so many different ways. She has entered every road leading to the height of human effort and has entered only to lead. But, sir, it is not merely as citizens of the world, that we glad ly welcome you here today. AS men, as citizens devoted to the same Sigh ideal of human welfare, we welcome you as the representative of workers and co-workers in a common cause
 
 devotees of the same principle of hu- man freedom and equality--a priniple which. under God is destined to turn and overturn until humanity is re- deemed.
 "Americans and Frenchmen, wherev- CT they meet. should dedicate. them selves anew to the cause for which their fathers and brothers died. We shoull take up with avery fresh energy the contest for government for the peope and of the people and by the peoph-the only sure pledge of the reign of liberty, equality and frater- nity-the reign of equal opportunity, of peace and of love-"
 The Ambassador was greeted with cheers when he arose to reply to the address of Professor James. He began by thanking. the University for the welcome given, him. To the country which he represented rather than to himsef must the honor De rendered. France and the United States have ever been united by bonds of friend ship which time will only strengthen. He particularly thanked the University for having given & domicile to the AL liance Francaise. which is devoted to extending the knowledge of the French language and the taste for its litera- ture and It's spirit.
 The French language being that which Is most widely spread among persons of leisure of all nations. it be- comes the language which is most of- ten employed in books which are ad- dressed only to frivolous minds, but through too nasty judgment based up- on this fact, one may measure too lightly the works of the French spirit, forgetting that the French language even in this country has been the lan- guage of Auguste Compte. of Pasteur, Claud Bernard and Lamartine. The French alliance desires to aid in the expansion of the French language. It was founded by M. Victor Durry, for mer minister of public instruction,