New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-11

next to him Jules Jusserand, french
Library the Marshal Of France. the
Governor Of the Bank Of England and
Frances ex-Premier stood before the
sculptured figure Of Alma Mater and
received their doctors hoods. Mr.. Bal
four was unable to be present and was
represented ~ Give Bayley, British
Consul-General.
To-day this university speaks with
no uncertain voice. said DR.. Nicholas
Murray Butler, president Of the uni
versity. ito offer welcome, finely
symbolized by the outstretched arms of
Alma Mater, to those great men who,
as captains Of the public policies of
democratic peoples, as captains OF
armies and of naves and as captains OF
commerce and of finance, have repre-
scented with consummatc skill and SUI
preme devotion the aspirations and the
purposes of the French Republic and
the British Empire"
lE,OOO biOuptu
The stairs which form the pediment
OF Alma Matters throne were carpeted,
and before the statue rugs had been
spread. On the right, in front of Kent
Hall, were marshalled the 1900 I'M
dergraduates. / ,OC0 Of them in the van
in olive drab. On the other side the
alumni and guests thronged nearly
40 900 of them, il was estimated.
Just after o'clock the members Of
the commission appeared. They were
greeted with cheers. which grew in
volume as President Butler escorted the
guests of honor up the stairs. They
were conducted. first into the trus-
tees rooms, where they met members OF
the board and the parents of Victor
Chapman, who lost his life at Verdun.
Rene Nivisni was the first to OBJ
tain his degree.
I'VE greet in you" said President
Butler the lofty spirit and serene
determination OF the French people,
bound to us by ties that reach back
20 our nations cradle. and that moth
ing ever can weaken or break"
Marshal Jofre was next.
Joseph Jacques Cesaire Jotre,"
said President Butler. "who by rea-
son Of character, courage and superb
strategic skill, has made the name of
the River Marine as immortal as Mil
tiades made that Of Marathon, and in
SO doing saved the world for democ-
racy."
VI. Vivianfs Response
VI. Viviani's response follows:
81 should feel amss of my duty IL |
did not take advantage of this illus
trious opportunity TO express my feel
ings toward you. For me II is double
pleasure TO see again the president Of
your university, whom | had the pleas
ure OF meeting in France few years
ago during an interchange Of intel
lectual relations.
ut is not my place to explain to you
the duty Of the universities in tins
world crisis. for know how well il IS
understood here. The university does
not stand merely for achievement n
learning in the sciences and the arts,
but also for the development Of char
acter 1t does not stand merely for the
turning out of learned men, but also Ct
worthy men.
The world has seen what has been
done in Germany, where in the univer-
stiles learning has been put ahead OF
every principle Of right and justice.
The result Of that kind of culture was
seen by the world when a solemn,
morally binding agreement had become
a mere scrap Of paper.
After the Victory
after the assured victory of the
principles for which we have all been
suffering and fighting, you will send
your sons 10 US and We will send ours
TO you, and this mutual acquaintance
Of scholars will further strengthen the
bonds Of friendship existing between
the two republics. Again | express my
thanks for the reception accorded me
ard my colleagues. Personally. my i'm
preston OF this afternoon and of the
degree thai ! have received at the
hands of Columbia University, | shall
treasure and remember unity my last
day"
There was an outburst OF cheering
az each presentation. DR.. Butler gave
the diplomas 10 the visitors. Profess
sor Brander Matthews presented the
hoods 20 Niviani and Joffre and Pro
fessor John Bassett Moore TO Lord
Cunlife and MIR Bayley. Professor
Charles Knapp was master of cere-
monies. Columbia professors, in aca-
demic regalis. were seated at the left
of Alma Mater. DR.. Butler occupied
the Benjamin Franklin chair which
|, the university has cherished for more
than century.
Among the special guests who sat
between the statue and the library
were Mayor Mitchell. Charles T..
Hughes, Major General Leonard Wood,
J. Pierpont Morgan. Herbert L. Satter-
lee. Major William Barclay Parsons,
Joseph II. Choate, Police Commissioner
Woods and DR.. Sidney f. Mezes.
The flags of France. Great Britain
and the United States few from every
building in sight. and were draped
about the open air stage. Streets about
the university were fenced OF and ad-
mission was by card. After the cere-
monies the Columbia Battalion drilled
on South Field. There was music by
the list Regiment band.