The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-08-16
THE STORY OF HERMANN.

To-day, in the presence OF many thousands OF Ger
mans, of the Emperor and Princes, will be uncovered
naugurated, the summit Of the Grotenberg near
Demold, in the Thuringan Forest the grand colossal
monument erected TO the memory of Hermann, or
Armin the Prince of the Cheruski, who gathered to-
gether and united the Germans for the first time in his
tory and released his people from the oppressive yoke
Of Roman despotism Nineteen hundred years ago it
since Hermann lived and fought; thirty since the
nrs stone laid of the that is inaugurated
to-day We who celebrating the first anniversary Of
national existence can think with pleasure
Of the grand and characteristic gathering that
Is taking place to-day the highest summit of
the Teutoburger Wald to commemorate the deeds Of
hero, who nearly nineteen hundred years ago. mien-
mum and half before Columbus discovered America
deaed the power Of Rome whose egons had conquered
the world. What immense gulf of time we have to
span in order to grasp the life and deeds of the old Ger
chefan, whose great deed falls in the ninth year
OF the life of the Saviour, before He had commenced
that mission which finally subdued both Romans and
Germans and changed the destinies of mankind
THE OF AMMO O.
Some months ago, when in Berlin, witnessed rep
rcsentaton at the schauspiehaus, Of Hermann Won
Kleists drama Of the "Hermannschlacht or Her.
mann's defeat of Quintilus vprus and thereby gained
much clearer idea Of the events connected with the
life OF the old Cheruskcan hero than would DO possible
by mere study of the works of German Swans. who
have written Of volumes upon the subject Peo-
pie who have witnessed the great Passion Play at Ober
Ammergau have admitted that they first gained there
a clear idea of the life of Christ OF the peoples and
conditions among which he lived OF tho oppression Of
the Jews which led them TO yearn for delverance but
of different nature from that promised them by
Christ A strange phenomenon it is that the barbarian
Germans filed with the yearnng for release
from the Roman yoke the jews stranger that under
Hermann the Germans enabled to cast of the yoke
virtually to stop the further progress Of the conquerors
In Germany, while the Jews after vain struggles finally
sunk under the iron rule of the Roman tyranny The
atter's was already exhausted civzaton the for
mor's had not yet commenced Hermann was
political savior like Barbarossa like Washington and
like them, he led his people out Of darkness light
nom Oppression to freedom. If We glance at the his.
tory Of Germany before and during Hermanns time we
shall be enabled to understand why the thousands of
Germans have gathered around the colossal structure
on the Grotenberg to-day why II ia that the day is
nstonal festival in the widest sense Of that term
GERxlNY OF THE PRE-cnRrsrrAN ERA
Il a memorable circumstance in the worlds his
tori, historian has remarked that Germany
should be the only European land which wthstood the
arms OF the Romansthat the Rhine should be destined
70 restrain the power which tho ocean itself had not
bounded The figures Of tho German barbarians, clad
N the skins of wild beasts, wearing hood formed of
'no iur Of tho animals head out Of which he blue Dyes