Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-06-25
GERMANY'S SECOND GRIEF
Rev. G. w. Cue breaches ON the
Late Emperor.
A Fine Tribute TO the Dead "Unser
Fritz" and TO His Living son and
Heir TO the Throne.

interesting memorial sermon on the dealt
of Frederick, the late emperor of Ger
many. Mr. Cues text was from II Sam
uel 3:3S
Know ye not that there is prince and a grea
man fallen.
Another great man, said the speaker. il
dead. How rapidly the eminent ones Of
earth follow each other into that lanC
from whose bourne no traveller ever re-
turns" In less than five months three
generations have occupied the throne Of
the German empire. The world never
produced greater men than have APP
peared on the stage of action during the
past twenty-five years. Men of letters
men OF science, statesmen and men OF
military renown. We have a whole gall
axy of them here in America. Names that
we love and of which we shall always be
proud. But we cheerfully recognize the
fact that the "Old World" also is con-
stantly producing remarkable men whose
power and influence is felt in every part
of the globe.
We meet tonight to pay tribute of re-
spect to the memory of one of the greatest
of these great men. One so modest and
unassuming that his greatness has hardly
been realized by the outside world, and
yet he was one of the most renowned
and sklllful army commanders in all Ger
many. As you read of his quiet unas =
Stunning private life. his valOr and brilliant
successes on the field Of battle, his amia-
bic and pacifying spirit on the throne and
his final and brave fight with the king
of 1errors, you are reminded very much
of our great hero, General Ulysses 5,
Grant. 1t has often been suid, show me
u great man and | will show YOU great
wOman-his mother. 1t was especially
true in the case of Frederick; his mother
was noble character Her son inherited
her splendid qualities. and being her only
son, she devoted nearly all her time and
pains in his culture disciplning his mind
for the responsibilities of his future life.
His active career Hs II soldier began in
1866, and the war with Austria afforded
the field, the theatre for the display of
the military skill OF the son and heir of
King William. In that short but decisive
war. the crown prince was an important
factor, and he won his way to the popu>
lar heart in every movement he made. 1t
was at konninggratz where the young
commander, at thirty. five years of age,
won his first laurels by arriving with his
army and assuming command just in time
TO snatch victory from defeat.
1t was at the close of that great day
for Prussia. that awful day for Austria.
that King William met his son Frederick
and after embracing him, said the proud
father, Thou hast shown capacity as a
leader. That meeting Is as historic as
that of Butcher and Wellington or that
of Grant and Lee. On that battlefield he
was decorated by his kingly parent with
the highest Prussian order. the ensign of
the grand cross. Austria was eclipsed |
and King William became emperor of |
united Germany because he had loyal |
competent son at the head of his armies. |
Then came the Franco Prusslan war, the |
history OF which the world knows by |
heart. General Moltke, that marvellous
military genius of modern Europe, Or
ganized three armies, with the crown |
prince at the head of one of them, and |
with it he marched through succession |
of brilliant victories from Berlin to Paris.
From the palace of prince of Prussia to |
the proclamation of the emperor of Ger
many was march of triumph. The |
French General Donay fell before him at
Gaisburg, and Marshal Mcmahon was
the crown prince never stopped until he
entered Versailles at the head of his army,
the conqueror of France. On the 7th of
March, 1871, peace was declared and
Frederick babe farewell TO Versailles and
TO Berlin amid blaze OF tri-
tlmph. All Germany rang with the name
and the fame of "Unser Fritz"
At fifty.seven years of age, in feeble
hn Of fnt |
him to the throne of the German empire
Frederick was only an emperor three
months, not long enough to build a repu.
tation and make himself a great name,
but he had reputation, and was great
before he assembled the throne. In nearly
every respect he differed widely from his
father. who was above all things a soldier.
Emperor Frederick also gave proof that he
was good soldier. but the military impulse
of his nature was by no means the domi-
mating quality of his mind. He loved
most of all the ways of peace, and sanc-
Toned war only as an unavoidable means
to an essential end.
He was man of wide reading, who {
devoted much attention to art, and was 6
able for the lberslity of his opin-
ons with regard both to theology and
politics If he had lived he would have
lone for social Germany what Bismarck {
.nd Wilhelm did for political Germany. |
Emperor Frederick believed in the peo-
pie and the people believed in him. He
recognized the responsibility of the SOW,
,reign to his subjects, yet was conscious I
If ana respected his own dignity as +
prince and an emperor He was courty /,
n his bearing, splendid in figure, gra.
,ious In manner scholarly in discipline,
prolific in the knowledge of state craft, &
irm but cOnseTvative-he was an ideal {
Emperor for modern Germany. From
he moment he assumed the scepter until
t fell from his lifeless hand. his admins
stration bore hourly evidence of his q
arge policy, liberal tenderness and pros \
yressive ideas of government. He was
lot only great but he was also good
nan. He was dutiful son, always true
and faithful to his fathers interests and
ovingly obedient to his mothers wishes.
lie truly obeyed the bible injunction, I
Honor thy Father and thy Mother"
But best of all he was christian, not r
imply because he had been baptized. but
he believed in the Father Son and Holy
spirit. He had the christian faith and |
is principles in his heart and was not il
Ishamed to bow before his God in prayer +
md at the communion rail. One of the
asst acts of his life was to express his
aith and confess his Lord and Master by
eceiving the sacrament of the holy '
upper. The malady which terminated /
lis life had been with him for long d
ime and for months he had been a suf- !
erer. But through il all he bore himself a
Ike hero. No murmur or complaint I
scaped his lips. |,
Not only is Germany in mourning and i
he German people every where sad, but /