New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-10-28
TRIBUTES TO GERMANY,S HERO
CELEBRATING MOTIVES BIRTHDAY.
A ,LARsE MEETING AT THE METROPOLITAN
OPERA HousE-ApDRnssEs By CHAuScEY
u pEPEw, GENERAL sIoEL AND OTHERS
AND LETTER FROM MINISTER
PHELPS.

The Motke Jubilee at the Metropolitan Opera House
last evening was worthy tribute to the great srate
gst. who Sunday celebrated the ninetieth annver
sary OF his birth. The house was crowded In tho
Geat assembly were veterans Of three wars which
Motke directed; veterans with the scars OF DieppeI
Koeniegraetz and MARSHA Tour their faces and the
glorious iron cross on their breasts. Tears rolled
down their faces as the orators OF the evening 10
counted tho virtues and achievements OF him whom
they had followed and whom they had gathered to
honor and when called upon TO cheer the hero OF the
hour every voice sounded " Hoch soil or leben.'
Aftcr the Kaiser March Of Wagner had been played
by the sedl orchestra, Baron de Grimm introduced
Ferdinand Motz as chairman for the evening
Mr.. Motz thanked the people for the hearty reception
praised Mone Of the greatest leaders OF the day
and then gave way TO General Franz Sigel, who i'd
dressed the audience in German. lie had come, he
ssid In part 30 honor the hero OF the day TO bhor
the who, in days Of stress and Storm had upheld
the Fatherland's honor New Germany could not exist
without the old Moltke. Motke did not love war he
did not hasten conflict. But when o co war was do
clared he led armies to victory. lie could be proud
Of his successes and proud Of his long years Of service
The appearance Of Cbauncey NJ. Depew upon the
stage was the signal for = prolonged outburst Of sp
plause. "Ths hour he began, belongs to Germany
Its significance and It's results arc German" Its
dtOns were SUCH he added that 1t aroused no jealousy
The world was Moltkes theatre; all peoples were his
versal This century had witnessed no such demon
stration as that In Germany Sunday. The peasant
In his hut and the nobeman in Ids palace had pledged
the health of one man. Millions had paused to uncover In
presence char because that character In
ninety wears had had stain, had been involved In
no partpershp had stood for the Fatherland and its
glory Neither Bismarck Gladstone could be par
ticpants of a celebration like that which was given
to Moltke Washington and Moltke alone. OF all great
NEIL stood without envy Mems eyes kindled with tho
fire of sympathy at his achievements. He was the
silent man, Statues would be reared to bis menu
ory cities would be called by his name but his great
est monument for oil time would be the German En-
pire and the unity OF the German race.
William Walter Phelps. Minister to Germany, to the
rreat regret of the assembly could hot be present.
His name however was cheered again and again, and
the letter which wrote to Baron dc Grimm was re-
ceved when read with deafenng applause. Mr. Phelps
wrote OF Moltke as a man. His union Of great vir-
tines with great ability. he said, the rarest OF
human gifts. To bis neighbors he was known as
modest, unassuming. kindly and dutifuL In all his
relations husband. as brother as citizeh no
had been model: only models had never worn their
rerfections with such universal Kindness ana SYM
pathy II had to select the rarest traits in his
unique character" continued the letter. Il should
name the thorough absence Of vanity and ambition
And To these traits must be largely due the happy
fate In escaping that envy winch Is sara 10 ioi'o" aii
greatness Ike d shadow 49,,
The ettcr ended with Interesting "reminiscences OF the
great soldier. 1t followed by a series OF sterc-
optcon views representing the great scenes IN the e
of M,ltkc with solos by Franz Rumme and Theodor
Kechmann; with music by the orchestra, ana Win
choral presentation of Die wacht am Rhein" While
the strains t-ermanys national hymn echoed III the
great room a colossal bust of Motke, covered with
fags and laurel crowns. was unveiled Inc inter-
estne ceremonies ended with short speech Ok tas
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