New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1897-09-22

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Who Was Hermann. 3
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Hermann the Great, in whose honor a
monument will be dedicated here this
week, was prince OF chief of the Che
rusci. By Roman writers he is called
Arpinius, by Greek historlans.:A .:Armenios.
Hermann was the son of Sigimer and
was born 16 B. c.. The period in which
the youth of Hermann was cast was
traught with the greatest perilto Germa-
ny. TO secure the frontiers of the en-
pire against the attacks of the Germanic
tribes, the Romans had been forced to,
advance into the more turbulent districts
and to build series of forts to overawe.
the inhabitants. In this manner Drusus
and Tiberius had penetrated into the
northwest Of Germany as far as the El-
be, laid out number of military roads,.
erected fortresses in the country and re-
duced the different tribes to such depen-
dence upon Rome, as virtually amount
ed to complete subjugation. With SO
much prudence and caution had Tiberius.
proceeded that the Germans continued
to all appearances on the best OF terms
with the Romans, gradually adopted
Roman habits, and frequently and readi-
ly took service IN the Roman armies.
Thus Hermann had enrolled himself un-
der the Roman standard, and, as a leader
of the Cheruscan auxiliaries, had not only
obtained Roman citizenship and the
rank of knighthood in the country of
the Danube, but had likewise acquired
a knowledge of the Latin language and
a deep insight into the arts of war and
policy, as practiced by the Romans. En-
richcd with these experiences, when Her
mann, after the expiration Of some
years, returned home, he found the state
of affairs considerably changed for the
worse, through the unskillful despotlsm
of the Roman vlceroy, Qnintilius Varus.
Hermann conceived the idea Of delivering
his people. All the tribes and leaders
were secretly summoned, Varus was lull.d
into security and induced to weaken his
forces and with his army was lured into
the impossible districts of TeutobuIg
Forest where Hermann fought him for
three days. The result was annihilation
OF the whole German army. Six years
later Hermann was reduced to straits by
Germanicus, but in II A. D. that
officer was called to Rome, and
from that time on no Roman army ever
ventured to penetrate from the Rhine
into the interior of Germany. This
fact, which decided the future fate of
Germany and kept back the advance of
corrupt Roman civilization, must be
ascribed chiefly to Hermann.
After the expulsion of the Romans,
internal feuds broke out and Hermann
was slain by his relatives in the 37th
year Of his age, and 18th of his leader
ship. Tacitus says Of him: ale was
without doubt the deliverer of Germany;
and unlike other kings and generals, he
attacked the Roman people, not at the
commencement, but in the fullness Of
their power.
A colossal statue of Hermann was un-
veiled near Detmold on August Is, 1875.
The New Ulm statue is the second to he
dedicated to his memory.
In 1910 the idea Of forming the organ
ization that perpetuates this great hero's
name was conceived and carried out in
the state of New York. It has grown
50 that at the present time the member
ship IN the United States is about 3D.
900, more .han 5000 Of these being resi-
dents Of Minnesota. The purpose Of the
organization, aside from its social fea-
tures, is to prevent poverty and suffer
ing by extending aid to the sick and as
sistiDg the surviving family in case Of
death. The society has 4 womaL's branch
that pays sick benefits and insurance in