New-York tribune., 1902-05-18
THE EHPEROR'S GIFT.

Prince f1enryS Visit 10 the JnlIeu NIdltS j. W
have a most welcome epogue. Moved by the
cordial reception which was given to MS
brother. the German Emperor will give to the
people of this country a bronze memorial statue
of Frederick the Great This by the givers
wish will be placed in Washington, to be last
ing sign of the intimate relations between the
great European empire and the great American
republic. The words of the Emperor's letter of
gift are agreeable to the people of this land,
and the Presidents reply Is equally commend
able as expressing truly and felcitOusly the
sentiments with which the promised gift Is re-
ceved. 1t is pleasant to add that the appropri-
| ateneSs of the EmperOrs act is recognized IN
Germany. He would, indeed, be churlish who,
on either side of the ocean, should object to so
graceful and Well conceived a token of nterna-
tional fraternity
There is a peculiar fitness in the character of
the gift and in the disposal which is TO be
made of il. Frederick the Great was one of
the earliest friends of the United States. 1t
is historic that he felt and expressed freely
deep interest in our Revolution and an earnest
desire for its success. There is a widely ac-
cepted story of his having sent TO Washington
a sword inscribed, From the Oldest General
to the Greatest" The authenticity of that in
cident is disputed by many. Whatever may be
the fact concerning il, there is no dfsputing the
truth that Frederick did greatly admire Wash
ngton. He declared that WashingtOns Tren-
ton and Princeton campaign in the winter of
1776-'II, was the most brilliant military
achievement of the century. Back of that
moreover, there are other reasons for graft
tude to the great Drillmaster of Europe. The
Seven Years War had upon Europe itself an i'm
mediate and an enduring effect, the magnitude
OF which can scarcely be exaggerated. But its
effect upon American affairs no less
marked and important For it kept France oc-
cupied in Europe while England was left free
TO pursue her conquests in America and thus.
perhaps more than anything else outside of
what we may term race genius, opened the way
for making North America an AngloSaxon
rather than Gallo or Latin country. We are
about TO commemorate, most fttingly the in
estimable services Of Rochambeau and his COM
patriots to this country in its early days. That
IS we'll Our tributes TO our French allies in
the Revolution could not be too general or too
generous. 1t is happy circumstance that we
may at the same time give cordial welcome TO
a memorial Of the great Captain who fought
and baffied France. Frederick and Rocham-
beau were pltted against each other In the
Seven Years War But no Prussian will be-
grudge the honors paid to the memory Of Ro-
chambeau, and no Frenchman will resent our
two opposing leaders in the Seven Years War
were both on one side in our Revolution. Both
their countries have been our friends, and upon
our soil-let us hope in every place-each is now
the others friend.
The Presidents selection of a site for the
memorial is happy one. 1t is near the new
War College. The great Frederick was one Of
the foremost exponents OF what we may call
scientific warfare. His successors have main
tanned his policy in that respect with marvel
lous success, and the present occupant of the
Prussian throne is cOnspcuOusy believer in
and a master of the science of mitarism. No
place could therefore be more fitting with re-
spect 10 either the subject or the giver of the
statue. than that which has been chosen. The
German Emperor is fond of referring to Fred
erick the Great, and is even said 10 be desirous
or cultivating in himself likeness to that illus
uious soldier and statesman-which we may
take TO mean that he seeks to be an intelligent
follower of Frederick's example in great things
and by no means a mere imitator II will be
pleasant for Americans TO be reminded that he
resembles Frederick in friendliness 10 this coun-
try. and to know that as the founder of Prus-
sia's greatness paid tribute to the hero of our
War for Independence, so the present King
of Prussia pays a fine tribute of friendship TO
the present generation of the American nation