New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-09-24

lions of enlightened progress
Whether or not the German Ernnero- -
made Frederick the Great his model and .o,,-o.
of inspiration is his own secret The +;,.
have changed since the conquest of Sesia tbe
Seven Years War and the partition Of pol.ns
and men of action like Carlyle's hero az. 49,.
needed for an era of peace and progressive
civilization. The snalogies of character ana
taste are obvious, but are not to be carried too
far when. happily, there has been no s,,nrer,s
emergency for wearing the spiked helmet and
calling out the reserves of the European Goa
litions. 1t is impossible. however. for a visitor
TO saunter among the wooded hills and eieb
teenth century palaces of Potsdam without he
ing impressed with the unique personality of
the Great EIector who created all these bean
ties and splendors In a neglected island of the
Havel. and would have been content with \
grave among his horses and dogs or the high
est terrace of Sans Souci. That mighty monarch
still lives in the yellow French palaces with
their tawdry decorations. antique statuary and
romances IN oil, and in the peaceful gades and
stately promenades of the picturesque park
No statue Of him is needed among the lime
trees and fountains, for his masterful spirit
dominates the secluded capital on the broad
reaches Of the Havel. The German Emperor
could not. If he would, exercise that restless
and inhexible spirit. created for times Of storm
for hours of idleness and peace. where there
could he frank companionship with ironicaI
ages lispins poets, ambitious sculptors and
decorative painters, and even with greyhounds
and prancing chargers, Marvellous as were
the Electors exploits general when he was
transforming Prussia into a powerful military
state battling with an apparently invincible
coalition, and winning victories like Leuthen
over a vastly superior force, his greatest
achievement was the restoration of order and
prosperity after the harassng and calamitous
e1 periences Of the Seven Years War. Potsdam
was his refuge and breathing place during this
period of political reconstruction. when he was
displaying administrative capacity of the high
est order and readiusting the relations of a
backward country 70 Western civilization. The
German Emperor. endowed with his great pred
ecessor's energy and organizing power. but
untainted by his cynic!sm, can hardly fall to
be Influenced by the memories Of that epoch
making reign.
Certainly. the German Emperor was drawing
upon the best traditions Of the royal house
when he offered to place in front of the new
War College in Washington a statue Of the
Great Elector, Living himself at Potsdam,
where Frederick the Great is always in mind as
the commanding genius of Prussia, he selected
the most natural subject for royal benefacuon
TO a friendly country: and while the monarchs
attitude toward the struggling thirteen colonies
was probably political in motive and determined
by antpathy to England rather than by affinity
for those defending their liberties, ii vas help
full and contributed toward their ultimate sue
tess. It has been forcibly objected that the
German Emperor would have acted more dis
creetly II he had offered statue Of Goethe.
Schiller or Wagner: but the site in front Of the
War College would have been Inappropriate for
Il literary or musical subject. Moreover. on the
artistic side. something is 10 be said IN favor OF
the Emperor's gift. for Frederick the Great was
a rnunfcent patron Of the arts and set an
example which the nillionaires and rulers or the
American commonwealth may we'll find stimuli
tive. In any event, the sculptor. Uphnes' Is al
work upon the statue and expects TO complete II
and to ship it TO America some time in the
snring So far as / can learn, the sculptor Is not
employing models to pose for the Good Sa.naTi-
tan but is presenting the Great Elector as a
spjrited martial figure and leader Of mon,
such as he has been portrayed in Carlyle's
supreme act Of hero-worship- /. y. +.