The Savannah morning news., 1902-02-27
Mr. Ridder followed Mr.. Reid and

~ a
Eighness and the leaders of the most
potent factor in American life Other
speakers more able than l. will no
doubt have much to say of the bonds
that unite Germany and America, but
l want to draw attention at this time
to the friendship that has existed be-
tween your land and our republic
even from the time of our birth as a
nation. 1t will be recalled that Fred
erlck the Great was a friend of Wash
ington, and that from his staff there
came to US in the hour of stress one
whose name will ever be held in CRATE
full remembrance by the people of
this country. He it was, Baron Won
Steuben, who drilled the raw recruits
and farmer lads of the Continental
army made soldiers of them, and
made possible Washington's great vic
tory. He was beside Washington in
the closing days of that great strug-
gle, al Yorktown, and shared with the
great commander the glory OF that
hour Retiring from the army he
came to this city of New York and en-
joyed the plaudits of those who owed
him so much. Thus early he was the
first president of a German American
society in New York. And from that
day. sir to the present time, Germany
has ever been the steadfast friend of
the United States"
Prince Henry was then introduced.
AS he stood up the crowd burst into
song "Hoch zoll er leban NAL, Hoch."
After that they sang, For He's a Jolly
Good Fellow" Before beginning his
speech, the Prince said:
This is the largest interview l ever
had"
He then said:
'Mr. Toastmaster and gentlemen: 1
am fully aware of the fact that / am
the guest and in the presence of the
re. .~.sentatives of the press of the
United States, and in particular the
guest of the New York Stats Zeitung,
both of which 1 wish to thank for the
kind invitation and reception 1 have
met with tonight.
Before entering into details, / should
slider this meeting, though it may be
looked upon as official, as private one
and that it is my wish that none of you
will take advantage of what is said or
spoken after leaving this table.
Undoubtedly the press of our day
is a factor, if not a power, which may
not be neglected and which l should
like to compare with ever so many
marine mines which blow up in many
cases in the most unexpected manner,
but your own naval history teaches
us not to mind mines, should they ever
be in our way. The language used
on this memorable occasion was strong
er than / would venture to reproduce
here tonight. l need only mention the
name of Farragut. Another compari-
son might be more to your taste, gen.
tlemen, and it in fact more compli-
mentary; it is one which His Majesty,
the Emperor, used before l left. He
the press, and l wish you, therefore, to
keep in mind that the press men in
the United States rank almost with my
generals in command
1T will interest you, / know, to learn
something about the nature of my mis-
sion to this country. The facts are as
follows: His Majesty, the Emperor,
had minutely studied the recently rapid
development of the United States and
His Majesty is well aware of the fact
that yours is a fast moving nation.
His sending me to this country may,
therefore, be looked upon as an act of
friendship and courtesy with the one
desire of promoting friendlier relations
between Germany and the United
States. Should you be willing to grasp
a proffered hand you will find such a
one on the other side of the Atlantic
ocean"
At the end of the speech the Prince
was heartily applauded. Mr.. Ridder at
this point introduced Charles E. Smith,
saying that Mr.. Smith had been a
minister of state, great editor and
is known as the silver-tongued orator
of America. Mr.. Smith then said, in
part:
ITO German music our obligation is
immeasurable. The glow of German
genius falls on all scores and its light
shines in all compositions that men call
great. If all music other than that of
the chief German masters were lost
we should still have all the essentials
and most of the works that the criti-
cal world recognizes as possessing i'm
mortal beauty In absolute music Bach,
Beethoven and Brahms, and in dra-
matte music Wagner, present the most
sublime examples of creative form that
have soothed, thrilled and transported
mankind. 1t is the music-loving race
OF Germany that has unlocked for all
of us the heavens of melody and har-
mony, and it is justifiable to say that,
next to their own native land, their
greatest works have received their am
plest recognition and appreciation
among the American people,"
banner of Germany to-day is kindred
or the same in origin with that of the
English and the Dutch who first peo-
pied these shores. Yet more-in the very
city where we are met, we are sur
rounded by 1922 900 native Germans, and,
if you add others whose direct parent
age on both sides was German, you
more than double that great number.
Nearly one-fifth of this whole metropo-
lis of almost three and a half millions
are either actually German born or had
Germanborn fathers and mothers. Nor
does New York in this particular stand
alone. When your royal guest passes
through Cincinnati. he will find in that
town of $780, 900 one-third, or to be more
precise 107 900, OF similar German ORR
GIN and in Chicago one-fifth, or to be
more precise, $1,000. in a total popula-
tion of 1,7OO,OOO'
Next came Charles w. Knapp,
who was introduced, in few
appropriate words, by Mr.. Ridder,
Mr.. Knapp said, in part:
I'VE cannot overestimate the inhu-
ence of Germany in holding the con-
cert of Europe. In the wise dispensa-
tion of God this one nation has been
all powerful in the establishment of
harmony among the nations. The daily
prayer Of humanity appeals for the
preservation OF the amity that now
blegses the world. Yet we do not let
our hearts forecast a complete millen-
ium, we do not look forward 70 the
day when all men Will stand beside
Ben Adhem ln the front line, or ex-
pect ever 10 read upon every tomb
stone that wOndrOus epitaph i loved
my fellow man We do NOT count
however, on the ultimate establish
ment Of broad and universal COM
mercial reciprocity. We do not fore
cast the day when the open door shah