New-York tribune., 1902-01-13
completion Of that work the building Of
canal further north must involve.
THE KAISER'S COMPLIMENT.


The German Emperor is paying to the United
States one of the highest and most graceful
compliments of a personal character within his
power. It is in fact a triple compliment The
first part of it was the ordering of his new
yacht to be built here. He has fine shipyards
in his own country, some of the finest in the
world, in which are built mighty warships and
commercial queens of the sea. besides fleet and
luxurious pleasure craft. 1t was, then, no
small thing for him TO turn his back upon
Stettin and TO look TO New-York for the build
ing of an imperial yacht for his own use. That.
however. might have been regarded as A mere
matter of business. He made it, in addition.
matter of fine sentiment, in the second act.
when he requested n favor that our Pres-
dents daughter might be permitted to perform
the naming ceremony over the vessel. He
might have selected some daughter of Germana
to do that thing. In asking that Miss ROOSe
welt might do it he transformed a gratifying
business transaction into compliment to this
nation through this nations head The third
act, making the compliment most marked and
most personal, is the sending hither of his
brother, Prince Henry of Prussia, his per-
sonal representative, not merely, be it noted, to
attend the launching Of the yacht, but TO make
to this country a visit of some duration We
two years ago as the bearer of imperial dignity,
and how various august occasions he has
similarly commissioned him. In sending him
now to this country he performs act of the
utmost personal courtesy, and not devoid,
as may well believe, of political signifi-
canoe.
1t will be appreciated here. The United
States-we may say without suspicion of dis
courtesy-is neither to he fiuttered fattered
by any overtures from any nation, and il may
not esteem conventional ceremonals highly
as do countries in which such things are
part of the traditional social and political equip
ment Of people and government But we are
sure that no country appreciates more promptly
more deeply than this any genuine manifes-
tation of goodwill. This is not the first ex-
preston of friendship for this country which
the German Kaiser has made, and there is
every reason TO believe it will not be the last.
From his own point of view II is the highest
possible expression Of his amicable desires. and
as such the American people will gratefully
cept it. There is probably no civilized monarch
on the globe more averse to republcanism than
William of Germany. Yet here he is paying 10
this republic precisely the form of compIi-
mentary attention which he pays TO monarchies
In that fact there is much significance. We do
confirm our faith in republicansm. But it is
none the less grateful to have another such
demonstra ton of the possibility of cordial re-
lationships between lands of most diverse
forms of government. A generation or two ago
republic and monarchy looked askant at each
other, each regarding the other as necessarily
and essentially evil To-day the one realizes
that a country may be progressive and liberal
and yet monarchy and the other equally
realizes that country may he stable and
conservative and yet republic.
This city and this country will accept the
Kaiser's compliment at its full intended value.
and will greet Prince Henry OF Prussia for his
own sake as gallant and accomplished gentle
man, and for his representative sake as 8
living token OF the friendship which the Ger
man Emperor and the German Empire bear
toward the country 10 whose foundation and
development the German race contributed so
essential and valuable part.