The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-11-19

ming of what has since grown into the
United States
During these three centuries
streams of newcomers from many diff
ferent countries abroad have IN each
generation contributed to swell the
increase of our people. Soon after the
English settled in Virginia and New
England, the Hollander settled at the
at the mouth of the Delaware. Even
in colonial days the German element
had become very strong among our
people In various parts of this coun-
try; tie Irish element was predom1-
nant in the foothills of the Alleghenies;
French Huguenots were numerous. By
the time of the Declaration of indie
pendence that process of fusion which
has gone on ever since was well under
way. From the beginning of our ma
tlonal history men of German origin
or German parentage played a dis
tinguished part in the affairs both of
peace and of war. In the revolution
airy war one of the leading generals
was Muhlenberg, an American OF Ger
man descent, just as among the SOL
diers from abroad who came to aid
German, Steuben. Muhlenberg was
the first speaker of the house OF rep
reSentativeS; and the battle which in
the revolution saved the valley OF the
Mohawk to the American cause was
fought under the lead of the German,
Herkimer.
LAS all the different races here tend
rapidly to fuse together, it is rarely
to draw a sharp line between the var
iouS elements; but there Is no student
of our national conditions who has
failed to appreciate what an invaluable
element in our composite stock the Ger
man is. Here on this platform, Mr..
Ambassador, among those present to-
day are many men partly or wholly OF
German blood, and among the OFFICERS
of the army and navy who have lis
tened to you and who now join with
me in greeting you here there are many
whose fathers or grandfathers We're
born in Germany, and not rev VINO
themselves first saw the light there
Each nation has its allotted tasks to
do; each nation has its peculiar diff
culties to encounter; and as the people
of the world tend to become more
closely knit together alike for good and
for evil, it becomes ever more impor-
tant to all that each should prosper,
for the prosperity of one is normally
not a sign of menace but sign of hope
for the rest. Here on this continent
where it is absolutely essential that
the different peoples coming to our
shores should not remain separate but
should fuse into one, our unceasing
effort is to strive to keep and profit by
the good that each race brings to our
shores, and at the same time to do
away with all racial and religious ami
mosities among the various stocks. In
both efforts we have met with an as
tonishing measure of success. AS the
years go by it becomes not harder but
easier to live in peace and good will
among ourselves; and L firmly believe
that it will also become not harder but
easier to dwell in peace and friendship
with the other nations of the earth. A
young people, a people of composite
stock, we have kinship with many diff
ferent nations, but we are identical
with none. of them, and are developing
70 Sf0 oG ha 20
already developed a separate national
life.
1--WE have in our veins the blood of the
EngliShman, the Welchman, the Irish
man, the German and the Frenchman,
the Scotchman, the Dutchman, the Scan
nn the sav so That to eaoR Of
great powers of the old world we can
claim a more or. less distant kinship by
blood; and to each strain of blood we owe
some peculiar quality in our national lie
or national character. AS such is the case
liar feeling of nearness to each of many
peoples across the water. We most earn
sSy Ifh f not ong to Keep a n o 9up
without giving offense by an appearance
of meddling, to seek to bring about a
better understanding and G-oroader spirit
of fairdealing and federation among all
nations. 1t has been my great pleasure,
Mr.. Ambassador, in pursuance of this OBJ
ject, recently to take with you the first
steps in the negotiation of a treaty of
friendly arbitration between Germany and
In closing, let me thank you, and
through you the German emperor and
I accept in the name of the American
people; a people claiming blood kinship
Germany: a people which. though with a
national history far shorter than that of
your people, nevertheless, like your peo-
pie. is proud of the great deeds of its
past, and is confident in the majesty of
its future. I most earnestly pray that in
the coming years these two great nations
shall Imove on toward their several desti-
MES knit together by ties of the hearth
est friendship and good will"
Led by the president, at the close of
his address, the assembIage arose and
ing throughout the playing of
America" by the Marine band
The next address on the programme
was by special request of the presi-
dent, who desired that Lieut.. General
chief of staff, should speak
at the unwilling. Lieut.. General Chat
fee said:
1.-TWO years from now the building
which you note as under construction
here and which has already been dedi-
Gated to the requirement of knowledge
in military science and in the art of
war will be occupied by the third di-
vision of the general staff of the army.
Here and then will be assembled num-
erous officers of the army for q course
of study of the highest order pertain
ing to the profession"
The Emperor's Gift.
The emperor's gift in a replica in
bronze of the statue which stands in
his palace at Potsdam, the original be-
ing the work of the sculptor, Prof.
Uphues. The statue is of heroic size,
more than feet. It is
mounted on a pedestal of massive
granite. Frederick is standing erect,
his right hand resting on his military
staff and he looks squarely ahead. The
sculptor has vividly portrayed the
powerful vigor which was SO striking
a characteristic of the German chief
tain.