The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1904-11-22

the German emperor, and the people
of Germany for the gift to the nation
which you have just formally deliv-
cred to me. | accept it with deep
appreciation of the friendly regard
which it typihes for the people of this
republic both on the part of the en-
peror and on the part Of the German
people. I accept it not merely as
the statue Of one of the half dozen
greatest soldiers Of all time, but
therefore peculiarly appropriate for
placing in this War college, but I
accept it as the statue of great man,
whose life was devoted to the service
Of a great people, and whose deeds
hastened the approach of the day
when united Germany should spring
into being.
AS a soldier Frederick the Great
ranks in that very, very small group
which includes Alexander, Caesar,
and Hannibal in antiquity, and Ma
poleon, and possibly Gustavus Adol-
phus, in modern times. He belonged
to the ancient and illustrious house
of Hohenzollern, which after playing
a strong virile part in the middle
ages, and after producing some men,
like the elector, who were among the
most famous princes of their time,
founded the royal house Of Prussia
two centuries ago, and at last in our
own day established the mighty Ger
man empire as among the foremost
Of the world powers. We receive
this gift now at the hands of the pres
ent emepror, himself man who has
markedly added to the luster Of his
great house and his great nation, a
man who has devoted his life to the
welfare of his people, and who, while
keeping ever ready to defend the
rights of that people, has also made
it evident in emphatic fashion that
he and they desire peace and friend
ship with the other nations OF the
earth.
1t is not my purpose here to dis
cuss at length the career of the nigh
ty king and mighty general whose
statue we have just received. In al
history no other commander save on
ly Hannibal fought 50 long against
such terrible odds, and while Hanni-
bal finally failed Frederick finally
triumphed. In almost every battle he
fought against great odds, and he al
most always won the victory. When
defeated he rose to an
even greater altitude than
when victorious. The memory
ed he rose to an even greater altitude
than when victorious. The memory
of the seven years war will last as
long as their lives in mankind the
love of heroism, and its operations
will be studied to the minutest detail
as long as the world ses soldie'
worthy of the name. It is difficult to
know whether to admire most the
victories of Leuthen and Prague,
Rossbach and Zorndorf, or the heart
breaking campaigns after Kunder-
sdorf, when the great king, after hav-
ing been beaten to the ground by the
banded might of Europe, yet rose
again and by an exhibition of skill,
tenacity, energy, and daring such as
had never before been seen united If
one person, finally wrested triumph
from defeat. Not only must the mill
tary scholar always turn to the career
Of Frederick the Great for lessons in
startegy and tactics; not only must
the military administrator always
turn to his career for lessons in Or
ganizing success; not only will the
lover of heroism read the tales of his
mighty feats as long as mankind
cares for heroic deeds; but even those
who are not attracted by the valor
of the soldier must yet, for the sake
Of the greatness of the man, ponder
and admire the lessons tanoht h,n his