Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-11-19
Gift of German Emperor
is Presented and
Accepted.
ROOSEVELT IS HEARD
Great Military Display Adds to
Imposing Character of
the Ceremonies.


Washington, Nov. 19.-Seldom has
the national capital witnessed a more
brilliant and distinguished assemblage
than that which gathered on the grand
esplanade of the army war college this
afternoon and witnessed the unveiling
of the bronze statue of Frederick the
Great presented to the people of the
United States by Emperor William Of
Germany.
Great Military Display.
The ceremony was marked by
great military and official display The
Speck Won Sternburg. wife of the Ger
man ambassador. and was presented
on behalf of the emperor by his per-
sonal envoy, Ambassador Speck Won
Sternburg, in brief address. He said
the statue was a token of the emper-
or's and the German peoples sincere
friendship for the people of America.
Reply of Roosevelt.
President Roosevelt made the chief
address OF the day in accepting the
gift on behalf of the American peo-
pie. lie said:
Mr.. Ambassador: Through Won I
wish on behalf of the people of the
United States to thank His Majesty.
the German emperor and the people of
Germany for the gift 70 the nation
which you have just formally delivered
to ne. | accept it with deep apprecl-
alton of the friendly regard which
it typifies for the people of this repub-
lie both on the part of the emperor
and on the part of the German peo.
pie. | accept it not merely as the
statue of one of the half dozen great
est soldiers of all time, and therefore
peculiarly appropriate for placing in
this war college, but | accept il as the
statue of a great man, whose life was
devoted to the service OF great
people. and whose deeds fastened the
approach of the day when a united
Germany should spring into being
Ranks with the Few.
AS a soldier Frederick the Great
ranks in that very, very small group
which includes Alexander, Caesar. and
Hannibal in antiquity. and Napolian.
and possibly Gustavus Adolphus. in
modern times. He belongs TO the an
cient and illustrious house of Hohen-
zollern, which. after playing a strong
and virile part in the middle ages.
and after producing some men. like the
great 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
world powers. We receive this gift
now at the hands of the present en-
peror. himself a man who has marked
ly added to the luster of his great
house and his great nation, a man
who has devoted his life TO the well
fare of his people. and who, while
keeping ever ready 10 defend the
rights of that people. has also made IL
evident in emphatic fashion that he
and they desire peace and friendship
with the other nations of the earth.
Fought Against Odds.
1t is not my purpose here to discuss
at length the career OF the mighty
king and mighty general whose stat
ue we have just received. In all history
no other great commander save only
Hannibal fought SO long against such
terrible odds, and while Hannibal
finally failed, Frederick finally tri-
umphed In almost every battle he
fought against great odds, and he al
most always won the victory. When de-
feated he rose to an even greater al
titude than when victorious. The mem
DRY of the Seven Years war will last
as long as their lives in mankind the
love of heroism, and it's operations
will be studied to the minutest de-
tail as long as the world sees sol
der worthy of the name. IL is diff
cult to know whether to admire most
the victories Of Leuthen and Prague.
Rossbach and Zorndorf, or the heart
breaking campaigns after Kuners-
dorf, when the great king, after hav-
ing been beaten to the ground by tho
banded might OF Europe. yet rose again
and by an exhibition of skill. tenacity.
energy, and daring such as has never
before been seen in one person. finally
wrested triumph from defeat. Not
only must the military scholar always
turn to the career of Frederick the