The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-05-12
THURSDAY, MAY 1a 1904.
FREDERIcK MUST WAIT roo.

Let it wait until after the elec- ton" This was the maxim that guid- ed the fortunes of the Republican Par ty during the recent session of Con gress. It was the guide of the Presi- dent as we'll. Everything that could with any propriety be put off was put Off, Including the renovation of the Postoffice Department
 The last event to be postponed, hu- /. morously enough. is the acceptance of the Frederick statue presented by Elm peror William to the people of the United States. This will be dedicated with appropriate exercises on the grounds of the War College in Wash ington. in November and after the elec- tio1i. The President has been bothered no little in deciding what to do with the imperial gift He must have wish ed the Emperor could have foreseen this annoyance and acted upon his foresight. No spectacle could be less edifying to the average American than to see the President shouldering the figure of a kingly warrior of old Eu- rope and setting it up on government reservation right in the midst of a hot campaign. The statue has been boxed and ready for months. The hero of Rossbach will have to be content to knock about German warehouse un- til 1t is politically safe to land him on our shores. There is something petty about this and it seems to us if a
 
 of the exigencies of American politics, then the exercises should have been more Appropriately set for year hence. The name of the orator even cannot be now announced Such an announcement might affect the speak CTS political fortunes. True they might draw forth some literary recluse and let him read an essay for the oc- easion. but all things considered pass ing even the everything Depew by the whole affair goes over. After the election the ceremonies will be hustled through with in advance of the meet ing of Congress and in a shame faced way the statue will be accepted. Our own warrior President has brought this small disgrace upon us Certainly it is not for an instant to be thought that Emperor William proposed his gift without first sounding Roosevelt through the proper channel as to the gifts appropriateness and as to the welcome it would receive. We know the President was delighted" and he continued delighted until he discovered that possibly one or two votes might be influenced by his lending himself to The spectacle of honoring a German autocrat, though a hundred years dead. And old Frederick is causing still more trouble. To get him in, the War De- partment has been compelled to an- nounce they will cause to be erected still other statues of famous military heroes. These are not named and properly so. Congress must have voice in the selection of these for they will cost money and for the money Congress must be resorted to. Per. haps once Frederick is safely mounted on his pedestal after the electiq6 the promise of putting up still otfers will be forgotten. The choice vii be a diff fcuit one and may be lefY unmade. We know however. on wb6m the choice would fall if the President should be permitted to decide. ( His leanings are we'll known. His aspirations are fixed What does he dearly love? Can there De any doubt he would instantly name As Frederiek's first companion. Tous- saint rouvertGre7