New-York tribune., 1906-10-28
KAISER LEADS CHEERS.
TRIBUTE TO PRESIDENT.
Response to His Letter as Professor
Burgess Begins Work at Berlin.

Berlin. oot 27-Professor John W. Burgess.
dean of Columbia University. New York. the
first incumbent of the Theodore Roosevelt pro-
fessorship OF American history and institutions
at the University of Berlin. began his lectures
to-day. Emperor William. the Empress; Prince
August Wilhelm United States Ambassador
Tower and Mrs Tower, DR.. Studt, the Minister
Of Education. and about fifty professors ana
some resident Americans occupied chairs near
the reading desk In the lecture hall. while behind
them were four hundred students. who ener-
getically cheered Professor Burgess when he en-
tered. and applauded every reference to Presi-
dent Roosevelt.
At the opening of the proceeding Professor
Burgess read letter from President Roosevelt.
of which tho following ia a translation
White House. october r.
My Dear Professor Burgess: Allow me-
through you. to greet the University or Berlin
with the heartiest good Will The historical
friendship between Prussia and the United
States. and then. after Prussia had founded tne
and the United States. has never been broken
nor even shaken in the least. Thls 1rlenoshtp
began in the mutual esteem ana mulual soou
will that existed between Washington ana FIed-
erick the Great and was confirmed by the ract
that Prussia alone among all the european
powers showed herself willing to have trade
relations with us during the period of our neces-
sity and weakness in those trying years between
1888 and 17S9. and to make trade treaty
with
Already during the Colonial period Of our his
tory there was q large German element among
our people Men of German birth and German
blood gave us great and success1ul service dur-
ing the Revolutionary period, as leaders both IN
war and peace. General Steuben trained the
Continental army and Muhlenberg tho fcst
Speaker of the House Of Representatives. Since
the Revolution a continuous German emigration
has taken place that has proved most important
for the population of the Northwestern terri
tories The men of German birth and race were
nearly all devoted in body and soul to the Union
and were extremely hostile to slavery. Through
their powerful help the Northwest territories
made into the free states that form the
heart of the Republic. We have to thank men
of German birth or origin that, at the outbreak
Of the Civil War, Maryland. Missouri and even
Kentucky held firmly to the Union, and during
that fearful period they rendered us services by
word and deed which will never be forgotten
Since the Civil War the large emigration Of stu
dents from the United States to German uni
versities is one Of the most remarkable and i'm
portant features of intellectual life and it is
one Of the most significant facts in Ameri-
can education that those sons of our Republic
who have been educated in German universities
guide and control our higher education.
All this has had powerful influence in bringing
about an exchange of culture which in certain
sense eliminates in the founding of the profess
sorship that YOU my dear professor. are charged
with inaugurating.
the university, and with best wishes for your
success and that Of your students. remain.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT
Professor Burgess. in a short address in Ger
man. referred to his studies at Berlin Uni
versity. to its great teachers Of the past. to In
cdents in the history of modern Germany. to
the founding of the corresponding professorship
at Columbia University. and to the Presidents
and the Emperor's interest in the exchange OF
professors
The rector OF the university. Professor Kaftan.
thanked Professor Burgess. and referred ap-
propriately to President Roosevelt's message TO
the university and the Emperor's presence. and
proposed three cheers for the Emperor. While
the cheering still in progress his majesty
arose. and. as it ceased. said:
Fellow Students: Let express our thanks
for what has been expressed eloquently by
accepting the offered hand which has been ex-
tended to us from America. and by giving a
cheer for the man who is the incarnation of the
good qualities of his people. President Roosevelt
Hurrah! hurrah. hurrah!
The members of the Emperor's suite. the pro-
fessors and the students responded vigorously.
The Emperor then conversed with Professor
Burgess. congratulating him the successful
beginning of his work. and also had talk with
Ambassador and Mrs. Tower The Emperor re-
quested the ambassador to cable to President
Roosevelt his majesty's thanks for the Presi-
dents cooperation.
Professor Burgess will begin the development
of his subject. The Constitution and Constitu-
tional History of the United States" on another
day.
A permanent American institute has been
opened in large apartment in one of the uni
versity buildings set apart for that purpose by the
Ministry of Education In 1t have been placed por-
traits of President Roosevelt, President Nicholas
Murray Butler of Columbia University. and Pro
fessor Burgess. About ten thousand volumes of
American history have been sent to the institute
by Columbia University, and it is the intention
of President Butler and others associated with
him to add yearly to the library and to adorn
IT with portraits of the successive American pro-
fessors.