New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-05-12
POLISH HEROES HONORED
Statues of Pulaski and Kos
Ciusko Unveiled.
Mr.. TAFT MAKES ADDRESS
Pays High Tribute to Pulaski,
and Secretary Dickinson
Eulogizes Kosciusko.
From The Tribune Bureau.


Washington. Mey lin the presence OF
the President of the United States ana
Mrs. Taft, the vice-Prcsident, the Score
tary of War, Francis Pulaski, grandson
Of the brother of Count Pulaski; Senators
and Representa- ves and their families,
notable gathering Of Polish Americans ana
thousands of others, and with the Marine
Band playing Polish airs, the statues OF
Brtgadier General Count Casimir Pulaski
and Brigadier General Thaddeus koscfus-
ko were unveiled this afternoon Inc
Secretary of War presided at the unveii-
ing exercises of the Pulaski monument IN
the early part of the afternoon. The Right
Rev. Paul o. Rhode pronounced the inyo-
cation, and an address by John F. Snnuiski
followed. T. M. Heifnski pulled the cord
releasing the two large American hags
yelling the statue, while the Marine Band
played The Star Spangled Banner and
the Sd Field Artillery fred salute A
dozen or more Polish-Americans, dressed
in Continental uniform with an equal
number in uniforms similar to the one
worn by Count Pulaski in the Revolution,
fianked the statue. While the band was
playing half a dozen young women dressed
in white and others in red and brown
placed wreaths at the base of the monu-
ment.
President on PuIaski's Career.
President Taft then arose amid the
cheers Of the large assemblage and said:
Brigadier General Count Casimlr Pulaski
was the son of Count Joseph Pulaski, OF
Poland, who was the. chief justice OF that
repubic-a great jurist, but one who, after
the calnest consideration of his country
condition, conceived It his duty to organize
confederacy to maintain its independence
nd TH.aS 80 sc-cyIe he rad
many of his Polish leaders but his three
sons and a nephew. OF these five men four
one, Casimir. escaped to Turkey. thence to
France, where under the influence Of our
Franklin, he was induced TO come 10 TINS
country TO give to us the benefit OF his
skill at arms. eXcelling especially In the
branch of the cavalry.
When he came here the American army
Fss o Wsh9gto o and 10 n the
vote OF the Congress, was turned over the
question of the organization of a cavalry
force. At Brandywine and at Germantown
he showed the mette that was In him The
insufhciency Of the American cavalry was
such that he was hampered in the move
dread winter at Valley. Forge, at the head
OF such a cavalry as there were. with his
headquarters at Trenton. by foraging and
by harassing the enemy, he OCCASIONAL y
threw A CLEAN Of sunshine into that dark
enad refuge OF the American troops.
Chivalric of race and Of knightly form,
woman, sweet in ali the associations Of
life, there hangs about him all the romance
of ancient knighthood.
Could he have looked forward to the com
ing to this country of three millions OF his
Polish fellow citizens. could he nave seen
them take their honorable part in the
welcome they have received, the prosperity
they have aided. the strength that they
have given TO this country and the happi-
ness that they have found under the starry
banner that he lebored 10 make triuri
plant, he would indeed have felt that his
labors were not in vain.
The President was escorted by troop Of
cavalry to the stand in Lafayette Square for
the Kosciusko ceremony. NJ. B. Steccynski
delivered an address in Polish. and An
thony Schreiber made brief address pre-
senting the Kosciusko statue to the Ameri-
can nation on behalf Of the Polish-Anneri-
can organizations and the Polish citizens OF
the United States, of whom there are some
thing like $4,000 The Secretary of War
accepted the statue for the nation. Julian
Scajnert unveiled the statue, while q salute
was fired and the Marine Band played The
tar-spangled Banner
Mr.. Dickinson Speaks on kosciusko.
In his tribute TO Kosciusko Secretary
Dickinson said:
Of ancient and noble lineage, an accom-
plished soldier trained in the best military
schools of Europe, kosciusko. at the age
of thirty, not as an adventurous knight
seeking merely fame and fortune. but In
spired by a love of human liberty which
votion, came to fight, as he himself de
clared to Washington, 'as a volunteer for
American independence"
Made at once by Congress colonel and
assigned to the duties of engineer, for
which his technical knowledge so well
qualified him. he began forthwith q ca
which terminated only when victory
crowning our arms, made them no longer
needed.
It was fitting recognition of his un-
selfish devotion that he should receive the
thanks of Congress and be brevetted as
brgadier Gratifying as these honors were
he no doubt in after days during his more
glorious career in his own, country, felt
that he had received a far greater reward
land the rich fruits of experience and wis
dom which he lad garnered under the
tutelage of Washington.
His place is with the worlds heroes and
his name will be coupled forever with
those of Washington and William the ST.
lent.
The equestrian statue OF Count Pulaski
is of heroic size and depicts the dashing
Polish officer clad in the costume of his
native land. The monument was erected at
a cost of $4,000, appropriated by the 57th
Congress- as the result of memorials pre-
scented to that Congress from various
Polish societies by Joseph Smolinsld.
Casimir Chodzinski, OF Chicago, was chosen
to do the work.
The monument TO kosciusko is OF granite
and bronze. The figure stands eleven feet
high and shows him holding in his left
hand a scroll representing plans of fofti-
fication On the base of the monument are
groups representing Liberty and BRAY
cry" and-on the north. and south sides are
hemispheres surmounted by eagles. The
monument was the work of Antoni Popiel.