The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-05-12
Monuments to KoSCuiszko
and Pulaski Are Un-
vei|ed in Washington.
vALOROUS DEEDS OF TWO
GREAT men ARE LAUDED
Secretary of War Dickinson Also
speaks-PoIish National Congress-
VIII Assemble In Washington
To Discuss Nations Needs

Washington, May 11.--President Taft
today paid tribute to the foreign SOL
diers who helped the United states
win independence. He attended the un-
yelling during the afternoon of the
statues of Pulaski and kosciuzko, tbs
former at Thirteenth and Pennsylvania
avenue and the latter in LaFayetts
square Mr Taft delivered the eulogy
at the Pulaski statue, while Secre-
tary of War Dickinson was the prin-
cipal speaker at the Kosciuszk cere-
mony.
In his address President Taft paid
high tribute to the two Polish war
riors. He grouped them with LaFay-
cite, Rochanb eau, DeKalb and others
and said it was fitting that America.
should give enduring evidence of her
gratitude to those who came to her
In her hour of trouble.
Mr.. Taft declared that if Pulaski and
K osciuszko could have lived to see the
1000, 900 Polish citizens take their hon.
orable place in the American elector-
ate; should have seen the prosperity
they have aided, and the happiness they
had found under the starry banner
that the two generals helped to de-
fend, they would have felt their la
bors were not in vain.
Presidents Address
President Taft said:
1T is idle to speculate what might
y ave haen tho outcoma of tho revo-
luton had we not been aided by for
eign nations and subjects of foreign
countries. 1t is sufficient for us to
note that tn ose who aided us in that
struggle of ours for indefendenee and
liberty contributed materially to>'es,r
success and it is appropriate that we
should give enduring evidence of our
gratitude to those who sympathized
with us In that struggle and aided MS
in bringing about the Independence
which has made the progress of our
country to its present stage possible.
Hence to Lafayette. to Rochambeau.
to Won Steuben, to DeKalb, to Kos
c.uszko and to others it is fitting that
there should be erected monuments like
this to have it understood that Amer
lea is gra teful and holds in sweet MEM
ory those who came to her in her
hour of danger and of trouble.
Brig. Gen. Count Casimir Pulaski
was the son of Count Joseph Pulaski
of Poland, who was the chief justice
of that republic--a great jurist but
one who, after the calmest considera-
tion of his country's condition, con-
ceived 1t his duty to organize a colt
federacy to maintain its Independence,
and in that struggle he enlisted not
only many of his Polish leaders, but his
three sons and a nephew. or those
five men four pershed In the struggle
for Poland. Only one Casimir, escaped
to Turkey. thence to France, where.
under the influence of our Franklin.
he was induced to come to this coun-
try to give to us the benefit of his
skill of arms, excelling especially In the
branch of the cavalry.
Organized the Cavalry
when he came here the American
army practically had no cavalry and
to him, with the permission of WASH
ington, and with the vote of Congress.
was turned over the question of the
organization of cavalry force. At
Brandywine and at Germantown ne
showed the mettle that was in him.
The insufYiciency of the Ame.'i cav
airy was such that he was hampered
in the movements that he sought to
make. But In that hard winter az
Valley Forge, at the head of such q
cavalry as there was, with his head.
quarters at Trenton, by foragng ana
by harassing the enemy, he success
fully threw CLEAN of sunshine into
that darkened refuge of the Americas
troops.
subsequently organizing an independs
ent legion known as Pulaski's legion he
fought his way from north TO south. unt1
finally. after taking part In the campaign
about Charleston, he lost his life in Q
brilliant charge at the siege OF Savaua
nah, and was, as the distinguished oratop
who preceded me said, suitably buried
In the bosom of the ocean from a frigato
OF the United States.
"Chivalric of race and of knightly forma
brave. dashing courageous but gentle ID
a woman, sweet In all the associations q
life there hangs about him all the re-
nance Of ancient knighthood.
Gould he have looked forward to tn
coming to this country OF S,0O00O0 of hi
Polish fellow citizens could he have seen
them take their honorable part in th6
American electorate. could he have seen
the welcome they have received. the proc,
perty they have aided, the strength the1
have given to this country and the happ6
ness they have found under the stargD
banner he labored to make triumphant
he would have indeed felt that his laboN2
were not in vain
Two Monuments Unveiled
The monument to Pulaski was erectsA
by an act of Congress, but the statue u
Kosciuszko is a gift to the nation from--
the Polish National alliance and othop
organizations of Poles who have mado
their homes in the free republic for which
their distinguished conntrymen fought
There was a double significance TO thu
unveillhg of the monument to KosciuszkN
for II marked the opening here tomorroU
of the first Polish national congress. t6
attend which thousands of Poles from al
over the Uiiitcd States have come.
The purpose of the congress is to die.
cuss in all its phases the condition of
the Polish nation. to acquire familiarity
=