The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-03-20

/ Of an official promise TO an American
! citizen. and threatening 10 cable to III,
1 American President if the Ambassador
did not at once revoke his promise
made TO the American citizen tire,
weeks before. and cancel also. immcdi-
atcly, the engagement made With q
high officer Of the German court"
I Timid ana vacilluting. Annhnssado,
Hill yielded 10 the demands OF Munster
berg. and the result WAS that Professor
and Mrs. Smith were not present ut The
T, SchlcDpencour. The truth OF III,
matter is that lack OF back
bone caused Ambassador Hill tc
place Il Germans jealousy over an
Americans right-made him lower tho
! dignity of his ambassadoriaf Office and
OF his country.
| does not, of course. affect In the
least the reputation anu tho eminent
position of Professor Smith IN tho So
cicty Of American scholars. lie has
returned with the respect and admira :
,tion OF the German people. who delight
the Kaiser to tho humblcst citizen. The
fault lies at the door OF Ambassador
Hill and Professor Munsterberg. and
not with the German Government or
people. This incident has not affected,
end will not affect. tho entente cordialc
between the Germans and Americans.
despite the fact that tho Slight was
upon this nation.
TO those who know what manner or
man Munsterberg is-and we lived iii
the same town with him for three years
this incident is characteristic of the
man He has never been popular in
Harvard University, where he teaches
lie is regarded very learned man.
hut the attitude of Harvard students
toward him is best expressed in the
nickname they have given him. Mon
stcrbus." y few years ago. William Il.
Stead, the famous English writer and
nublicist. delivered an address before
the students OF Harvard on some phase
OF the peace question. Professor Mum
sterberg was asked TO preside. and did
SO. He introduced Mr. Stead. hut when
Mr.. Stead made some statement in his
speech that did not accord with Mun-
stcrborss views. zip jumped Munster
berg, declaring that he refused to pre-
side oyer the meeting any longer; that
as 4 German citizen" he could not
be present at a meeting when such
views as MIR. Stcad's were uttered. In
Il fine rage he left the hall, to the
;mazenent OF Mr.. Stead and the aston
ishment OF the audience, some of whom
We're doubtless German students II
he had stayed through the meeting the
Kaiser would have been none the wiser
lin fact, we doubt if His Imperial
Majesty has ever heard OF the incident
but in an exaggerated sense OF his
own Importance. Munsterberg tried to
make grands,and play"
In this late affair in Berlin, Profes
sor Munsterherg's vanity was wounded
ilc was cnvious. Ills conceit-and it
IS as monumental and voluminous rs
some Of the books lie writes--was hurt.
| Professor smith was eligible for the
| honor: Professor Munstcrberg was incl
igible, because he was German citi-
! zen; therefore he built Ills spite wall
Small satisfaction can he have, for his
course was discreditable ana unworthy
| Of the great institution lie represents
II sharp contras, stands ont the honor
able and dignifed attitude of Professor
smith, alike creditablc to himself and
10 the University of Virginia.