Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer., 1922-06-09
HARDING OEDICATES
BATTLE MONUMENT !
AT PRINCETON u"
PRE- SiDENT PRINCIPAL SPEAKER
AT UNWILLING SHAFT TO-
SCHOOLS SOLDIERS IN CON
TtNENTAL ARMY

Princeton, June o. The brilliancv
OF General WaghIugtons genius In
action aud the devotion of his fol.
lowers ot Tho Continental army under
great prtvatioue were cxtolcd by
President Harding today in an adj
dress at the dedication OF the battle
monument nt Princeton. The memor.
ial was fitting to tho heroes and her.
olSm OF that day. he declared, adding
mat we bring and Law at It's foot
the laurel wreaths which gratitude
ana patriotic sentiment will always
"'diCate to those who have borne the
neat and burden of the conflict"
fhe President spoke as follows.
MY fellow Americans:
We have come here TO say the
formal words of dedication and cOnsc.
cration before monument in granite
ana marble. But we stand, to say
those words, in the presence of an.
other monument, which IS the true
memorial To- the events we celebrate.
The real monument to the achieve.
ment of Washington's patriot army IN.
the TrcntOn.PrinCeton campaign is
not In workings OF bronze or carving
OF stone II rears itself In the nstitu.
tionG of lhety and representative
government now big in the vision of
oil mankind.
In the presence Of such a mOnu-
meut. we can do no better than con
secrate ourselves to tho cause in
which at this place the soul OF genius
and tho spirit of sacrifice, shone forth
with steadfast radiance On no 9th.
or battle ground. in presence OF no
other memorial Of heroism could we
hnd more, assuring illumination for
olr hopes. our anticipations, our con.
tidcnce. "And then the fash of
Washington's defiance The crossing
ot the Delaware in storm and ice
foes the march, and the delays
which made it impossible to effect a
night attack and a complete surprise:
Washington's stern and fateful deCis.
ion, to press on and stake everything
on the issue; finally, the attack, and
the victory.
Brilliant as was the accomplish
ment, Washington. on the jersey side
was faced presently by the superior
strength OF the now consolidated
British forces. At last his rival was
sure of the old fox" Then came the
strategic withdrawal by Washington.
at night, IN secret, from his line on
the ASSunpink creek, the hanking
march to Princeton, and the second
surprise aud defeat of the enemy. In
tho narrative of those magnificent
winter days Of marching and Gghtiug
surprises and victories, ono finds the
trnest presentation OF the indomitable
spirit which sustained, and, at last,
wan tlte revolution.
1t is not often that the precise
importance and significance of a par.
ticnlar military detail can be so ac-
curately appraised as it can regard
ing the mid winter campaign of Trcn-
ton-Princoton The PRONUNCIATION of
the declaration of Independence had
moved the British authorities to cs.
peeially determined efforts for quick
suppression of the revolution. TO
them, II was virtually important that
the fires of revolt he smOthercd be
fore the new feeling Of nationality
had risen to make the cOlonists re-
alize the substantial unity OF their
cause and their interests The Stra-
tegy' OF the British invasion of New
Jersey has been bitterly criticized
many times, but it must always be re-