The Bismarck tribune., 1922-06-09
HARDING HOLDS
WASHINGTON A
GREAT LEADER
President Ext0lls Brilliancy Of
Revolutionary Leader
In War
DELEGATES MONUMENT
Battle Monument Is Dedicated
At Princeton University
". Today
DEDICATES MONUMENT

princeton, N. j., June 9.-The, bril-.
iiancy of General Washington" gen
ius In action and the devotion of his
followers of the continental army un,
Der great privations were cxtolled by
PRESIDENT Harding today in an address
at the dedication of the battle monu.
ment at Princeton. The memorial was
fitting to the heroes and heroism of
that day, he declared, adding that I'VE
bring and lay at its foot the laurel
wreaths which gratitude and patriotic
sentiment will always dedicate to those
who have borne the heat and burden
of the conflict" HG
The president spoke as follows:
My fellow Americans:
1 I'VE have come here to say the
formal words Of dedication and consa-
Grafton before a monument in granite
and 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 patriotic army
in the Trenton Princeton campaign is
not in workings Of bronze or carvings
Of stone. It rears itself in the institu-
tions of liberty and representative gov
ernment now big in the vision of all
mankind.
I'm the presence of such a monu-
ment we can do no better than con.
secrate ourselves to the cause in
which at this place the soul Of genius
and the spirit Of sacrifice, shone forth
with steadfast radiance. On no other
battle-ground, in the presence OF no
other memorial of heroism, could we
find more assuring illumination for
our hopes, our anticipations, our con-
fidence.
Importance Of Campaign "
1T isn't often that the precise i'm
portance and significance Of partic.
ular military detail can be accurately
appraised, as it can regarding the
mid-winter campaign of Trenton.
Princeton. The PRONUNCIATION of the
Declaration of Independence had
moved the British authorities to cs-
pecially determined efforts for quick
suppression of the revolution. To
them. it was vitally important that
the fires OF revolt be smothered be-
fore the new feeling of nationality
had risen to make the c0lonists real.
ize the substantial unity OF their
cause and their interests. The
destruction Of Washington's army
would almost have snuffed out the
revolution. Here the genius OF Cen
eral Washington reached the height
of it's brilliancy in action. Here his
followers wrote their highest testi-
mony of valor. Here liberty seeking
devotion struggled through privation
and unbelievable exertion, to gain the
heights. The crAmsoned prints OF
numbed and bleeding feet marked
the route a pathway to eternal glory
Thither they trudged through STORM
and torrent; but from here, IN the
hour of victory went out winged mes
sagcs to let all men know that liberty
was safe in the keeping OF her sons
Point me the field of strife, to
which have cknverged more roads
that led through encouragement, cal
amitv and all justification for despair;
point me, next, that field whence rao'
lated so many highways OF the ouoy'
ant heart. the confident hope, the
indomitable g purpose, the will to win;
take down the tones, thumb all the
hlackest all the fairest pages, and tel'
me where you read OF nobler. inner.
ave or more fruitful-sacrifices OF
men for their fellows.
"Here among you to whom the tra,
ditions of those events are sacIeu
trust is no place for recounting inc
discouragement of the patriot cause
tho low ebb of continental fortunes!
the seeming that final disaster coulu
not be staked. ~ 7,.e te.-s
Army Crumbling
"The army was crumbling, only CIV
il authority pretended to maintain any
central organ. The enemy delayed to
finish his task, only because he was
so certain of his quarry that haste
would be unseemingly. 1t would have
given a demonstration of the over
whelming preponderence of the Brit
ish power, which even the most stout
hearted patriot would have found OIL.
ficult to deny On the other hand
WASHINGTON perceived both the mill
tary and the political opportunity pre-
sented him in the disposition OF the
enemy's forces. There was des
perate chance to win telling victory
which would convert the New Jerse!
campaign into a disaster for the en-
emv; and there was also the posi-
bility of winning a political vlctor!
by demonstrating the capacity o
American leadership and American
soldiers to outwit and Outright veter
ans of European battlefields.
"Washington, who was at once sol
der politician and statesman, rec
ognized all these possibilities. ~
seized the opportunity, he turned
completely to his own advantage an
thereby inspired his army and tn
country behind him with new cor
fidence in themselves. Years after
ward Lord CORVALLIS, and the mem
bers of his staff, were given a Dime
by General Washington, following IN
surrender at Yorktown. 80 :,
"Among the rest, Lord CORNWALL
made a speech in which he paid III
compliments to the military genius
Washington. Comparing the Yorkto
campaign with the Trenton-Princeto
: operation, he delared, turning to Gel
: eral Washington and bowling pr
: foundly, that, when history sha
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