Evening star., 1926-05-30
PRESIDENT LAUDS
ERICSSON AS TYPE
Of TRUE AMERICAN
Praises Norsemen for Part
in u. S. History as Two
Nations Pay Tribute.
PRINCE AND PRINCESS
UNVEIL STATUE MODEL
Gunboat in River Gives 21-Gun
Salute in Honor of Great
Naval Inventor.

While a United States gunboat off
shore the Potomac doomed the ma
tional salute of 81 guns and in the
presence of nOtables of many lands
America and Sweden yesterday paiC
Joint homage to the memory OF Capt
John Ericsson, Swedish born Ameri
can naval engineer. whose genius rev
olutionized the worlds navies of peace
and war.
The colorful tribute, participated in
by the President Of the United States
and their royal highnesses, the Crown
Prince and Crown Princess Of Swe
den, involved the unveiling in West
Potomac Park, near the banks Of the
river. of a plaster model Of the i'm
posing monument being reared in
Ericsson's honor by America.
Characterized by President Coolidge
as a patriot who belongs to two coun-
tries and by Crown Prince Gustavus
Adolphus as one who was dedicated
in gratitude to the country of his
birth and in loyal devotion to that
which he made his own" Ericsson
was held as a guide toward better un-
derstanding and mutual good will be-
tween this country and Sweden.
Stresses International Spirit.
This strain of international friend
ship ran through the addresses both
of the President and of the future
King of Sweden. The big memorial.
with its symbolic background, was
pointed to by the President as a re-
minder to "our citizens of various
races" that although Ericsson and
bor, ;,,
race, they were yet bound together by
the tie that surpasses race and blood
In the communion of a common
spirit"
"When once our feet have touched
this SOIL Mr.. Coolidge declared to
the assembled multitude, the major
portion of which was of Swedish
descent. when once we have made
this land our home. wherever our
place Of birth. whatever our race, we
are all blended in one common coun-
try. We cannot put too
much emphasis on the fact that In
this country We are all bound together
In a common destiny. We must all
be united as one people.
ut is not. then, for the purpose Of
setting one people above another that
we assemble here today to do rev.
erence to the memory of great
son Of Sweden. but rather to glory in
the name Of John Ericsson and his
race as pre-eminent example of the
superb contribution which has been
made by many different nationalities
To the cause of our country"
Lauds Swedish People.
Discussing the greatness of the
Swedish people In the country of their
origin and in America, the President
said:
They have been characterized by
that courage. which is the foundation
Of military achievement, that devo-
tion to the home which is the founda-
tion Of patriotism, and that reverence
for religion which is the foundation
OF moral power. They are representa-.
tive Of the process which has been 60
ing on for centuries in many quarters
of the globe to develop a strain OF
pioneers ready to make their con-
tribution to the enlightened civiliza-
tion Of America"
President Coolidge recalled the IA
nous Civil War battle of the Monitor,
child of John Ericcson's brain, and
the Merrimac. Confederate gunboat.
and pointed out it was Ericsson who
built her. Dahlgren who armed her
and Worden who fought her," a sig.
nificant example of the influence of
the Morse element in the American
Navy.
''The old spirit OF the Vikings
he added, becoming American, had
again triumphed in a victory no less
decisive of future events that when
1t had hovered over the banner of
William the Conqueror. 1t did for
the Union cause on the sea what the
Battle OF Gettysburg later was to do
for it on land"
Praises Senator Lenroot.
In this connection he mentioned
Senator Lenroot of Wisconsin as one
American OF Swedish blood endowed
with the old Morse spirit
The crown prince. strikingly attired
4n full military regalia of major gen.
eral, with formal headdress surmount.
ed by bright yellow plumes, at the
outset Of his speech took the oppor-
tunity to carry out the commission
of his father. King Augustus Adol-
phus, that President Coolidge and the
American people be advised Of the
hearty esteem of Sweden for the
United States.
He also expressed. to the President,
and through him, to the citizens of
this country, his heartfelt thanks"
for the welcome accorded him and the
Princess Louise on their visit here.
I'VE esteem it an honor to be pres
ent at this OCCASION" the crown prince
said, land wish to express our sincere
appreciation Of the courteous invita-
tion which we have received. Let me
also take this opportunity to tell how
deeply moved we are by the wonderful
reception given US on this, our first
visit to America,
Sweden RejOices i'm Symbol"
I'VE of Sweden rejoice in the un-
yelling of this mighty symbol, erected
by the people and Government of the
United States to perpetuate their
recognition of what Capt. John Erics-
son achieved, not only at the crucial
moment, but during a lifetime of un-
remitting creating. We are happy to
know that so many Americans of
Swedish origin have contributed to
the completion of this monument--ac-
knowledging as their ideal the life Of
John Ericsson. dedicated in gratitude
to the country of his birth and in
loyal devotion to that which he made
his own.
ITO us Swedes this celebration Of
John Ericsson's memory is expressive
of something more significant than
his great contributions to modern
science. John Ericsson is The jncarna-
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