The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1896-02-28
NO MORE WAR.
The r1ethodist Congregation FavOrs
Arbitration to Settle Difficulties.

| Arbitration. TO settle DIFFICULTIES.
Interesting services appropriate to
Washington's birthday were held at
the Methodist church Sunday
and the attendance was so great that
chairs had to be placed in aisles. The
music, by the new Dudley-Buck
quartet, was of patriotic order.
Prof. G. F. Koehler was the first
speaker, and his subject was "Wash-
ington, the man." In his opening re-
marks he said that peace is the
guardian of the nineteenth century,
and arbitration is her handmade, and
he hoped that the latter would be an
established institution early in the
twentieth century. Peace is con-
dition primary to civilization, and as
in industrial policy supplants mill
tary, the character of man changes
and he becomes less brutal and more
humane. Prof. Koehler then took up
the criticisms that have been made in
regard to Washington and answered
them. While there is now tendency
to diminish his greatness, the future
will build it up again. He showed
that Washington was intensely
American. He was of the fourth
generation in this country, while
Lincoln was of the sixth. Those who
boast their descent from the Pilgrim
fathers are not always the most
American today. Washington was
the first exponent of the Monroe doc
trine, and his farewell address
abounds in the sentiment of America
for the Americans.
Gen. j, H. BAKERS subject was
washington as soldier and states
man." After reviewing the life and
military achievements OF Washington,
he said that considering his limited
resOrces he accomplished more than
any other leader in the world. He
was made a dictator for six months
by congress, and the use of his author
ity stands in contrast with the dictat-
or Cromwell, who perverted his power
and became a despot. Washington
was the only military officer who
never received dollar for his ser
vices. The constitution would not
have been adopted by all of the states
but for his prodigious influence, and
the constitution itself was as much
his work as any other mans. We
have no craftsmanship today Our
fathers, with their locks wet with
the Jordan through which they pass
ed, were mighter men than any we
have today, land they built better than
they knew, and their work stands to-
day. Washington was statesman
as well as warrior. He would have
no third term, and the speaker hoped
that his example would always be
followed, as there is no man so free
from ambition and so possessed of
moderation to whom we would dare
to give third term.
President Searlng's subject was
"War and arbitration" and he read
call made by thirty prominent citi
zens of Chicago that the churches in
augurate an agitation for arbitration
in the settling of differences among
the English speaking people, on
Washington's birthday, or as soon
thereafter as possible. 1t was Dr.
Cleveland's desire that the matter be
b ought before the church. The
ministers all over the land had done
much in allaying the recent war
spirit. He did not think that it was
necessary to say much in favor of
arbitration, as it's advantage was ap-
parent to all.
Rev. Hair, who presided, called for
rising vote upon the questions-"Do
you favor arbitration in the settle
ment of the differences between the |
English speaking peoples?", land 'Are
you opposed to war as a settlement of |
such differences, and both were
carried unanimously. or practically
so. The result will be sent to the
Chicago committee.