The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1898-07-15
RETURNED THANKS
Mass Meeting at the Presbyter-
ian Church.
Various Speakers Talk of the Glorious
Victories of the Army and
Navy,

terian church Friday evening, held in
obedience to the proclamation Of
President Mckinley to give thanks
for the glorious victories of our army
and navy, filed the big auditorium
to the doors. The old town bell was
brought forth from it's place of stor-
age and was Changed around the
streets, to proclaim the meeting.
Rev. Geo. II. Davis presided over
the meeting, and said that it had
been called not only to pay tribute to
our brave sailors and soldiers, but to
exemplify the fundamental princi-
Piles of the government. He believed
that divine providence had chosen
this nation to carry freedom and
peace to the oppressed and down trod-
den people Of Cuba, and he believed
that when the war is over it will be
nobly realized that Gods hand has
directed our forces.
Blessings were invoked by ReY. Lee
w. Beattie.
Miss Josephine Holt sang 1.-THE
Star Spangled Banner, very effective
lY. Prof. Lillebridge accompanying
with the organ.
The speeches were limited to ten
minutes each.
Rev. S. D. Works spoke upon "Ou1
Flag" He said that we love it be-
cause it is ours and for the memories
that cluster about it. The flag was
scarcely unfurled to the breeze for
the first time before it received hap.
tism of blood. The recent magnifi-
cent return to cur country's call to
protect the flag is an inspira-
tion. We love our flag for what
it stands for, and the Cubans
love their flag for what it promises
them. We love the flag for what it
has cost us. The flag has never been
dishonored and has never gone forth
merely for conquest. We feel that
there are yet greater things in store
for it.
Rev. ID. Williams subject was
'The Victory" He said that the
victory of our fleet at Santiago will be
recorded in history as one of the
mightiest conflicts that ever occur
red on the water. The future his
torian will note the loss of but one
man at Manila and at Santiago, on
the American side, as significant
and remarkable thing The victory
was great chiefly for the spirit in
which it was waged. This war is a
peculiar one-a fraternal interference
on the part of our people in behalf of
the suffering Cubaps. 1t is war be-
tween the gaunt surviving spirit of
the civilization of the Sixteenth CEN
fury and the peace-loving, progressive
civilization of the Nineteenth CEN
fury. 1t is true that Spain had Nine.
teenth century ships, but they were
manned by Sixteenth century men.
Spain has lost because her men are
the product of a civilization that
makes slaves and had to oppose the
product of civilization that makes
free men.
Gen. E.M.P Pope spoke upon the subject
"How it Appears to the old Soldier"
He said that in the Civil war we were
engaged in maintaining the sover-
eighty of the Union, but that today
we have so far advanced in a moral
sense that the nation is in arms to en-
force moral principles. Many who
went to the Civil war laid down their
lives without knowing what the re-
suit would be, but now there is no
one going to the front who does not
but. feel that our cause will prevail.
There has since the Civil war grown
up commercialism that did not feel
that there was something worse than
war. II has been hard to overcome
this. In every community, includ-
ing Mankato, there are people who
seem to think that they have done
enough when they see the boys off at
the depot with "God bless you," or
repeat Remember the Maine" Do
they realize what the boys are suffer
ing, and what hardships they have to
encounter in camp and on the field?
There is an organization of ladies in
the city known as the Red, White and
Blue society, which remembers these
things. 1t has invited men to become
honorary members at Is cents each.
They ought to charge dollar at
least. The boys at the front need to
be followed by your love and SYM
pathy. Gen. Pope said that he hoped
that the people would think it over
as he, an old soldier, had presented it,
an6 that some positive, tangible,
pecuniary result would come from it.
The audience arose and joined in
singing the 672nd hymn.
Prof. G. J. Dykes address was on
the subject, "Aow it Appears to Us,