The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1898-10-21

pOrUun1Gy came TO Schley, and ne ann1h1-
lated the ironclads of Spain. Thus the
heroes of the war are those who have made
the most of opportunity, Peace has her
opb0rtunities zOeN as zVar. The oppor-
tunity has come to the American people to
give an object lesson to the whole world.
Let them knozO that in a foreign zOar, on
the field of BATTLE or at the polls, zOe stand
united, no factional or narrow spirit actua-
ting us. Let them understand, by our
votes, that we approve the war, and sustain
the government in it's prosecution and con-
cluslOn. The stronger and more enzbhatic
this endorsement and aPproOaI comes in
our ballots, the higher our republic zOaU
measure in the judgement of the zVo,-ld
What would be the effect in the capitals
OF Europe should the American people, at
their first popular election, return an op-
position congress, different from the one
that declared and carried on the war? 1t
would discredit McKinlev in the eyes of
European powers and humiliate him in the
sightof Spain. Nothing would please Spain
better than to have the men turned down
who made war on her. 1t would embarrass
our peace commissioners and might serious
ly affect the terms of the treaty about to
be made. The patriotism and popularity
OF this war are beyond question Why
should there be any question about the in
dorsement and approval of the men upon
whom its responsibility has rested?
No state is to-day more ably REPRESENTED
in congress than Minnesota, and no state,
both in and out of congress- gave the presi-
dent more loyal support. In this epoch
making hour will our people, who gave so
freely of their sons to this holy war for
humanity, give partisan bias to the
sacred duty of suffrage? Minnesota will
return her war congressional delegates as
their terms shall expire.
l can readily understand why the Span
lard might want change, or would be
justified in voting for change, but why
should the American banker for a change
just now, when the earth and the fullness
thereof is his? What is there that a good
citizen or patriot would desire to change?
Certainly not our President, Senator or
congressman. This is the time when the
best We have we owe to mankind.
GREATER AMERICA,
To-Day z0e stand in the presence of
Greater America. A few short months
ago and no one dreamed of expansion by
conquest Satisfied with our old boundaries
we were at peace with all the world Sud
aemly the Sbaniard exploded a magazine
beneath our ProzO and 6lezV as high in tile
air and zOe came dOzOn eOe,.yzVheye, and
zOAereOer zOe dyopped zVe propose to stay.
DO"Cy was tuc uISU W ldll. lie I0ll
upon the Philippines, and as the Ameri-
can flag first hoated out over the city
of Manila, where for so long had foated
the proud banner of Spain, Dewey ex-
claimed: II hope it floats there for
ever, forever
Speaking of the splendid work of our
navy he said: IF 1 were religious man,
and hope am, should say that it was
the hand of God" NE share the glory
oL..
Victo,y. Is this sudden and unexpected
possession of the Philippines accidental?
With Dewey, l think not Later genera
tions, if not this, will plainly see in it the
hand of God. Those things which to the
passing generations sometimes seem &C
cidental, to the later ones are known to be
providential.
Briefly, let us recall the salient features
of our past territorial expansion, that we
may the better judge the present duties
we owe to the future greatness of the re-
public.
This is not the first time that American
commissioners have met in Paris to ar
range the terms of peace, and to define the
boundaries of the United States. In 1888
Franklin, Adams and Jay met there to
arrange the terms of peace with Great
Britain, at the close of the War of indie
pendence. England, France and Spain had
agreed among themselves in advance that
the western boundary of the new republic
should be the Alleghenies. The European
powers argued that if our boundaries were
large it would invite immigration, and in
time greatly strengthen us, and weaken
them, and that it would be great field
for the spread of revolutionary ideas
They determined that all west of the
Alleghenies, east of the Mississippi and
north of the Ohio, should be attached to
and form a part of Canada, while all the
rest, south of the Ohio and west of the
Mississippi, should belong to Spain, except
Kentucky and Tennessee, which should be
under joint protectorate of Spain and
the United States How important this
Northwest territory, then an unexplored
wilderness in which alone dwelt the red
men and trappers, should become, no
human vision could see When that treaty
was signed, the Father of Waters was
made the western boundary of the United
States. Then, as now, earnest men gave
serious thought to the unknown future of
the republic. On the signing of this
treaty, the Spanish minister at Paris
wrote to the king of Spain, ''This federal
republic is born pigmy. The day will
come when it will be giant, even a colos-
sus. formidable to these countries. Liber.
ty of conscience, the facility for establish
ing new population, immense lands as well
as the advantage OF new government,
will draw thither farmers and artisans
from all the nations. In .fezO years zOe
shall zOatch zOith GRIEF the tyrannical en-
fstence Of this same Colossus"
One hundred years has fulfilled this pre-
diction, and in the year 1898 Spain watches,
with national grief, 'the existence of that
same Colossus /"
The French ambassador from Venice
wrote to his king: eff the union of the
American provinces shall continue, they
will become, by force of time and of the
arts, the most formidable power in the
world
May we not see with clearer vision now,
the future grandeur of the republic, than
they could see at her cradle3
The ordinance of 1887 dedicated this