The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1900-06-15

because they do not realize their ex-
pectation of picking up gold and silver
along the highways, but find the shovel
and the wheelbarrow awaiting them,
and they talk bitterly. Political con-
spirators come and put into the heads
OF party managersFthe idea that each
nationality must be recognized on the
ticket. The interests of all the people
OF this country are one and are not
divided on, racial lines. The agitator
comes, driven from his own land.
Surely no one could raise the red flag
OF anarchy in the place of our flag who
understands what our flag has been
through and what it stands for.
Thousands come here with honest
aims, intending to fully identify them
selves with US They have made the
wilderness to bloom, and it is hard to
see how we could have gotten along
without them. Do not ask them to
cancel their love for their old home;
only ask that here and now they begin
new political career. that they study
the history of the country and the in
situations that are the outgrowth
of that history. Do not quarrel with
Observation-Disclosures, for it is bridge
over which foreigners will pass to COM
plete Americans. For the next genera
ton there will be but one flag. the stars
and stripes.
DR.. Shutter spoke eloquently of the
military and naval achievements Of the
American flag from the time that
Great Britain was humbled to the ac-
complishments of Dewey and Hobson.
The same flag today says to the sultan
of Turkey that he must pay his bills
like any other nation, and says to the
Boxers of China that they must not
murder our missionaries.
There never have existed bigger
ideas than those wrapped up in the
heart of the Revolution, and when
new idea is suggested we should ask
whether it is in line with those ideas
before adopting it. There is hardly an
American institution that does not date
back to the Revolution.
The common school is the great mill
for grinding the nationalities into a
homogeneous whole. Let us see to it
that neither designing ecclesiastic nor
politician ever NEEDLES with the water
wheel of this mill.
There is not question that con-
fronts us today that we cannot con-
slider under the light of the
past, and we must discuss them in the
light of their history if we do it intelli-
gently. The history of this country
from colonial times has been one of ex-
pansion. We understand all of our
institutions better when we know the
history of our country. The study of
that history teaches us to hope on and
to hope ever, sno matter what clouds
may darken, what evils may present
themselves. 1t shows us how in the
past evils have been removed, from
that of witchcraft down to the abom-
ination of slavery. We have remov-
ed them by working unitedly. Much
has been done in recent years to re-
move that long standing evil, the spoils
system. Every stain will in time be
taken from our banner and that banner
will float on. The country has come
through half dozen great crises, and
He who has taken us through them is
not going to desert us, but will take
us through to still mightier achieve.
ments.
Our history teaches us that we must
exalt the union above the section. The
mountain ranges and the rivers bind
north and south together. Everything
shows that it was the purpose of God
that there should be one homogeneous
nation, not hundred petty states. We
are one by hundred battles.
Our history teaches us that we must
insist on education for the people and
all the people, for it is the only saliva.
tion for people so widely diffused as
here. In the hands of the ignorant,
the ballot is giant hammer of Thor,
dealing destruction. 1t is only scepte1
when directed by intelligence. Better
have one tyrant than ten thousand, bet
ter ann absolute monarchy than an ig.
norant, besotted democracy.
| We must insist in the future as in the
past on absolute divorce between church
and state. One sect must be the equal
of another. not dollar must be appro.
pIiated to any church, and not single
ecclesiastical rag must be pinned to our
national banner.
| The dignity and worth of man as a
man must be maintained This is the
first time in the history Of the world
when simple manhood forms the basis
upon which government can rest.
DR.. Shutter then addressed few
words to the graduating class, urging