The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1902-05-30
The Free Press the Leader, Only SI.oo Year

April 10, 1851, our flag was fired on
at Fort Sumter. Then was beheld
spectacle unsurpassed in human his
tory. Tens of thousands left their
homes and occupations to defend the
Union. The obstacles they had to
encounter were Titanic in proportion.
The cost in money and human life
was enormous. But when Lee sur
rendered at Appomatox the victory
was won. The sin of this nation
slayery-was atoned for. In the grave
of that terrible conflict the shackles of
a. 900, 900 of men-made in the image
of God-were buried forever. 1t is
the boast of this nation that it has
never resorted to war except in the
interests of justice and humanity.
The Almighty has sent us many years
of sore trial but tonight we can re-
joice in the strength and .enduringness
of our republic; that our country is
united that the blue and the gray
have shaken hands in an eternal
brotherhood.
But we should prove recreant to our
high trust if we failed to discern the
breakers ahead. Armies did not save
Rome, commerce did not save Tyre,
philosophy did not save Greece.
Righteousness alone is the guarantee
of national perpetuity am no
croaker, but as a student of history, l
see it is simply madness to shut ones
eyes to the destructive power OF evil
and how it is worming it's way into
all sections of American society. Cor
ruption in family and civic life, in
our guilds of commerce and in our
national government can only mean
weakness and decay. Are we not los
ing calibre through luxurious indul-
genceH Are we not through excessive
devotion to materialistic pursuits los
ing sight of the deeper moral meaning
of life2 One of the greatest dangers
to our peace lies within the sphere Of
social and economic disturbance.
There is growing up in this country
a body Of social opinion which will
one day become irresistible in iti
might and if not corrected and guild
ed, irresistible for evil. If ever the
masses come to Cry "Give us bread, .
then beware It was this Cry thai
swept the Bourbons with all theil
power and splendor forever from the
throne of France. Therefore the duty
presses upon us of training up body
of citizens who shall worthily repre-
sent the traditions of our patriot fore
fathers who shall be clean and high
toned. Our responsibility is simply
tremendous. God grant that posterity
may never speak of our age with 6
blush So necessary is God as the
foundation of national life that al
the French philosopher said, eff Goo
did not exist, we should have to in
vent him."
Tonight in Gods holy temple, will
great cloud of witnesses lowering
about US, we live over again the scenes
of the past We still march will
Washington across the Delaware, still
listen to Lincoln delivering his dedica
tion speech at Gettysburg, are still
with Grant as Lee hands him hi
sword, still hear the plaudits showeret
upon the returning armies as they
march down Pennsylvania avenue
still stand with uncovered head before
the lifeless form of our late president
and wonder for the moment if Goo
lives. And out of all this sorrowins
and rejoicing, this shout of victory
and lamentation of defeat which rol
in upon us from the conflicts 'of pas
years we hear the final strains of Mrs
Howe's Battle Hymn of the Republic
sounding like voice from the othel
world
SIN the beauty of the lilies Chris
was born across the sea,
With a glory in His bosom that trans
figures you and me,
AS He died to make men holy, let u
die to make men free.
While God is marching on.