The Mankato free press., 1910-06-03


would be if war were surely and abb
solutely only barbarism of the past
and all disputes and controversies. in
ternational and others, were settled in
some competent tribunal
Is the time ever coming when this
will be accomplished! | believe it Is
With the rapid advancement of the
human race in civilization, the progress
becoming more and more intense as
the years roll by. there can be no other
result. But it will be many years. In
the meantime, we must hold ourselves
prepared.
The last few years can be classed as
a period of the revival of public con-
science. Things which were winked at
for many years by many of our ma
tional officials, have fallen under the
ban of this revived or awakened con-
science. AS result, the moral wave
has spread over states, counties and
cities. The people have come to de-
mand at least as good moral tone
in the conduct of the country's pub
lie affairs, as in private life. This
country will be what the people de-
mand it to be, if they will only stay
awakened and persistent.
Whatever may be said of the most
popular man in this wide world, Theo-
dore Roosevelt. it is he, who, with
his continual hammering, is responsible
for this quickened public conscience
for this demand that public officials,
yes, the people, be honest. | regard
the spreading of this moral wave
throughout the country as the most
important accomplishment in many
years. 1t was not because the presi-
dent was of any particular party, but
because he personally was intensely
imbued with the conviction that public
men must have a highly developed
moral sense and consciousness. Today
he stands as one of the principal cham
pions of international peace. l am not
speaking of him as a politician, or
from a political standpoint. He is
not now in politics, and | speak of him
as the man, regardless of party affilia
ton, and it would indeed be improper
to speak in any other vein OH this
occasion.
Now, what does this mean? Why
has it been referred to here today?
Because l desire to call to your atten
tiOn to the fact that men of high moral
ideas will stand for world peace, will
develop and enlarge the jurisdiction
and powers of The Hague Tribunal and
will eventually bring into existence an
international court, where all interna
tional causes will be tried, and settled
in peace, instead of by the sword.
With full power to execute and en-
force its decroes, such court will be
the means of avoiding horrible wars,
cruel blOOdshed and death. Death,
with its black shroud, it's awful still
ness. The sorrow, the gloom in the
homes of the noble soldiers, who, as
in our Civil war; called by duty, plunge
into the storm of battle, into the awful
djrge sung by the flying bullets, and
lie bleeding, and mangled, and finally
quiet in windrows of dead will be no
more. Let us hope that all this may
be avoided before many succeeding
generations come and CO. Let us hope
that on some future memorial day, on
some future occasion, such as this
war will not be referred to as fu-
ture possibility, but only as an his
torical fact of the past.
The Civil war was necessity There
was no other way under the existing
conditions of settling the controversies
involved; and it is to you, soldiers of
the Grand Old Army, that we owe the
existence of this wonderful, united ma
tion. The progress which has been
made, could not have been possible, if
we had been split in two. The world
prestige of the United States of Amer
lea would not be conceded fact as
it is today We would not be the most
wonderful nation in the world as we
are.
But, what of it? you may ask. If
we had two nations where we now
have one, each would detract from the
lustre of the other. We would not be
looked up to and respected as we are.
We would not have the prestige we
now have. And, as a result of lacking
this prestige, we could not accomplish
the great things, the good, which this
nation is accomplishing.
We are more and more becoming
most important agent in international
affairs. A good example set by a ma
tion is followed by other nations, the
same as good example set by an in
dividual is followed by other individ
uals. With the quick means of inter
in existence today, ma
tions have become factor in the con-
ditions surrounding them, in their en-
vironment, and, though possibly to a
lesser extent, the influence of good en-
vironment will be felt by nations the
same as it is felt by individuals. They
will come to think along broader aud
more altruistic lines. And when the
thought of nations in these matters !,
becomes unselfish and IDEAL war cannot /
exist.
You veterans, some of whom are
whom have suffered with sickness con-
Bracted during the war, and the dead
soldiers whose memory we revere, and
on whose graves we place an humble
wreath, it is to you and them, l say,
hat we are deeply indebted. 1t is