The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1914-12-11

OF our great6r power, We unVc peoh
called upon in the past to insist
upon It's recognition, when attempt
ed To be ignored by the stronger ma.
tions in dealings with son,6 of the
weaker republics of this contingent.
That there is strong tempta-
ton, and quite as, strong inclina.
ton, on the part of some OF the
nations involved in the European
struggle, to disregard the Monroe
doctrine and thus nullify 1t. or, farce
our people into declaration OF hos
tiIities seems to me more and more
apparent as the days pass by :
From German Viewpoint.
"As write. the German minister
Mt Washington expresses, the belief
that ss Canada is furnishing troops
to Great Britain for service In France
and Belgium, therefore the Germans
will be justified in invading Canadian
territory. And on the other hand.
because Ecuador and Columbia in
South America are charged with
aiding German cruisers in the way
of coaling stations. wireless, etc.
Great Britain broadly suggests that
II the United States does not see to
It that these republics remain
strictly neutral, she will herself m
dertake to discipline them. Should
either Germany or Great Britain
undertake to do. as so suggested.
while I am not a. diplomat, It seems
to me that we would need to do as
this nation did when. a short TIME
ago, Japan undertook TO secure n
coaling station in Mexico. and say,
Hands or =,
And before leaving this branch
/. OF my subject, ] would suggest that
there is food for careful thought in
the question whether Columbia and
Ecuador may with as much regard
for the Monroe doctine, furnish coal
and supplies, and wireless facilities
to Germany, as may Canada I.send
, troops to England to engage in war
against Germany. While CANADA is
province of Great Britain, IN be
sure, yet II Is on this side of the
sea. Delicate questions these as
well as many others, which we, must
4, from time to time solve, and at
tempt to solve right, II we are to
maintain the integrity of this nation
and safeguard its future.
Should Meet These Emergencies.
should we not meet these emer
sencies and meet them right, might
we not soon find ourselves. bounded
, on both north and south by belli'
-gerent warlike empires and monar
chies. necessitating monstrous
standing army, and thousands Of
| miles of border-line, fortified de
, lenses? We have made our home
country OF pretty liberal dimen
! sions, and It Is more than Ie care to
undertake to point out the perils
TO Il and its institutions. which &C
cur to me as write, without dis
cussing the perils, past, present and
future. OF some OF our sister ma
tions, whose inclinations are TO main
tain their institutions and Eaditions
undisturbed by the invader.
.'The people of Russia, ijt would
seem, firm in their belief that their
duty to their country lies along the
I lines of suppressing the warlike ma
lions OF that continent, find them
i selves involved In a mighty war
warning against war. and whose cry
| Is international peace the people
! OF England. who, no doubt, feel II
their duty, when they enter into a
neutrality. compact, to lige to IL
and TO make an earnestbI effort to
compel others to do the same, find
! themselves involved in ishis war
and whose cry is Integrity of ma
! tional compacts,' while poor little Bel
GUM, in an effort to keep sacred Its
neutrality compact, finds itself dew
astated with a very bosom OF de
struction, it's mothers, wives and chill
! dren homeless, and itsq patriotic
! young men moved down slike grass
I before the scythe, and buried In
graves marked TUnknownsi
"Here Is the lesson before. us, and
: can we say with complaeency that
| no such conditions will ever con
| front as, unless we see 40 II that
our international affairs shall be con
Quoted with steady hands. and hon
| est hearts. guided by ypower fan
J superior to the power Of mani"