The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1916-06-09


been tried out very successfully in
the east. Miss Bierbauer proved that
the value of such social center was
very great, tending toward the moral
and mental uplifting of the commu-
y. She was enthusiastically ap-
plauded
"The Making of Nation"
Paul Jones gave a clear and in
Structive essay on "The Making of
Nation" He explained that our
forefathers had come from Europe to
America to secure political and re-
ligious freedom, looking to America
as an asylum for the oppressed. But
it was never the intention of our
forefathers that this should be ref
uge for convicts, illiterates, and other
afflicted foreigners. He drew atten-
ton to the countless hordes of i'm
migrants who came to the shores of
the United States each year, the ma
jority with no other idea save that OF
lettering themselves, holding that
America had opened her doors to the
foreigners, and now America must
look out for herself.
ct is easy to believe that Amer
lea will develop into a greater ma
ton than any in the world" said Nj.
Jones. "Both rich and poor must aid in
it's development. The foreigner must
adopt American customs if he wants
to be successful, and he generally
wishes to become educated. In the
schools the immigrant child of the
first or second generation will gen.
orally be found standing among the
highest in his class. With the prog
-ress of assimilation the United
States will reap great benefit. AS ovr
forefathers thought, this is good
country to live in, and good coun-
try to die in If the standard of Amer
lean ideals is to be raised only the
best of foreign blood should be al.
lowed to come here, and congress
should pass a law excluding the
criminal and the afflicted, until
America will finally have the beet
class of people in the world" (Ar-
lause.)
The Glee clubs then gave spirited
rendition of "Lochinvar's Ride" after
which the valedictory address was
delivered by Miss Olive Kelley.
Miss Kelley on Preparedness"
Miss Kelley spoke on Prepared
ness" and gave an eloquent plea,
substantiated by many sound argu-
ments, for the preparation of the ma
ton against any who might assume
to insult it,
"No nation has ever made progress
unless in times of peace" she stated,
"and no nation has ever been al
lowed to enjoy such progress unless
it has been prepared to defend it's
interests. We must not listen to the
dreamer, but must face things as they
are" She showed how the war of the
revolution had found our forefathers
prepared, and that although the ma
ton desired nothing so much as
peace, it must be prepared to defend
that peace. Our nation has made vast,
undreamed of progress, and the name
of America has become known all
over the world as a haven of refuge
for the oppressed. This government,
so dear to the hearts of all, must be
protected, and must not be destroyed.
She spoke of the recent cOmplica-
tions with foreign governments, and
stated that war was not possibility,
but great probability, and we should
present so bold front that no nation
would dare attack us. The way Amer
lea has dealt with Cuba has proven
that this is a nation that will sacri-
flee for other people. We do not dis
card our policemen and institutions
because we think that crime ought
to cease, and neither should we fail
to prepare because we do not believe
in war Because a country is neutral
is no sign that it will not be drawn
into war;
when force meets force" said Miss
Kelley, international law counts for
nothing-the stronger nation wins. II
is better to spend millions in prepare
ton, than to sacrifice the flower of our
manhood on the battlefelds. No ma
ton would modest US if we were pre-
pared and strong enough. Peace is
only maintained by preparedness
That her audience was with her in her
arguments was evidenced by the en-
thusiastic applause.
Superintendent F. ]. Sperry, in a
short address to the class, spoke of the
busy days they were leaving behind
and of the bright hope of the future,
He complimented the class upon their
successful completion of the high
school course, and with his words of