The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1916-03-17

that drew forth burst of applause
was his declaration in opposition to
the democratic plan to sever the
Philippine islands from the American
nation. "Our flag is there to stay"
he said. 'It will never bulge from the
ramparts of Manila"
Mr. Estabrook deplored the feeling
that many non Germans seemed to
possess that German Americans
would not prove loyal in case this
country were embroiled in a contest
against Germany. He did not be-
lieve in denouncing the so-called hy-
phenated Americans. He saw moth
ing to criticise in the fact that the
Americans of German extraction were
naturally inclined to sympathize with
the people of their own blood on the
other side of the ocean God for
Did," he said, that the German
Americans should ever be called upon
to take up arms against the land from
which they sprung in defense of the
land of their adoption, but / firmly be-
lteve that if it should ever come to
that, they would be as loyal defend
ers of the Stars and Stripes as any
other Americans. The speaker went
on to remark that if hyphenated Eng
lishmen had not taken up arms
against England in 1776, Americans
would now have no country to protect
/, Seated on the stage with Mr.. Is
tabrook were George w. Scherer and
Fred w. Force. The speaker was
, presented by Mr.. Scherer, who in
cidentally remarked that there was a
time when n member of the republi-
can party. knew just what principles
and policies he stood for. Those
were the days before the party split
up into factions He hoped to see
these factions unite and lead the party
/ to victory, bringing the good times
that always ruled when the republi-
: can party was in power.
Mr.. EstabrOok's address was ii
part as follows:
Defense Has Been Neglected.
ut is true that no nation threatens
us in so many words; but who is OBJ.
]ivious to hints and limitations thai
speak louder than words? We boast
our strength to repel attack when We
know it to be mere bounce and bonn
bast. While every other nation has
been preparing for aggression we have
not made ready even for defense. Is
this state of imbecility to endure.
Shall we continue to listen to a wan
! dering voice as imbecile as our con.
ditions? When this voice was re-
Gently removed from the counsels OF
our nation we thought. good cas-,
souls, we had cotton rid of it. Has
Mr.. Bryan proven himself so good 6
prophet in the past that we can afford
to trust him for the future? You re-
|, call what direful things were sure tt
happen, according to Mr.. Bryan, i
this country failed to repudiate {
moiety of its honest debts by giving
, to fifty cents worth of silver the
magic name of dollar. Personally,
have never believed in Mr.. Bryan:
wisdom, and | grant him sincerity onl,
because the point is not worth ar
guing. l
"And yet | would heartily advocat,
: Mr.. Bryan's policy of non-resistanc'
rather than any policy of half-pre-
paredness / had rather scrap ever,
gun and Warship we own if we are
! not to add to them. For if we were
without strength to oppose invasion
we could at least claim the privilege
of the weak and surrender as discre-
ton, with a moral claim even to the
pity of the invader; whereas to fgh
half armed and with certainty o
losing would be nothing short of muir,
der, for which you and | and ever,
taxpayer in the United States woult
be measurably responsible.
ITO say that mob of a million o.
SO of unframed citizens would lea]
to arms and put to fight the bullet.
| tested soldiery of Asia or Europe il
worse than puerile-it is murderou
! stupidity. The Vaccinations agains
this government at the moment ar,
more subterranean than submarine
Our duty is to defend against both
We are permitted no alternative. w,
must forthwith spend money for de
Tense, and lots of it. We must know
that we are safe even from the temp
IdliOn VI dIIdSh. ouI pSdCc anu III
ture happiness depend upon the as
surance.
Not For Large Standing Army.
Il admit that a large 3tandin,
army, like those of Europe. is per-
petual menace TO the very govern
ment that Greats it. History shows
that armies have mutinied and over,
thrown the governments they We're
expected to protect. They have beer
at once the incubators and tools o.
kings. SO not the least debt o.
gratitude which America owes tt
Providence is her immunity for thi.
, danger.
"There is no instance on RECORD
that know of where navy however
big, has wantonly turned against THE
government that fostered it; and il
the very nature of things a navy
lacks the opportunities as we'll as the
incentive to foment rebellion. Where.
fore, large navy and relatively
small standing army must be our own
program. But, says Washington. a
free people should be disciplined; ant
1 think he meant the whole people.
He certainly did not limit the pei
centage.. 1t has been suggested that
the state militia should be brought
under federal domination This ought