The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1917-04-06
LUTHERANS ARE MAKING
REQUEST OF congress
Want United States to Be Kept
Out of War; Their
Statement
From Thursdays Daily.

FROM HuI SOdJ O3'hJ
The following protest against war
with Germany was made on March 81
and signed by a great number of Ger
man Lutherans of Blue Earth and
Nicollet counties:
Be it resolved, by this meeting of
American citizens:
One. We declare our undivided al
legiance to this great country of the
stars and stripes, of liberty and
equality before the law; and our
readiness to serve her in any capacity
in which she may need us in peace OF
war.
Two. We believe in the protection
of American lives and property on
land and sea against any and all ma
lions or persons who may try TO in
fringe our rights.
Three. We protest against the out
RACES committed on American COM
merce by Great Britain, and her selfish
/ disregard of the principles of interna-
tiOnal law.
Four We equally protest against the
NlOllS5S lIlhISINu utoli 'iiio NNohh'1 =
by Germany in retaliation and defense
against the lawlesS course Of Great
! Britain.
Five. We firmly believe that the
great wrongs inflicted upon us by
Great Britain can be adjusted without
recourse to war against that piratiCa
and oveIbearing nation.
Six. We equally believe that oul
government can find a peaceable So
luton of its difficulties with Ger
many, our old and Well-tried friend.
Seven. We denOunce as un-Amcri-
can, reasonable and wicked the agita-
ton for war which has been wide
spread all over this country the true
basis and source of which we believe
| to have been the sympathy with Eng
| lands lost cause which has strongly
animated the English Tories of Oul
day, who have traitOrOusly spread
| their propaganda over this 'cOuntr!
| under the cloak and color of Ameri-
| can patriotism. We believe that Ou1
Republic is great enough to prOtec
itself against the wrongs perpctratet
against her by Great Britain and the
lesser wrongs done her by Germany
! wahout precipitating us into The
! whirlpool of the European war.
Eight A participation by us in the
great war means for us untold woe ant
suffering, it means households drapet
| in mourning, it means weeping wi
dows and breadIess orphans, it mean:
childless parents and empty chairs a
the firesides of America, it means al
! the black misery that war alone cal
| produce.
| Nine. We earnestly, sincerely am
urgently call upon all our representa-
tiyes in congress and the senate Of thu
I United States to uphold the dignity
| honor, integrity and glory Of this, th'
worlds greatest republic, by prevent
ing selfish Un-American and I'M
patriotic group of aGitatOTS to throw
us into the yerteX Of the great wOrl'
war, in which we have no interest, il
whose aims we cannot have any part
and all of the principles and ideals o
which are foreign to the great, noble
unselfish and exalted ideals of Ameri
canism. We call upon them earnestl
in this last hour to throw aside al
feelings created by any propaganda
from foreign sources, and to conside
the true interests and ideals o
America only.
Ten. We believe that the hour ha
come when the true patriotism of GU
citizens must be shown. We hold a
the highest of all American patriot
him who bravely and without fear o
favor will ignore the foreign in
fluence which have tried to distrac
this country and drag her into a ter
rible war to uphold the falling for
! tunes of an ancient foe, and who Wi
without fear or favor stand out boldl
for the true interests of our countr!
which we believe to be peace Will
peace is possible. The great voice G
the American people calling for peac
cannot and should not be ignored b
the men that we have entrusted wit
the greatest power and the highes
responsibility within the gift of tn
American people.