The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1917-09-07
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mo national SelnSnneSS lmpeueo
this republic to enter the war. The
impelling motive was the consuming
idealism born with the establishment
of this republic itself, to preserve
freedom not only for itself but 1or
all nations, great and small, and the
body of international law which all
the free democratic nations OF the
world respect and observe and only
the brutal autocracies seek to dis
honor and destroy. In such conflict
real standard bearers of democracy
and true internationalists can have
no hesitation in supporting our re-
public which has made its own the
cause and interests of all free peo-
pies It is therefore in truth not a
capitalists war but freeman's war
Support of Working Glasses.
Fully impressed by these facts
realizing that a noble international
ism is implicit in our American con-
ception of national existence, it shall
be out purpose to bring to the sup
port of the government all the moral
and material power of the working
class of the nation. 1t shall be our
task to interpret Americas democrat
ic spirit and purpose in this conflict
to our fellow workers, especially
those of foreign birth, and to COM
bat every form of propaganda no
matter by whom it may be carried
on, which tends to weaken the 10y
atty and devotion of the masses and
their willingness to strive and sac
rifice for the nation and its high pur-
poses. E..s
1--WE shall strip the mask from
those who, in the name of democracy,
anti -militarism and peace, are en-
gagged in the nefarious; propaganda of
.treachery to all that these noble
words represent. We Indignantly re-
pudiate the claim that this propa-
ganda-which, be it remembered,
brings joy and comfort to German
autocracy-has the support of the la
Dor movement of America. Not even
at the behest of the so-called 'Peo-
pies Council will the organized work
ers of America prostitute the labor
movement to serve the brutal power
responsible for the infamous rape of
Belgium, the power that would sub
ject Russia to a worse despotism than
that of the Romanoffs. 5.' s"-
Democracy will not be served by
the victory of autocracy, by letting
the Declaration of independence be
supplanted by the kaiser's fiat.
Stripping of Militarism.
"Militarism will not be checked by
surrender to the power which has
organized all the resources of civili-
cation to the end of imposing it's
brutal iron rule on the world.
Peace will not be secured to the
world through the subsection of the
free and democratic nations.
1--WE shall be as loyal to the strug-
gle for freedom and democracy at
home as to the struggle for freedom
and democracy in international rela-
tions. a.
'To the men and women of the
American labor movement, and to
all sincere friends of democracy and
internationalism, we call for loyal
support to America and her allies in
this great struggle. Let us make our
beloved republic strong and victor
ious for the sake of humanity and
thus insure for our children and
their children the priceless heritage
of liberty and democracy. Let us, at
the same time stand shoulder to
shoulder in the fight against the foes
of democracy within our own bor-
ders, resolved never, never to rest
until the goal of democracy-indus-
trial, political and Internationally
been attained % .- ...s