The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1917-04-26
FLAG DAY FIIIINGLY Observed.
THURSDAY APRIL DESIGNATED BY GOVERNOR BURNQUIST
DAY" AWAKEN CITIZENS ENTHUSIASM AND
PATRIOTISM CRISIS CONFRONTING THE NATION
LARGE CROWD ATTENDS PATRIOTIC Meeting In EVENING
GATHER AT JUNIOR HIGH AUDI
TORIUM AND LISTEN TO
FINE PROGRAM


eminent, but laying special stress on
the fact that the German people as a
whole, both in America and the Faith
erland, were high-minded, peace-lov-
ing, patriotic citizens. The Herald
regrets that it cannot give space to
the address in it's entirety. The ek-
congressman spoke in part as follows
We are here as loyal citizens of g
patriotic community, in time of cris-
is, with the red clouds of war span
ming the national horizon to assure the
president of the United States and to
proclaim to the country that we are
loyal Americans ALL and stand ready
to do our part regardless of the price
we may be called upon to pay.
We are at war, not of our own seek
ing but by the decree of Him who
holds the destinies of nations in the
hollow of His almighty hand; at war
to vindicate American honor, sustain
American rights and in the interest of
world-humanity, war that could not
be avoided unless we were willing to
write the word craven" on every
page of Columbia's glorious history.
From the first outbreak of European
nostilities the Imperial COVE. lnent of
Germany has treated the United
States with contempt; placer this, the
greatest of all RnpuD' les, ir the same
category of nations as Uruguay and
San Domingo.
The In.terial government has
scorned our protests of its refusal Of
our demand of freedom Of the seas;
has torpedoed ships flying the Stars
and Stripes; even outside of prohibited
zones, without exercising the right Of
search, ithout warning or making
any provision Tor safety of passengers
and today the bones of American citi-
zens, men, women and little children
strew the oceans depths asa result Of
this dastardly action.
There are millions of former Ger
man subjects in the United States of
America who have made their homes
in our midst and who by oath most
solemn that can be uttered, have re-
nounced their allegiance to their form
er government.
In many cases these former subjects
of the Kaiser have accepted free gift
of land on our public domain, have
been honored with public position,
have reared families and educated
them at the public expense and who
have acquired and hold competency
under American law.
And yet, the Imperial government
has sent agents among these people in
an endeavor, vain endeavor, thank
God, in most cases, to make million
men forswear themselves and commit
perjury. In all the history of the world
there has never been a recorded in
stance of nation in time of protested
peace making the same secret, silent,
systematic, determined effort to turn
it's former subjects against the land OF
their adoption as can be charged
against the Imperial government Of
Germany.
Bear in mind, that I wish to en-
phasize with all the word power of
which l am capable, and all the soul
sincerity that l possess, that l make
this terrible Indictment NOT against
the German people but against the
Imperial government, which has fast
ened it's tentacles, like gigantic
devil-fish around the better life of
Germany.
The German people, and I know
whereof I speak, from long associa-
ton with them here and from ming
ling with them in the Fatherland, are
the most genial, fair-minded, kindly
hearted, charitable and chivalric under
the bending heavens of almighty God
Praise God, that President Wilson
in his great war message, In words
that burn and in phrases that will live
forever, made it clear and very plain,
that this nation was NOT, making war
against the German people but
against Hohenzollernism, militarlsm,
absoluteism and imperialism. Victory,
which is sure to come, will be vic
t ry for democracy, liberty, universal
right, everlasting justice and peace
permanent. All the children Of men
will benefit by the triumph, Germany
sons and daughters in common with
the rest of the world. America is not
battling for America alone but for
universal humanity.
Our reluctance to enter the war was
considered as weakness and coward
ice on our part by the Imperial gov
eminent who fondly imagined that the
American nation would dismantle its
fortresses, mount its defenses with
Quaker GUNS arm ifs soldiers with tin