The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1917-08-23

utes to that discussion, however,
agreeing with him that aour nation
being at war, that our flag being at
tackled, that is enough for US to know.
AS patriotic, thinking men, as right
eous citizens, we will feel better if we
know within our hearts that we are
fighting in just and righteous cause,
that we are fighting the battles of
justice, liberty, humanity, as we are.
My friends, this nation has been pa
tient; our President has been patient;
we have been anything but warlike.
Mr.. Dunn cited to you an extract from
a statement or an editorial by Mr..
Bryan. He was but short time ago
our secretary of state What did he
do as secretary of state? Why, he
got thirty Of the nations of the world
to enter into arbitration treaties with
us-to agree with us that if any diff
ferences arose between our nation and
their respective nations we would sub
nit the matter to abolish
war, end war. England signed such
a treaty with US, France signed such
a treaty, Belgium, Russia, Norway,
Sweden, Holland, Spain, little Portu-
gal and Italy. Just two nations in
Europe said, "None Of your peace
treaties; we rely upon our cannon and
our strength for our JUSTICE" No
arbitration, no peace treaties for Aus
tria or for Germany. That gives you
the key. Now, the question is asked,
"Who started the war;" Did France
start it? Did we start it? Did Eng
land start it? The Germans say Rus
STA started it. The late Russian car,
who is now hoeing potatoes, by the
way, according to newspaper reports,
says the kaiser started it. One thing
is certain, my friends: one of three
men started the war. 1t was not
started by the people of Germany nor
by the people of Austria nor by the
people of Russia. One of three men
started 1.-THE emperor Of Austria,
the car Of Russia or Kaiser Wilhelm.
The emperor Of Austria said this is
war for the protection Of royalty.
They represent that. That is the
spirit in which the war started.
Now, what was done after the war
started? The German emperor
Emperor Wilhelm with his own hand
had signed treaty with France and
with England to guarantee the indie
spendence of little Belgium, to guaran-
tee its peace, to guarantee the in
tegrity of it's people. The first thing
that the German empire did-that the
German emperor did rather than the
empire-was to send his army into
that country, destroy it, burn it's
cities, destroy it's churches, destroy
it's public property, destroy it's shops
and warehouses, destroy it's factories;
blow UP it's mines. That which short
time before had been the most popu-
lous, peace-loving, kindliest country
in Europe, became hell-hole fit for
neither man nor beast. That is the
first act, without provocation, without
justification. Why, his chancellor said
the treaty is scrap of paper. A few
days ago it was disclosed in COM
munication sent by the emperor to
our President that he did it for strate-
gic reasons!
What was the next step? Invaded
poor France. Civilization owes more
to France than to any other nation.
We may speak Of what England has
done, Of what Germany has done,
what Sweden has done; yea, even
what America has done. But what
country in the world has led civiliza-
ton, given US letters, given us arts,
given US culture, and finally given us
our ideas of human freedom? 1t is
that one nation Of the world, the
French nation. The object of the
kaiser was to destroy her. His grand
father had been crowned emperor Of
Germany near Paris. He wanted to
be crowned emperor Of the world.
That is his ambition. But, thanks to
God, the good men Of France stopped
him at the Marine. But look what has
been done since. The whole country
side has been laid waste. Villages,
cities, churches, schools, factories
have been destroyed. The people have
been driven from their homes by
thousands, with no place to shelter
them. That is not all.
We were pursuing our ordinary
methods Of business and living. We
were doing only those things we had
a legal right to do. We were trading
with the nations of the, world, as we
had a right to. He said to us, "Keep
off the high seas; let not the Stars and
Stripes float in the Atlantic; we will