The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1918-08-30


at the Garden City fair this afternoon.
He spoke as follows:
A year ago it was pleasure to join
with you in this same spot in this same
celebration, and to share both the per-
sonal and the public meanings of a gath
erlng of American citizens conscious of
the mingling of the' happiness of
nelghbourly feStivity. and the more SER
1ous import of great national trial.
That day, though but u year behind
us, seems now to have belonged TO a.
former generation,-so great is the
change and so wonderful the new birth
OF sentiment that has come to the people
months.
We Were then conscious of discordant
voices in the air,-of great waves of
doubt and unrest-of movements of
hysteria,-of blind groupings toward
light rot fully seen. Today there is no
doubt save among the dead for whom
there viii never be resurrection;-no
discord that dare give itself a voice
no burning threatening resentments save
among those to whom the vision of
mans soul has been denied.
Where then We were being carried
along splendidly, but tiringly, on wings
of pure emotion, today We are establish
ed in the quiet power of sure and serene
dedication and steadfast faith. lifted
above excitement into the calm patience
that cannot be wearied or hurried or
disturbed by temporary things. We have
new patriotism, in which reverence
has supplanted noise, and which posses
ses the terrible beauty of quiet orderly
justice that moves without fear pun
ishes without hatred, judges without
suspicion. and builds our destiny free
from the spirit of vengeance.
We have been building a new nation,
have a nation for the first time since
the American Revolution. Never before
in our history has there been so common
a sentiment of citizenship binding to-
live ,ln,- tl,o 40
of the Republic. The day has >come at
last when he whose soul is not in tune
with the purpose of the United States
is ottcast from the family circle of our
citizenship. And the day is here when
the most terrible penalty which car lie
visited UPON any man is to be outcast
from Americas family circle, and cut off
from Just sharing in the exalted spirit
Of humanity as it scars and sings Above
the foundations Of a world established
il the spirit of conquering brother
hood. ~
This is n great day,-a beautiful and
holy hour. and he who has prepared him.
self to share in it's deeper significance
God, and feels within his soul the pas
sion and the power of that Righteousness
which is the integrity of citizenship. l
should rather be dead than to have no
right to share with all good men in SO
sacred a celebration. But let US start
right l come here as an American to
talk to Americans without suffering or
hating. If there is any person here %
whom American LOYALTY, 100 per cent
pure is offensive, let him go hence for l
am here with the deliberate intention of
offending him. If there is any man here
whose heart is not thrilling and throb-
hing to the inspired music of this Free
Republic as 1t kneels in holy vows be-
fore the alter of sacrifice say l shall
have no word that ne WIN unders thira
better than he loves the United states
/ tell him that while l speak nv heart
and voice shall plead against him. III
out with eager eloquent service for Uncle
Sam; whose heart holds back nothing
from My Country, who is ready to give
the full strength of his manhood In IRE
and death for the preservation OF every
thing that America means.-O then
will clasp him to my heart and call him
by the sacred name OF comrade ana
brother. . =,
I hope do not misinterpret the senti-
ment of any man here tonight when |
say that this is a time for optimism.
know that for myself | canno. but 1eel
the thrill of great faith that every hour
of every dav in these epoch making
times is building world of greater JUS.
'tice for men: bringing the Ideals Oh
foundations of all systems of human So
ciety which have been built upon self
ishness. the estrangement OF man from
man, the isolations of men into cla sses.
Recalling how the blithe spirits of lib-
erty-loving men greeted the French
revolution as the dawn OF a new day. L
cannot but feel that today every man
who dreams of better world and greater
Justice must feel that the great demo
cratic evolution, of the world TO-DAY o Is
bringing a birth of freedom. tolerance
and Justice beside which the accomplish .
ments of all past inward movements ol
man have been trivial indeed
To there any man here who. conscious
of some of the injustices of life. feels
better? Is there any man mere VINO. ne
cause of any suffering OF his own, mas mas
lost faith in the onward progress OF the
worldp / say to SUCH if such there De-
the answer to every injustice you nave
suffered is deeper devotion to the cause
of Justice to every man e Mo by sharing
in the sorrow and the sacrifice OF every
other man who suffers anywhere IN tne
world. Does it seem sometimes as II
wrong was on the throne! Renlem1el
= that wrong is never SO weak as at tne
noment of its apparent triumph. Every
Injustice that exists calls to you not
n for of Justice; every wrong in tie
world calls to you for the greater 1al1n
That makes the greater fight. Keen
your faces to the sunlight, ana WIN HiSn
and clean devotion to the rights OF man
not vonr right but the common rights
of ali stand firmly and steadfastly ~
the battle trenches Of democracy UNI.
the world no longer has place where
tyranny and injustice can HIDE t .he;,
heads and plot their hatreds and theii
selfish masteries.
for one have no feeling of envy dor
men who in this day can dream OF per
sonal gain regardless of the rights OF
other men. They build their own TOT. t1mp .,
The day is here when every man rlc1 ~ y,
moor stands under one test-the test OF
service When this war Is over 81 fhs sone a
sacrifice and service for the common
good will be ostracised from , the afT The
ton and the honor OF good men 10 ~, ms
world will belong to those VINO nave
helped to make 1t clear and wholesome
,..li-...- f,.-s ,,esv is.sr ss..s'- wi'o 's..s
carc5 more for ease +lnd gain than fol
: the comra deship that means equal jus
tice for all men.
Henry George on the night on which
he died said just before his tongue was
silenced forever. "It has been said that
, / am for the workingman. l am not FOL
the workingman. / am for Men, lie,
Continued on Page Two.)