Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1918-10-11
TALKED ON POLAND
FATHER ICIEK OF DULUTH GIVES
INTERESTING AND PATRIOTIC
ADDRESS

L
ADDRESS
Rather lciek spoke to a good sized au-
dlence at the high school auditorium
Wednesday evening. He is fine speak
er and captivated the audience by his
excellent address, which was given un-
der the auspices of the Woman's Guild.
He was introduced by Mrs. G. NJ. A.
Fortler, president Of the guild. Pa.
trlotlc songs were also sung
rather Iciek's address in part, is as
follows:
I have come here this evening no,
to deliver an inspiring Grafton, nor per.
haps to tell you of things I have spoken
of on other occasions, topics like the
American Red Cross, Liberty Loan
Thrift Stamp Campaigns, Food conse1
walton and the like, but I came here
this evening to speak to you on an en-
tirely different topic, and I hope that
you will spend pleasant evening and
that you will perhaps learn something
on a topic on which you have heretofore
heard very little.
"Napoleon said that the Polish CUES
tion was the key to the European vault
Wars are great events not only in the
lives of individuals or communities but
OF nations. Sometimes Of the whole
world. We are used to looking upon
war as a calamity.
"War is considered by Germany as
an industry, successful business ven.
ture, an investment Of so much money
so much labor, and so many human
lives, making enormous returns to the
successful nation in land and subjugat-
ed people. It strives also to bring new
changes into the world. Thus we see
the French revolution do away with the
monarchy Of France. We are again in
the throes of great war in which prac-
tically the whole civilized world is in
volved. England alone is fighting thir-
teen different wars, in thirteen different
territories at the present time, and so of
course there will be great changes tax
ing place in this world. And the one
change which we have reason to expect,
German militarism shall exist from this
world, never to return.
"Although this war in it's first stages,
was to be just a stroke of the hand
whereby Germany was to establish the
middle European program. This stroke
was to be delivered so quickly that the
world was never to be made aware of
what happened. In ten years another
such stroke was to be made against
England, taking control Of ner colonies
and Germany was to become the Great
Colonial Empire, that England is at the
present time. And at still more dis
tant future the German Colonial En-
pire would cross the waters together
with Japan or alone against our own
government. This German ambition
was wrecked on the fort Of Leige. The
heroism of the French and British arm
les and the genius of Gen. Joffre and
Fosch at the Marine, which battle is the
turning point in history and saved Eu-
rope and the world from German 'Kul-
tur.'
GAS more and more nations became
involved in this world struggle, and al
ter three years of neutrality our govern
ment was forced to draw the sword.
"Why we are at war. In the first
place for self defense; some say VIC
should have stayed home, defending our
shores, but we are defending them just
as much on the shores Of France as we
would right here in Little Falls. It Is
much better for you and for me that
the terrible battles are fought upon for
eign soil instead Of our own.
"There are other and greater reasons
for which we are giving 50 literally OF
or= blood and so generously of oul
money.
"President Woodrow Wilson, spokes
man for the allied powers, made this
statement, I'VE are in this war for de-
mocracy.' By democracy is meant q
government Of the people, for the peo
pie and by the people. The people are
to decide for themelsves what is good
for them and what bad-in other words
we want the people to tell their superb
ors, president, kings what they should
do, and it is up to the presidents, kings
and superiors to execute the will and
command Of the people. That is what
democracy means.
There is also another question, that Of
justice, to great and small nations Of the
world. Heretofore smaller nations were
used as a pawn in the great game Of
politics, and among these smaller ma
tions is Poland.
"You have heard very little Of Po
land before this war. Poland was spok
en- of in hushed terms, because POLAND
was skeleton in the closet Of Europe
When Poland became the battle ground
we began to read something about her
we began to hear Of names that we have
not heard before, and that we could not
pronounce. During the first three year.
Poland was only a private affair. II
the Poles went to see the French gov
ernment the Russian ambassador would
say, 'Mr. Freedman, you mind your OWL
business and likewise the German:
when asked what was going to be done
with Poland, would say that it was
their affair. Poland at one time was
one Of Europe's greatest nations. About
80 years before Columbus set sail tt
discover America, Poland had it's Ger
man question Like America has the Ger
man question to solve today and il
would be we'll to settle it in the same