The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1918-03-15

months and years, of the day when
they could put into effect their sys-
tematic programme of horror and
ruthlessness. On the part of Ameri-
ca this is the nObleSt war Providence
ever thrust on reluctant, but now
penitent nation. But on the part of
Prussia it is the wickedest war ever
conjured from the pit of hell-the
most diabolical blotch of shame that
ever besmirched a nation. 1t were
treason to our dead to longer conceal
or condone that wickedness The mil
itary staff of Germany-the perpetra-
tors of the shame do not deny it :.
They pride themselves in it. 1t has
been written in their books, in state
papers, in military instruction for
years. While the world longed for
peace the Prussian Dynasty dreamed
and schemed for war.
" You boosted the Day, and you
toasted the Day,
And now the Day has come,
Blasphemer, braggart and coward all
Little you reck of the numbing ball,
The blasting shell, or the white
di Ills ldll,
AS they speed poor humans home
You spied for the Day, you lied for
the Day,
And woke the Days red spleen,
Monster, who asked Gods aid Di-
vine,
Then strewed his seas with the
CHASTITY mine:
Not all the waters Of all the Rhine
Can wash thy foul hands clean.
You dreamed for the Day, You
schemed for the Day,
Watch how the Day will 60.
Slayer of age and youth and prime
(Defenseless slain for never a crime)
Thou art STEPPED in blood as a hog
in slime,
False friend and cowardly foe.
You have sown for the Day, you have
grown for the Day,
Yours is the Harvest red,
Can you hear the groans and the
awful cries,
Can you see the heap of slain that
lies,
And sightless turned to the flame
split skies,
The CLASSY eyes of the dead.
You have wronged for the Day, you
have longed for the Day
That lit the awful fame.
IT'S nothing to you that hill and
plain
Yield sheaves of dead men amid the
grain,
That widows mourn for their loved
ones slain,
And mothers curse they name.
But after the Day, there's a price
to pay
For the sleepers under the sod,
And he you have Knocked for many a
day
Listen and hear what he has to say
Vengeance is mine. I will repay,
What cay you say to God
only one word l would modify in
this poem. They are not towards
ALL although the poet is justifable
in hurting this epithet at all who
abuse women and children. But nc
doubt many brave men are goins
down to death fighting against theil
own liberty and the liberty of the
world. Mistaken, misled they un-
doubtedly are, but we harbor no en-.
nifty to the German soldier. He toe
is suffering for this wickedness thai
planned this war; 1t would be boil
unsoldierly and unchristian not tc
forgive the man from the opposite
trench who dies beside our own il
No Mans land We do not speal
in bitterness, but speak the truth il
love.
The Sacred Dust.
| "Yonder, somewhere in France
| rests the sacred dust of fifty-thre,
American soldiers killed in action III
to March 3. Of these your commun.
! ity, your home has the honor an,
anguish to number one, one colder
| star on your service flag. Honoret
by his speedy enlistment when hi
country called honored by month
OF loyal service when most needle
at the front; honored by making tn
supreme sacrifice for the liberty O
his country and the world; honore,
in dying as his Lord and Maste
died that the world might be made {
mt place to live in and that other
might live in peace. 1t is not har
to believe that when the spirit O
Glenn Campbell took its flight from
that distant battle line it should g
to its own to that kindred spirit VIII
gave Himself, that others might live
Glenn Campbell lives He lives no
only in the memory of grateful
friends for whom he died, but h
lives more really more gloriousl,
than he could ever live here. H
lives with the heroes of all ages.
The man of Gallilee was tende
as a mother. But those eyes tina
could look with such tenderness an
compassion on sorrow and sufferin
were as a flame of fire in the pres
ence of injustice and wrong. He i
the soldiers best friend. He foun
the strongest faith and sympathy h
ever found in the world in a Roma
soldier. He has made his presenc
felt TO many a soul in the peril q
, battle. He is with our boys on TIL
battle line and they will either com
} nome to us or go home with Hin
He will guide them continually an
afterward receive them to glory.
!, The great honor that has come
| you does not take away the gres
anguish. The father knows and wi
be patient with our complaints ii
, we can see. we know not now b,
| yyn NhnI1