The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1918-05-24

ser and then give the blessings of
our government to that nation.
Mr. Bede stated tina our allies have
done wonderful work for America
and this country is now in the strug-
gle to repay them.
"For four years." he said, "the
British navy stood between us and
He'll. For four years heroic little
France stemmed the flood of invasion
until she was bled white and practi-
cally exhausted. We must now repay
that debt with men and munitions.
hope that when the war is over We
will make France and England a gift
Of the loans we have made them and
thank them for saving this nation
from the fate of Belgium before it
was too late"
In closing Mr.. Bede stated that the
war had been fought because two
different ideals of government had
sprung up and modern inventions had
brought the world SO close together
that Germany was no farther away
than across the street. Ideals so
close together were bound to clash
and the struggle now was to decide
the history of the world. The people
of today, he said, are living in the
greatest time of history but scarcely
realize it.
Quotation From Lincoln.
con one hand" said the speaker,
"the ideals of Lincoln, government
o., by and for the people is fighting
for it's life against the ideals of At
tia the Hun who by frightfulness
and fear hoped to crush all that op-
posed him. You at home who cam
not give your services with the col
ors must aid the worthy causes of the
war and none deserves and must have
greater support than the Red Cross
l believe and hope that after this
wonderful demonstration Mankato
and Blue Earth county will go far
over the top in the drive just
starting"
Professor Paul Alfred Koenig, an
exchange professor at the Minnesota
university who was formerly in the
university at Berlin but after coming
to America became citizen of the
United States spoke before J. Adam
Bede and gave vivid picture of Ger
many and the customs of that coun-
try. In introducing the speaker,
George Palmer stated that he had
promised to get a return soldier for
the event but he had been more for
tunate and had a former German SOL
der to deliver an address,.
Professor Kcenlg complimented the
city and county on the great parade
c. the afternoon and on the fine
spirit manifested. He said this was
the first parade he was ever in and
was proud to have, taken part in a
Red Cross demonstration. 1t was
such spirit as this he stated that
made people love America and leave
their home land to- build up a great
nation which had the representatives
of every nation in it, nation of ma
lions and yet one of the greatest
governments of all time.
Grandfather Had Gone Mad
Speaking of the old Germany which
he had known, Professor Koenig
stated it represented a great grand
father, kind old man whom he had
known and loved in his childhood,
but now he said the report came that
grandfather had gone mad, had
armed himself and was a menace to
all about him, a menace in fact to
the world
"This is what Germany means to
me-" said the professor, "and hard
as it may seem l realize that the old
country is no more. 1t has gone mad.
1t is a danger to the world and every
means must be used to crush it.
However, we must not blame the
Germans in this country if they still
love the old Germany of years ago
and we cannot blame the people of
! that country if they are fighting
blindly for a cause they believe just
Germany is cancerous growth on
| the world. A growth that will spread
unless checked and endanger the en-
| tire world and if we cannot check it
we must throw it aside, much as it
may pain the Germans in this coun-
try they are ready to support the
| United States for they realize it is
in the end for the welfare and better
ment of Germany herself'S
/ Professor Koenig spoke of the
great work of the Red Cross at the
front. He said the boys over there
were listening to see the sentiment
of the folks at home and their fighting
spirit depended upon the success OF
this drive.
No Yellow in Boys at Front.
! Remember" he cautioned, "the
United States is the one factor thai
will win the war. There is no yellow
streak in the boys in the trenches
there is no yellow streak in the folks
who work for the great Red Cross
will this campaign find yellow
streak in your"
The speakers were introduced by
George Palmer, president of the Rec
Cross organization in Blue Eartf
! county. He stated that from the
wonderful demonstration OF the after.
noon he had no doubt but that the
Icounty would go over the top. Two
communities, he said, had become sc
anxious they had already oversub-
|scribed their amounts. These place:
were Madison Lake and Danville. The
lallotment for Blue Earth county Mr.
Palmer stated was $4,000 in the
great campaign throughout the ma
ltion for war relief fund of $780,
100000.
Ar tho opopino IF tho mootiuo II av