The Mankato free press., 1918-07-12
POPULACE OF COUNTY
OBSERVE THE Fourth
Stirring Address Was Given
By Fred E. Wheaton
CROWD IN DESPITE rain
Moisture Could Not Dampen
Enthusiasm of The People
At Celebration
From Saturdays Daily.

From Saturdays Daily.
Threatening clouds and intermit-
tent showers failed to daunt the patri-
otic spirit of several thousands of peo-
pie who gathered at Garden City yes
terday to celebrate the glorious
Fourth. The celebration was not of
the enthusiastic, noisy type that usu-
ally marks Independence Day but
rather was a quiet, sincere express
sion of the spirit that is paramount
in America today. 1t was gather
ing of people, fully awake to the
seriousness of the struggle before this
nation, who had met on perhaps the
most notable Fourth in our history to
take new faith and pledge new al
legiance to this country.
On the beautiful grounds at Gar
den City, where nature seems to have
designed an amphitheatre among the
wooded hills and bluffs there was
probably not more appropriate spot
in Blue Earth county for a celebra-
tion of this kind. The village of
Garden City itself is one of the not
able historical spots of the state and
many old settlers, pioneers who first
came to this section of the north
west were present at the gathering.
1t is said that Garden City can
boast of more men who have become
famous since leaving their native vii
lage than any other town of equal
size in the entire country. 1t was on
this historical ground that the Indi-
ans many years ago chose their fav-
. orite haunts, and from which at a
later date the young white men came
forward to pledge their service in
behalf of the union. All these facts
made the celebration doubly signifi-
cant and the people of the village
turned out in force to make the event
one that would long be remembered.
Streets Nicely Decorated.
The streets from the depot and
down the main highway leading TO
the grounds had been well decorated
with flags and bunting, and at rhe
county fair grounds Old GlOry\was in
evidence on every building and in
long streamers between the huge
oaks. Doubtless many thousands of
people were kept away from the event
by bad roads and slow rain that
fell practically all day. Nevertheless
there were many cars there from Man
kato, Lake Crystal, Amboy, Vernon
Center and other neighboring towns
and villages. Farmers came in to the
celebration from the surrounding
country and by noon large crowd
was enjoying basket luncheons about
the grounds. People took the rain
and accompanying discomfort in the
best of humor and seemed determin-
ed to enjoy themselves despite the
elements.
Hon. Fred E. Wheaton of Mime
apolis began the address of the cay
at 1870 o'clock. Mr.. Wheaton was in
troduced by Attorney John E. Regan
of Mankato, who acted as chairman
at the meeting Mr. Regan stated
that the gathering had been called by
the America First association of
Blue Earth county to commemorate
the day and to bring back to the peo-
pie a renewal of the spirit that in
spired our forefathers in 1776.
mo nation was ever confronted
with the task America has today" he
said, "we have undertaken the pro-
lection of the world and we must keep
up the~fight until the day comes when
all nations, both great and small shall
have the chance to live"
The audience was put in good hu-
NOR by Mr.. Regan's remarks when
he informed them that the little
shower. they were forced to put uI
with was nothing compared to the
rain and mud the men in France haf
to contend with every day.
They'll stick to the end of the
fight just as we will stick to the enc
today and enjoy ourselves as bes
we can," he stated.
Wheaton Greeted with Applause.
Mr.. Regan then introduced Fred E
Wheaton as the speaker of the day
Mr.. Wheaton was greeted with hearty
applause when he appeared on The
platform.
"He who sees his country die, see:
all things die," declared Mr. Wheaton
"and he who sees his country live
sees all things live, and living bles
seth. If we fail to support and up
hold the glorious institutions we hav,
in this nation we must expect to drol
back to the same stage of govern
ment as the monarchies in Europe
1t is our duty to spread the spirit o
free government to all the coun
tries of the world and to foster !;
government in our own nation tha
is equalled by no other"
At the opening of his remarks MI
Wheaton stated that he regretted an.
political significance had been at
tached to the address. He statet
that this was not a day for partisan
views but time for all to get to
gether and folcer spirit of o-opera
tion and brotherhood and to pledg,
our best efforts to the nation on
day which was probably the most sig
/. nificant in our history.
T Fs'f consider it a great privilege tt
address you here, on the garden spo
of Minnesota, one of the Creates
states in the union," he said, "ans