The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1920-11-19
FATHER HUGHES SPOKE
AN ADDRESS TO THE HIGH
SCHOOL STUDENTS
1t Was Delivered On the Occa-
sion of the Armistice Day
Program

In commemoration of the day that
the Armistice was signed a short
assembly was held at the high school
yesterday morning at eleven o'clock.
Rev. Father Hughes, pastor OF st.
Johns Catholic church delivered the
address as follows:
"At the invitation of the American
Legion it Is my privilege to say
rev words to you about the import
ance or the occasion we celebrate.
Two years ago the news of the
signing OF the Armistice brought JOY
TO the hearts of the people Of this
Nation. 1t was the signal that the
horrors and cruelties of war had
ceased and the people of this peace
loving nation accepted with the Joy
the glad tidings.
When the events of our times
shall have become history poster
ity will read with justifable pride
the record Of the part America played
In this great war, which was brought
at least by Americans for the God
given gift of human freedom.
Prolonged neutrality under the
repeated, and most aggravating out
RACES proved to the nations love of
peace. Triumphant victory proved
Americas ability to conquer a mighty
and merciless foe. Conspicuously
these two facts shall stand forth on
history page proclaiming Americans
brave peaceful and liberty loving
people. s..." ..
Fought For Self Determination
America went into the world war
and fought for the self determination
or small nations, the sublimest poll
tlcai principle ever conceived by the
mind of man.
with PITY we heard the groans Of
devastated Belgium, we symrathized
with bleeding France and encouraged
Fn"land fighting her back to the
wall. 1t was only when this grand
principle of freedom for universal
mankind rang out through, the length
and breadth of that land that the
fighting spirit of America was STIR
ed to action. Then, and not till then,
did the Nation mobilize her forces,
ard put forth her supremest effort.
That grand principle, the night of
every Nation great and small to
live Its own life was the shibboleth
which sweetened the sorrows and
sacrifices of war. Under all the try
ing circumstances of the cruel strug-
gle II sustained In our grave BOYS
the spirit which brought victory to
The War Is Won
ours, but what has been accomplish.
cd? If the war was fought TO make
the world safe for democracy are the
brave boys who donned the khaki and
CALAMITY fought satisfied they have.
reached their objective? How have
the victorious nations kept fresh
with those who fought their battles?
Suffering Ireland groaning under a
. persecution seldom equalied but
never surpassed in the most barbar
fc times. asks England what answer
can she give to the shades of those
who fought and died for the free
dom of universal mankind because
they heard her promise and believed
the principle worth. sacrifice. M
can this country honorably shirk its
responsibility for the fulfillment of
that promise. She is a party to that
contract and stands committed to
its fulfillment because she was the
first to proclaim the principle If
the world grants America a larger
share in glory Of the victory we to-
day commemorate it also holds her
responsible for the benefits victory
should bring.
Every American citizen worthy
of the freedom which we by the
grace of God. enjoy hates oppression
wherever found, and bv whomsoever
practised. Love Of freedom not the
narrow selfish kind but freedom in
its best and broadcast sense, is the
very breath and life of true Ameri-
canism. 1t was this spirit which
animated our heroic forefathers to
unsheath the sword and cut in twain
expressions chains. In this spirit did
the founders of this great republic.
the world has ever known Law the
foundation Of our Grand and glorious
nation Let us show our apprecia
tion Of their bravery. their wisdom
and generosity by maintaining that
same spirit as our richest inheri-
lance"