The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1922-02-24
STIRRING ADDRESS
compartment was played by Mrs.
Wilbur NJ. Taylor.
lepsep Naryps To Theme

y
pleted, Ralph A. Jensen. grand ora
tor of the Minnesota Grand Lodge,
began his address on the topic OF
The New Patriotism" There Is
none in that large audience who will
not bear in mind the gist of that talk
for many a-day. Mr.. Jensen spoke in
a forceful, compelling manner aud
had his subject thoroughly in hand.
He dwelt at length on the need for
unremitting effort in stamping out
discord and anarchy and announced
the theory that within the borders
of these great United States there
was room for but one kind OF man or
woman, the one hundred percent
American. Rev. Jensen decried the
tendency to relent bit from lie
stringent watch that was kept on all
disloyalists during the war and said
that there was no time axe peace
time for a close watch on the pulse
oil those would be agitators whose
only efforts are toward undermining
the nation.
Mr.. Jensen contends that greatest
patriotism at this time is in the work
of making war Unnecessary and I'M,
possible in the future. he praised
the spirit and intentions OF the arms
conference just completed. Inc
speaker made no effort 10 detract
from, but rather added conviction to
the popular belief in the glory oil
former wars of this country. Mr..
Jensen's remarks follow in part
patriotism is q high emotion and
there Is something noble and grand in
every man who responds 10 its In :
huence The man who is not patriot
ic is on, dangerous ground and is liza
BILE to become a dangerous man. Pa
triotisE is that emotion that rouses us
to defend our native land and pro
tect our homes. II is native in
stinct even in the lower animals any
of them win fight for their homes and
their young. Therefor Byron was
perhaps right when he said: He who
loves not his country, loves nothing,
Now the new patriotism for which
| am pleading would reemphasize and
eXalt the work of the soldier and
give his sacrifice a new meaning. 1t
would forbid that men should fight
for glory and teach them to fight on
" because necessity demanded their
defense of their homes. 1t would
show that no man is either patriot or
soldier who goes to war simply be-
cause it is a wild life and many dan
gers have fired his blood. 1t would
show that such a man is a menace TO
his country and not oenefactor."
Object Should Be Peace
THE great object Of patriotism
should be peace. Many wars could
have been avoided had men been as
they were for war We are learning
that war is one of the greatest enc
mics that any country ever had and
that any man who starts unnecessary
strife is in no sense a patriot. We
are learning that peace is necessary
to the progress and development of
any country and the only reason that
any coutry should go to war is be-
cause peace to that country would
mean the sacrifice of rights, property
and principle. We ought TO be glad
that our great country today, head
ed by our brother Warren g. Harding
is endeaVoring to teach the world the
art of peace.
Now after the war we must not be
come spineless and fiabby in our pa
Tiotism. 1t is no time for the pro-
fessional pacifist to preach his here
sizes. Let poor Russia testify TO the
peril OF TokStoy's vagaries though he
was called the conscience of the
world. It was an unregulated SON
science that he had. The greatest
need of our time Is an enlightened
and courageous leadership in civic
life. The few who have seen this
vision must bear the torch for the rest
Democracy is on trial in the hour OF
triumph The new patriotism calls
for patient and persevering work for
the progress OF the nation and the
world.
You and I as true Americans have
set our hands to a gigantic task, the
task Of ready Americanizing all with
in the borders of our land today. II
America is the melting pot OF the
world, say TO you that ours is a
long way from a completed task.
Here the speaker described the
class of malcontent who was deferred
only through fear Of consequences
from openly opposing Americas wal
plans and trampling the colors in
the dust Speaking of some of the
outrageous crimes that were com
mitted against soldiers and Ameri-
can war plans, Mr.. Jensen said in
part.
Believes In Hanging
Il have never been a great en-
Ehusiast for capital punishment but
want to say to you frankly that
when man or a group of men de-
lfberately and with malice afore
CnOuSHJ, SnOOT 0OWn IN cold blood
young man wearing the khaki of
Uncle Sans army and whose only
thought was to stand between the
homes, the women and children OF
this land in their protection against
the forces that would shatter Justice
liberty and righteousness from the
earth and then declare that the7
only waited their chance to repeat the
outrage, well | am frank to say that
1t is no longer time for sweet sound
ing notes or perfumed paper but il
is the time for the hangman's moose.
An Americans Obligation
And, my brothers and sisters, a
duty which stares you in the face to-
day as Masons and citizens OF this
great union Of commonwealths is to
recognize the fact owe Ii to God
owe it to my country. l owe it to the
patriots. the heritage of labors l am
enjoying today, owe 1t to my fellow
man, I owe it to generations vet un-
born, I owe it to myself to be. in so
Tar as it is possible, a model OF
righteous American citizenship.
THE ration's greatest defense to-
day is not its standing army but IT'S
working army. MasonS, Americans
give your country a true manhood
This is true patriotism. Be intense
Americans. Let us band together To
pay the debt we owe to our fathers
and solemrly swear that we will give
this country to our children as we
got it from our fathers, forever and
ever American"