The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1923-06-06
OUR RESPONSIBILITY.

~ ATHER L. j. O'Connor one of the most
H brilliant orators Minnesota has ever known,
! made the Memorial Address at Mankato
last Wednesday. The following paragraphs are
an extract from his talk
"Refect for a moment upon the social situa-
ton of that democracy for which our heroes
fought, bled and died. What do you find?
"One-A country where marriage is regarded
with less reverence than in Japan; where our
divorce courts are working overtime and where
the family, the basis of our national life, has
become ffty-6fty gamble.
"Two-A country where the home has been
destroyed by clubs, lodges, picture shows and
the jazz bands.
1"Three-A country where our children are
growing up without any idea of law and author
ity; where the representatives of the law are
regarded as enemies, and where obedience is a
matter of fear rather than love-
"Was it for this that our heroes died? If not,
are you and responsible for this pitiable social
condition?
Reflect for moment upon present edu-
cational program. What do we find?
"One-A country where it has become unscien-
tifc to teach children that they possess soul.
'Two-A country that teaches our innocent
children that they first cousins to NADIA
gascar monkey, and then send them to the jais
or reform schools if they are~n not just, holy and
merciful one toward another.
"Three-A country which teaches our children
that the old fashioned idea of God and Morality
is passe, and where our little ones are educated
to regard themselves as educated animals.
"Four-A country, in word, that has lived
up to Barnums estimate, namely, "that loves to
be humbugged" by pseudo-science.
"Was it to foster and maintain such woeful
state of affairs that our heroes fought, bled and
died? If not, are you and / responsible for such
an educational condition?
"Refect for moment upon present pat
riotic condition. What do we find?
Zone. A country that harbors small, but
powerful group of social-aspiring boot ckers who
have attempted, with startling success, to poison
the wells of history by the introduction of foreign
made histories into our public schools Histor-
les that would make Washington a disappointed
rebel. Benjamin Franklin revolutionary fire.
brand, and Patrick Henry slovenly, fddle-play-
ing oddity with the gift Of oratory.
1.-TWO. country whose representatives at
home and abroad sold the soul of their country
in the late war for other reason than that
of personal aggrandizement
"Three. country whose representatives, both
at home and abroad would dare malign the mo-
tives of the American Expeditionary Forces by
claiming that they fought from ignoble mo-
tives That they fought as Ambassador Harvey
said, because they were afraid not to fight"
-Four. A country where foreign propaganda
finds fertile field for the cookie of selfshness,
greed and hypocricy among class of craven
hearted people who are American citizens in
body only, but whose souls are groveling at the
feet of foreign nobility.
Was it for this that 10000 American heroes
died? If not, are you and to blame when we
permit such condition to exist?
'Take up our quarrel with the foe
To you with failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high
If We break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, tho peoples blow
In Flanders Fields.
What is your answer to this challenge? You
have heard the indictments. Are you as American
Citizens ready to answer?
I'VE are told in history and tradition Of an old
Hebrew custom that existed under the Jewish