The Portland daily press., 1870-08-04
DAILY PRESS.
PcHJHIAA.N MD.
Thursday Mornins, Aug. A. 1870.

CORTLAND.


The great need of this State is intelligent
| and enterprising inhabitants. Our growth in
population for long time has been extreme
" slow, and in some sections the census is
showing an absolute decrease of population.
The growth of our cities is dependent upon a
thrifty population behind them to make de-
mand for trade. The advantages of the West
have hitherto proved so strong an nducement
to immigrants that few of them have staid
with us, but at last we seem to have found a
class OF immigrants admirably adapted to our
climate. The Scand;navians are intelligent,
industrious, economical and moral, and it is
to be hoped that the colony OF fifty which
Mr.. Thomas has conducted to Aroostook
county will prove the beginning Of great
tide of Scandinavian immigration 10 our
State. From the speech Of Mr.. Thomas on
the occasion Of their reception we extract tie
following tribute to Swede:
Gentlemen, you remember the dark days
of the rebellion. Who will ever forget those
gloomy days of frrebodipg when everything
to us uear ana sacred sos.-sd to tremble in
the balance? Who will ever forget that ever
memorable morning when the rebel steamer
Merrimac came out OF the harbor of Norfolk,
and with her IRON prov came down upOo our
wooden walls OF defense at anchor in Hamp-
ton Roads? Who will ever forget how sud-
denly went down the Cumberland With colOrs
flying, with two hundred immortals who
stood to her guns whilst the waters engufed
them, firing her last broadside with the muz-
zes of her cannon submerged in the flood?
Who will e. .er forget the terror which per-
IoI on hon Aacbad rho
wires that the Merrimac was at sea, and bad
sunk the staunchest irioate of our navy, and
that we had no ships ahoat competent to cope
with this new engine OF destruction in naval
warfaie? New York, Boston, Portland, ev-
cry maritime town and city trembled at the
thought that they were perfectly deienseless
and might any day and hour be laid in
ashes by this new monster of the seas.
Whilst all was dismay and terror there
appeared as it were by magic in Hamp-
tol Roads, little iron raft. surmounted by a
tnrret, which by way of ridicule was called a
'cheese box" and steaming up boldly along
side the Merrimac, opened its terrible thun-
der and shot upon this monster ironcad,
which for trief twelve hours was mistress OF
the ocean, and drove this rebel engine OF de-
structon in disgrace back into the harbor of
Norfolk. And do you know, friends, that
John Ericsson, the mighty genius which plan
ned and constructed this apparently iusignifi-
cant means of defence, which in the provi-
dence of God proved our national salvation,
was Swede? The son OF poor farmer oil
one of the inland provinces of Sweden? The
noble representative Of the very people who
are here to-day? As we love our country, as
we honor and appreciate the genius and hero
ism OF John Erricson, as we are patriots all,
let us take these emigrants to our friendly
embrace and cherish and encourage them as
the worthp representatives of a land which
has given to us a son who in the dark hour
of our nations peril was our salvation"
The Presque Isle Sunrise gives some inter-
esting facts concerning them as follows:
"There are among the men two house car
peuters, two blacksmths, one basket maker
(willow baskets), one baker, one who has
been many years shipmaster, and one who
has spent some years In Australia. They
have brought with them quite large sum Of
gold, averaging as we are told, about one
hundred dollars to a person. They paid all
the expenses of their passage to Tobique, the
State only paying the expense OF the carriages
which took them to their new homes. They
are from different parts OF Sweden, the differ
ent families not being acquainted before get
ting together Tor leaving for America. Two
of tina men speak English with tolerab!e cor
rectness and the rest are fast learning many
WOruS OF our language.
In religion some of them are Lutherans,
which is the National religion of Sweden,
and the rest are Baptists. There is one OF
their number who IS public religious speak
.er. and leads in their leligions- seIvices.-uAt
Caribou he offered prayer in the Swedish
language at the table. We sincerely hope our
ministers will let these people alone. We
have no doubt they can save their own
souls' as well as the ministers can do it for
them. We hope that when they have learn
ed our language, as they soon will, they will
not be annoyed with the proselyting schemes
which are and have been the bane of the re-
lgious prosperity OF AroostOsk."