The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-07-27
Ollows


oMore Swedes." The constant recurrence
of this item of intelligence is pleasant, and
shows that Mr.. Commissioner Thomas's ex-
pectation of reawakening in the peaceful
descendants of the grim gold Vikings
the spirit of enterprise, and in turning
the rich stream of emigration toward our Dor
ders has been abundently fulfilled. At the
present rate, large tracts of the bounteous
Aroostook will soon be peopled with men as
upright and strong as the ash and women
1.-the and graceful as the alder from which
the god Odin made the first pair of North
men. We trust they may find in their new
home all the joys of the Valhalla
of their ancestors-the boar Schrimnir
which was cooked every morning
and became whole every night, and
the shegoat Heidrum which supplied all
the immortals with never-lailing mead-a
drink which unquestionably had all the SOL
acing properties Of a mint julep. No doubt
the emgrants who are reported as arriving
now come at the solicitation of their friends
who are already here, and will not in any way
make expense for the State. 1t is strange
that they did not come early in the season, SO
that the crops of the present year would sus-
tain them through the winter. But it is said
that many OF them possess good deal of
property SO that they will be able to take care
of themselves. The people of Maine have
heartily approved of the Scandinavian policy
OF the State government, and have cheerfuy
undertaken TO pay the expenses of the COM
missioner appointed for the purpose of show
ing the Swedes the way here and persuading
the pioneers to start. They have also evinc-
ed readiness to pay the expenses incident to
starting the first settlement preparing homes
for the colonists and helping them through
the first hard year of their residence here
But they are not willing to continue these
subsidies indefinitely, or to assume the bur
den of supporting many hnudreds of the very
best Swedish stock even for short time
The policy of the State has been enlightened
and generous, but it will not become foolishly
prodigal. Enough has been done to accom-
plish what the State intended. The people
are here in sufficient numbers to draw from
their native country hundreds and thousands
of their kindred and friends if Maine proves
tobe land suited to their ways of life. The
new empire has been founded; it must now
grow if at all, from its own inherentivigor.
The people of Maine are poor folk, and
cannot afford to keep this thing in hot
house moment longer than is necessary.
The business ought now to be closed up i'm
mediately. All the obligations that have
been incurred and all the contracts, express
or implied, that have been made with emf
grants or the Commissioner should be uA-
grudgingly met. But no more obligations
should be incurred. If anyone is acting on
the superstition that the next Legislature will
be in mood to make unlimited appropria-
tions for carrying the immigration scheme be-
yond the limit of initiating it, great mistake
is committed. There are thousands of our
own poor who will suffer this winter for the
necessaries of life, and it would be simply
wicked to forget that the State has favored
the colonization OF Swedes primarily for its
own benefit and not for theirs, and to make
them the objects of benevolence which can
come to them only by being diverted from a
more legitimate course. Mr.. Thomas has act
ed with wonderful vigor and has met with
wonderful success in turning the attention of
emigrants to Maine. He has fairly won the
applause of all who have taken an interest in
his enterprise. But it seems to us that his
work is now done.