The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1888-02-02

Rev. G. A. SwensOn, president OF
Bethany College, at LindsbOrg, in
our neighbOring county Of MePher'
son, forwarded q letter to the Hon.
d. w. Wilder, president Of the State
Historical Society, expressing his
regret at being unable to attend the
late meeting Of the society. He was
one Of the prominent gentlemen
chosen to deliver addresses, and in
his absence made Il OppOrtune to
give data and figures Of the matter
upon which he was to treat. His
subject was "The SWsdes in Kan
sas." His letter concerning this
sterling people is we'll worth a crit
Teal perusal, as embracing an ele-
ment that is playing an important
part in the prosperity Of Kansas.
Fifty thousand people their im-
puted number In Kansas) IL no small
affair in connection with q new
state, and coming as these Swedish
people have come here, iinbued with
the instincts OF honesty and ener Y
to make for themselves and theirs,
homes In this newly-chOsen spot,
the eOmpensating effects TO Che
whole Of her citizens is OF very great
moment.
II was about 81 or '5s, Mr.. Sven
son thinks, that his people began
settling Ia Kansas. The first settle
ment was made &C Msriadahl, In
PottawstOmie county. "A few Of
these people are to be found on the
rolls Of the second Kansas cavalry
and perhaps another Kansas Fegi-
ment or two, and they proved good
sOldieFs). Settlements were soon
made by them In the vicinity Of
Enterprise, Dickinson county. and
at other places. The main immigra-
ton was In 1863 and 1870. That Is
the date the great Swedish colonies
were founded In Saline and MePher-
son counties. Theirprincipal colonies
are situsted in POttawatOmie, Riley,
Marshall, Clay, Republic, Saline,
Mcpherson, Rice, Pawnee, Reno,
Allen, Usage, Decatur, Rawlins and
Logan counties, and In the cities Of
Topeka, Lawrence, Kansas City,
Kan, Salina, Mcpherson, Hutehin-
son and Usage, they nave q good
sprinkllng Of Swedish citizens. I'M
mense new colonies are being found
cd IN the western part Of Kansas,
about l5O, OO0 aOFea 81 railroad lands
alone having been SOLD 10 this people
during the last year.
Mr.. SwensOn discusses the foreign
immigration TO some extent. He
thinks it "tOO indiseriminate.n He
says the immigration Of foreigners
into America has been the making
OF the republic. He asks. what IL
the condition Of their great colonies
In Kansas, Illinois, Iowa, Minneso-
e and Nebraska? The answer Is
usually unanimous. They have
converted wastes and deserts into
the finest agricultural districts i'm
aginable; have themselves become
prosperous citizens, and are every
where raiaing q second crop Of
Swedes, natives Of America, that
are taking place in The front ranks
Of the best civilization In the
world"
he tells the truth in the following:
Have yoa ever heard Of . Swedish
anarchist, communist OF nihilists
No, we Rre not made that way, we
come from free and noble people,
and cur history e. . free people
dates back at least 70 che beginning
Of the Christian era. /, for one, and
Ne an American citizen by birth will
say that e the kind OF ma erial 20
make good American citizens out Of.
The SWedes Of America, In the eos
iloeked 20 the banners Of the union,
IN the civil war then Waging. They
we're By nature, 20 20 speak, on the
Hight side.