The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-09-15

In 1873 Sweden took ner place, as tno third
power In the world, in the number Of immi-
grants sent to our Republic, and this posi-
tion she has maintained up to and Including
1886. For nine successive years, there have
arrived among us more Immigrants from
Sweden than from France, or Italy, or Aus
tria, or Russia or any other realm on earth,
save only the British Empire and Germany.
For the eight years from 1880 to 1887 lnclu,
sive, Sweden sent us the magnificent total
of 81 ,249 of her stalwart sons and falr
daughters-an average OF nearly 4O,OOO a
year. When we reflect that the entire pOpu-
iation of Old Sweden has at no period
reached 100000, the Swedish exodus to the
United States during the last quarter OF
century becomes phenomenal, even In the
wonderful history of American immigration.
Should this marvellous immigration con-
tinue-and all signs indicate that it will
the day will surely come when the United
States will contain more citizens of Swedish
descent than Sweden herself; and we will be
not only the Newer but the Greater Sweden
as we have already become the Greater Eng
land.
What States does this vast stream of
Swedish immigrants enrich with its flood?
1t Is an interesting fact, that, with few ex-
ceptions, as the French in Canada, immi-
grants from Europe take up the same rela-
tive position in America they occupied on
the continent of their birth. IN fact there
seem to be certain fixed isothermal lines be-
tween whose parallels, the immigrants from
the Old World, are guided to their homes in
the New. Thus the Germans from the CEN
ter of Europe settle in Pennsylvania, Ohio,
and our other Middle States; the French and
Spanish from Southern Europe and the
shores Of the Mediterranean, make their
homes in Louisiana. Florida and all along
the Gulf of Mexico; while the Scandinavians
from the wooded North fell the forests,
and build their log cabins throughout our
entire Northern range of States, from Maine
to Oregon.
Here, standing midway the continent Is
one of this Northern wooded range,-the
young, great, growing State Of Minnesota
the empire State of the New North West.
Guided here, perhaps, by the north star in
your escutcheOn, and finding soil, climate
and nature similar TO their loved fatherland,
the fair-haired, blue-eyed children Of the
North have cast In their lot with you, and
blossom as the rose" Including all per-
sons Of Swedish descent Minnesota reckons
to-day nearly 100000 Swedes within her
borders, and as a Scandinavian State she
stands easily first In the Union. Minne-
sofa Is in fact II not in name the New Swe-
den of to-day, and here, in the midst Of this
great Swedish element of our land, in ithis
magnificent temple dedicated to the triumphs
OF industry, on this spot, which though a
bowling wilderness for two hundred years
after the Swedes first landed on the banks Of
the Delaware Is now the site of the twin
metropolis of the great North West teeming
with the life and activity Of nearly half a
million s0uls-here, / say, 1t Is fitting and
proper, that we should celebrate, as we do
this day, the quarter-millennial anniversary
Of the founding Of the first New Sweden
in America.
Wherever, in this broad land, the Swedes
fix their habitati0ns, whether it be among
the forests of Minnesota or Michigan or on
the prairies Of Illinois or Iowa; everywhere
they are noted for their honesty and indus
try, their economy and thrift. Our Swedish
settlers live within their means, buy no
faster than they can pay, and do not run in
debt. No other foreign race learn our Ian
guage so quickly. or speak it so correctly
and Tree from foreign accent, and none,
think, so speedily embrace our American
ideas, and become so thoroughly assimilated
with us, and so completely AmericaniZed.
Our Swedish fellow citizens do not try to
Swedish anarchists, or dynamite bomb
throwers. Order-l0viug as well as liberty
loving, God fearing and law abiding, the
Swede seeks to know the law Of the land,
not to break, but to keep it. And when rebel
lion threatened the nations life the Swedes
were found fighting for freedom and union
in this land of their adoption; yes, fighting
as gallantly for the starry banner Of America
as their ancestors fought for the yellow
cross cross Of old Sweden. If you seek for the
Jalls or penitentaries; you will meet them
engaged in peaceful Industrial pursuits, In
our workshops and factories, or, most largely,
upon the prairies and in the back woods Of
the great West where, by honest toll, they
have converted millions of acres Of wild
land into fertile farms and happy homes.
The Swede also brings with him, from his
| old home, the fear of God, the reverence for
the Bible, the respect for sacred things. and
the strict observance of the Sabbath and II
| Is my belief, that no immigrants of to-day, in
both faith and works, so closely resemble
the sturdy pilgrim fathers of New England
as the Swedes. l respect and esteem the
Immigrants that come to us from all Chris
tian nations--from Ireland, from England
and Scotland, from Germany and Italy and
Russia and France. and those Scandina-
yians from Norway and Denmark who share
in common with their cousins, the Swedes
many Oh tue virtues have enumerated; but
know, am simply repeating the universal
verdict of Americans when / say that no
immigrants in this world, make better citi-
zens of this great Republic than the sons and
daughters OF Sweden.
My friends, no celebration of New Sweden
would be complete without at least brief
mention Of its lllustrious founder. I'm
doubtedly the greatest character Sweden has
ever produced is Gustavus Adolphus. His
life and deeds belong, not to Sweden
Alone. but to the world. He stands
out IN history the hero Of the great
which Tor thirty years, shook the continent
of Europe to its foundations. That war. as
you know, was the gigantic contest between
freedom In thought and religion, and papal
and imperial despotism; between the pure
teachings of Luther, and the horrors Of the
Spanish 1nguisition. After twelve long
years Of battle, the armies Of the Emperor
under the great generals, Tilly and Wallen-
stein, were everywhere victorious; the protes-
tant princes were beaten, divided, disheart-
ened, and the free cities Of Germany Law
bleeding at the feet of the imperial cohorts
freedom OF religion seemed about to be
crushed out Of continental Europe. Then
what! A little band Of $1,000 Swedes sails
the stormy Baltic and lands ON the
shores of Germany. But at their head
is their golden King. "the lion Of
the North" Gustavus Adolphus. "Ohl
Hor cried the emperor. Ferdinand, I'VE
have another little enemy come against
us" And his courtiers laughingly replied,
THE Snow-King will melt as he approaches
the Southern Sum-" But the great COM
mander was not made of stuff, that melts in
the sunshine. He is one Of the seven gen.
erals OF the world who have revolutionized
the art Of war;" said Napoleon the Great.
10 pray often, is almost to conquer" said
Gustavus himself. His march was a success
sion Of victories. The protestant princes
took heart and rallied under his Standard
the free cities opened wide their gates to
welcome his victorious legious Conquering
and to conquer, he swoops across Europe
from the Baltic to the Danube. He meets
ana r0utS the grandeSt army OF the empire,
under the veteran lilly, hero of a hum
dred battle fields, and his victorious march is
stayed only by the eternal hills Of Switzer-
land.
From the Alps to the Polar Sea the power
OF the great Swedish King is supreme. No
man ever welded that wide stretched power
before. No man since. But the forces of
the Empire and the Inquisition rally once
more under that dark and mysterious soldier
OF fortune, Wallenstein. He intrenches on
the field of Leutzen. The Swedish army camp
before his entreDchments, and the night be-
forelthe battle sing the war psalm their great
King himself has composed, commencing
Fear not, little flock" "Put on your ar
NOR. Put on your armor," said his gener-
ais on the morning Of the battle. But the
King refused. "God Is my cuirass," an
swered this soldier of the cross, and gallop-
ing to the head of his brave army, himself
led the charge and plunged into the hell Of
battle. That little army of the Lord swept
the field in charge irresistible. They drove
the routed leglons Of despotism before
them. But, in the very moment of victory,
galloping back into their foremost ranks,
comes, wildly charging, the war horse of
| their hero King riderless, saddle covered
with blood. The great King was dead
But he died in victory-a victory that saved
freedom Of religion for you and me-for the
world, and for all time. OF a truth 'The
sword Oh Gustavus Adolphus was mighty as
the pen of Luther"
But other great kings adorn the annals of
Swedish history. There Is Gustayus Vasa.
who drove the tyrant Christian from the
throne. freed his cOuntrv foundad Tho ,l0~s