Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1889-05-31
U. s. Minister Thomas Presents His
Credentials to King Oscar of
Sweden.
He Makes Good Plea For the
Scandinavians in q Mas.
terly Speech.
King Oscar Replies With Much
Feeling and Extends Him a
Hearty Welcome.
Minister Thomas in Sweden.

lister plenipotentlary of the United States,
to-day received official audience of King
Oscar. The minister presented his Gre
dentials and said: "Your majesty-I have
the honor to place in your hand letter
from the president of the United States of
America according me as envoy extraor-
dtnary and minister plenip0tentiary to
Sweden and Norway. 1t is also my dis
tinguished privilege to bear with me from
over the ocean assurance Of high regard
and sincere friendship Of the president and
people of the United States for your mai
esty and brother people of the Scandina-
Wan peninsula. 1t is not the first time
this pleasant duty has been entrusted to
me. Once before your majesty graciously
received me as minister of my country. I
then represented thiriy-eight states or
55,OOO,O00 people. Six years have flown by.
l return representing the same country,
but forty-two states now shine from the
blue Of our flag and beneath its folds 65,-
100000 citizens march onward to peaceful
conquests of industry. In this grand ad-
vance America gratefully acknowledges
her indebtedness ito Scandinavia. No
people in the world receive warmer well
come on our shores; none make better
citizens of our republic than sons and
daughters of the lofty north. They
bring with them honesty and
industry, patience and fortitude, hope and
valor, love of truth and fear of God, that
have ever distinguished the Scandinavian
race, and Illuminated the pages of its his
tory. Three millions of Americans are
proud to trace their origin to Scandinavia
True and loyal citizens of the republic,
they yet preserve a warm place in their
memories and hearts for your majesty's
personl and for their old home and kins-
folk in Northland. Their kindest and ten
derest greetings l bring with me from my
own native land to theirs. In coming to
Scandinavia I cannot feel that come to
foreign shore, as return
rather to my second home
a gallant land whose monarch l have
learned to venerate, whose people Irespect
and love. and among whom I have found
heavens best gift to man. Diplomacy be-
tween two countries can never be to me
matter of Indifference or cold, dry and
uninteresting formality. 1t is my sincere
desire to do whatever in me lies to advance
the prosperity of your majesty's govern.
ment and people as we'll as that of the
United States, and so long as represent
my country here, pledge my best efforts
to maintain a good understanding and to
draw yet more closely together the bonds
of friendship which. uniting two peoples
in the early infancy of the republic before
Washington was president or even our
constitution was adopted, have held un-
broken through the lapse of more than one
hundred eventful years down to this day
and which. God grant, may endue forever
King Oscar in reply welcomed Mr..
Thomas for the second time as minister.
He said he was grati6ed to receive assur-
ances Of friendship of the president and
people of the United States and was es-
pecially moved by the kindly greetings
sent him by the sons and daughters of
Scandinavia who were now in America.
1t was his earnest desire that the good un-
derstanding which had ever existed be-
tween the United Kingdoms and the
United States might he perpetuated. He
was confident that Mr.. Thomas, who re-
turned with friendship for brother peo-
pies formed by old acquaintance and
which was cemented now by stronger ties,
would we'll and worthily fulfill his mis-
sion in Northland.