News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1891-05-28
News and Citizen
MORRISVILLE and HYDE PARK,
Thursday. May 2S,1S9I.
The SWedes Again!

The Rutland Herald seems determin-
ed to believe that the Swedes at Nor
ton Mills have been unfairly used and,
by implication at least, infers that
the ''Erikson letter. is false. Lest
we DO the Herald injustice we quote
its own language:
The Herald does not wish to impinge too
roughly upon the sensibilitieS in any quarter
regarding ''the good name of the state, but
if anybody really wants to know the condi-
ton of things among the Swedes at Norton
Mills it respectfully suggests further inquiry
1t would be glad to believe that Mr.. Erikson
was right in letter and spirit but from lntor-
nation it has received strongly inclines to
the belief that his picture is a bit too rose
colored.
The Essex Co. Herald in it's last
weeks issue published an interesting
communication from Rev. A. III.
Wheeler of Island Pond, who seems
to have given the subject careful in
vestigation. The Herald will, we
think, find, if it will carefully investi-
gate the matter, that the people at
Norton Mills, especially Mr.. Stetson,
have been particularly kind to the
Scandinavian colony which settled
there, giving aid to an extent that
few towns would have given under
similar circumstances. The Herald
will find, if it wishes to investigate,
that Mr.. Stetson, is a wealthy bust
ness man and a gentleman of
great public spirit and generosity and
that such of the Swedes as have man
Tested a disposition to be industrious
and honest, have received treatment
that was almost paternal.
The vicious article which was travel
ling around the country was an I'M
just reflection upon Norton, upon
Essex Co., and upon Vermont. We
do not care at this time to discuss
the advisability of bringing the
Swedes to Vermont. Itwas Com mis-
sioner Valentines pet scheme and
he was acting under the authority
of special act of our legislature
Through his efforts and inducements
although the Norton colony was
not one of his planting-many Swedes
found home in Vermont and they
are to large extent the especial
wards of the state. When the Gov
ernor was called upon by a represent
alive of Sweden to know as to the
truth of the unjust newspaper article
which was receiving such general cir
culation, he felt that it was not only
his duty to the state but an act of
courtesy to the government of Sweden
to make prompt investigation and
he feels very much pleased that the
results of those Investigations have
so fully exhonorated the state from
any charge of i'll treatment to this
people. We quote from the Essex
Co. Herald an editorial and the letter
above referred to:
Attracted by the many items in the Yer
mont press, Une rev. A. ii. neeler, MISSION
airy in charge of the Episcopal Church at
Island Pond, while on a pastoral visit to
Norton, took the trouble and pains to per-
sonally investigate the matter of the situa-
ton of the Swedes at that place. Rev. Mr. |
Wheeler came here recently and has not i'm
bibed any influence or prejudice, and so speaks
with absolute impartiality. His character
renders the statement, published elsewhere in
this issue, absolutely reliable. Besides the
generosity of Mr.. Stetson is proverbial, and
no one who knows him will believe one word
that imputes to him want of fair and even
generous treatment toward anyone in his en-
ploy or settling on his lands. We understand
that he has on his books over one thousand
dollars against those who have stepped
out" They are the only ones complaining,
while the honest, industrious Swedes who re-