The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-05-17
THEIR DAY OF LIBERTY.
Scandinavians Celebrate tho Seven
tssnth Day Of May at
Turner Hall.
Appropriate Speeches by Nels
Kure, A. j. Craven and
M. Nelson.
staging and Dancing Makes q. Worry Pleas
ing Programme For the Anniversary
Of Morse Independents.

The Scandinavian population Of Helena
eelebrated the 18th of May by q big affair
at Turner hall last night. 1t was ono day
ahead Of time, but it was because the 18th
fell on Sunday this year. The hall was we'll
filed with Norwegians and Swedes and
their ladies. On the stage was the song
club of the Scandal society, wearing their
white caps. They gave several selections.
including "Odin," the national song of the
Norsemen, and America" The singing
of the male voices was very fine. Thu rest
of the programme included music by Prof.
Peterman's orchestra, speaking and the
.melodrama of "Peter and Inger," in the
native Language of those who were cele-
bratinc the deliverance of their native
country from . foreign power.
MI. Nels Kure was the orator Of the even
ing, He spoke in the Morse dialect, and
confined his remarks to about fifteen min
utes. It was q brief summary OF Viking
history, beginning with the greatness of
the Morse kings. He told the story of
Sweden's subsection to Denmark, and the
thraldom of kthe Swsdes for over four CEN
turtles while groaninR under the Danish
yoke. But the spirit of liberty never died
out OF their breasts. The country's prog
ress was ologged. the arts and sciences
ical chains, but always before them they
saw the bright star of freedom, and were
ever reaching out for it. They were not of
the stuff that must remain forever in sub
~iection, and SO on the 18th day of May, 1914,
IL... Al~N- Nf <hn f0~nr~v -o1n o,l at
tanned their political freedom. 1t was the
beginning of liberty for the entire Scandl-
navian people. the establishment of the
first constitutional form of govern
ment in Europe. 1t was only gained
after a struggle with those mighty powers
which had subdued the great Napoleon.
With the dawn of political liberty for
the sciences, literature, ali began to flourish.
Their progress since 1914 has placed
Sweden in the front rank Of enlightened
nations. The great modelnizer and civil
izer, the railroad, has found its way into
the country, as has the wonderful inven-
make it subject to mans will. Sweden to-
day 10 q great nation, free and independent,
3 monarchy only in name. with a sovereign
whose powers are nominal and who is CON
trolled by = constitutional body responsible
TO the people. The people are beginning
to fully understand the liberty they gained
by their own exertions-the liberty
of their civil rights rs we'll. The thousands
of naturalized American citizens who had
from the great north country were
dtill ScGndinavians by reason of their ma
tivity, though loyal Americans by adoption.
The speaker advised them to study we'll and
thoroughly theb blessings conferred, and en-
deavor to grasp the true meaning Of the
ro1itinal 1ihnrtu THAR fppafafharac nrfapaaH
for in their native counsry. and which they
found awaiting them on the shores of free
America. Mr.. kure was attentivelv listened
to and literally applaudsd.
Mr.. A. j. Craven delivered an address in
English. He said: ''The language of your
peninsula, stretching away from its south
ern shores, washed by the warm current of
tho tropics more than 5000 miles to tho
north, to the land of the midnight sum. is
%unknowa, as a rule. to the native
American. We know not your language,
but the history of your country we know.
The wild adventuresome spirit of you early
ancestors We understand, and the strudy
virtue of your patriots, who in your ma
tional councils and On the field of battle
raised q rallied to the flag of liberty,
these have always commanded the admira-
ton and love of the American citizen. In
the brotherhood Of men there is no dis
tinction of race or color or tongue. There
fs but one mystic word which must be
learned, borne to eur ears from the tur.
moil of revolution and the roar of battle,
the pass word of the nations in their long
march through the centuries of enlighten'
ment and progress, and that word IS lib
erty," freedom of thought, freedom OF
speech, freedom of religion, ambition and
pursuit.
81 am here tonight to say that so Ions
as you chant the anthem of liberty undel
tho fpn Nf tho rnINn and with full lova1fv
to the country of your adoption, you vii
have the warmest respect and sympathy O
every native American. You cannot hav,
too many feurths of July. They are tn
birthdays Of liberty. And the time hR
come when no nation liveth for itself. lie
it assume or advance towards popular gov
eminent, and the world feels it. The Jim
pulse invades all governments as n~aturall
as the waves of the seas cast their smiling
ripplss on all shores.
NEARLY forty years before the date 70,
now celebrate, the people of the Unite,
States commenced the long conflict whicl
ended in their independence from all Euro
our forefathers had given to the world tina
casket containing all the jewels of freedom
The declaration of Independence and dur
Ing the year 1914 we were busy convincin
Great Britain that we were independent O
water as we'll as on land. During thos
coHulctS your country was not unreEreSent
Cd. The Norwegians sent their forces fror
New Jersey, and the Swedes from Delaware
1t is right in speaking of tho Norsemen c
America, to give you credit for the patriot
ism Of your colonies in the war for our in
dependence and in the war of 1912. W
are vlllingt to go farther back and extend GU
respects to Lief Erickson, who in the mint
century. discovered New England an
carried back to his country the stories c
his daring voyage. How far these storie
which fingered for centuries in the mint
of the people, affected the mind of Coluu
bus, whe, according to some historian
visited Iceland, VIC cannot say, but il
probable that the traditions of Vinland W,
n OF the many arguments which gave hi
the impulse of his life. which never reste
until his theory WAS reduced to fact.
Inc battle of Chickamauga, and I'll
iaursls OF the Fifteenth Wisconsin, evin
your heroism during the civil war; u Il
vast helds of grain growing tonight
Mlnnesota, Wisconsin and the Dakot
stand as silent witnesses to the persevt
ance and industry of your people in t
opening OF the wilderness and the tilling
the SOIL In times of peace.
'Ths tribute due to the Scandinavia
from the standpoint of the native Americ
would be incomple 9 If ] should fail
mention that you have added the name
the Rev. christopher Jansen to the list
our 5theologians, that of Knute Nelson
the list of our statesmen and those of Pro
Anderson and Boysen to our Bchola
A. A-1 --l l--tL - A. =.