The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1892-11-25
scandinavians in America.

We learn various IaCIS OF Interest
from Professor Boyesen's paper in The
North American Review discussing the
Scandinavian element in the United
States. One is that the citizens from
Norway and Sweden always vote the
Republican ticket and will continue to
do so till time shall be no more. If, in
view of certain recent affecting dispen-
sations, this fact will be any satisfac-
ton to the Republican party, we gladly
give prominence to it. The reason as
signed for it by Professor Boyesen is,
however, odd. 1t is not because Swedes
and Norsemen love the Republicans so
much as because they hate the Irish.
There is, Professor Boyesen tells US, an
irreconcilable feud between Irish and
Scandinavian so great that if the i'm
possible should happen and the Irish
under any circumstances vote the Re
publican ticket, then the Scandinavians
would Immediately jump the fence and
go Democratic. This is unfortunate if
true to the extent the writer says.
Scandinavians are strong, slow, sturdy
and manly, with the courage, endurance
and love of freedom their ancestors drew
in with the wild sea air still abiding in
their souls. They save money and thrive,
and adapt themselves easily to Amer
lean institutions. Their worst vice is
drunkenness, which probably they also
inherited with the old Viking blood in
their veins. But it is cheerful to know
they are not so bad in this respect in the
United States as they were in the old
country, and that the temperance move
ment is at present making rapid progress
among our Swedes and Norsemen in the
northwest.
Another fact deprecated by Professor
Boyesen is that these immigrants send
back to the ancestral countries for
preachers and school teachers, and keep
up the old language and old notions. 1t
is great misfortune, for these bunker
Lutheran preachers and schoolmasters
are full Of prejudices against American
life and manners, and have no adequate
knowledge of the kind of instruction
young American citizens ought to re-
ceive.
Our total Scandinavian population, in
GLIDING Danes, Swedes and Norwegians,
numbers 1,8OO,OO They are learning
Yankee politics rapidly too. The pres
emit congress contains four representa-
tives of this race, while Hon. Knute
Nelson, the newly elected governor Of
Minnesota, is Norwegian.
Whatever may have been the clouds
that Swallowed the last days of John
Hoey, his life was a signal example of
what pluck and industry will do for a
homeless, friendless boy. The famous
ex-president of the Adams Express com
pany was only ten years old when he left
his native Ireland and started to make
his own way in the world. At the age
of eleven he landed in New York, with
out penny in his pocket, shoe to his
foot or friend on this whole continent.
The child often went hungry at first,
before he got work as folder in the
New York Herald Office. But his pluck
never deserted him. His first employ
ment with the Adams Express company
was that of a messenger, carrying pack
ages and letters in a satchel from point
to point in New York city. For this he
received four dollars week. When he
was old enough the company made him
driver of delivery wagon, and after at
tending to the arduous duties required
of him in daytime he attended public
school at night, and that was the begin
ming of the future president of Adams
Express company. In spite of his rough
early life his tastes were of the most re
fined character. His park at Long
Branch was one of the show places of
the country.