The Portland daily press., 1894-10-17
New York Tribune. \,

King Oscar.
New York Tribune,}
WV Thomas, Jr, formerly United
States Minister to Sweden and Norway,
OF whose arrival after an absence of
nearly six years mention was made in
yesterdays Tribune, was induced to
talk yeste rday of Sw eden and Norway,
and their relations to the United States.
Mr.. Thomas is a delightful talker. a
man in the prime of life, and has cred.
liable record as diplomat.
My mission has been an interesting
one. The relations between Norway and
Sweden and this country are more i'm
portant and intimate than is generally
supposed. These Scandinavian lands
are remote and sparsely populated, but
they send US large numbers of our best
immigrants. Sweden alone, in the de-
cade beginning with 1880 sent us more
than 100000 of her stalwart sons and.
falr daughters, an average of over 40, 0G0
a year, But this was under Republican
rule. The other day, when I passed
through Gothenburg, the great port for
the embarkation of INN igrants, found
there we're more Swedish-Americans re-
turning to old Sweden than Swedish inn
migrants sailing for our country. So
Democratic craftsmanship has turned
the tide of our prosperity, but the tide
of our best immigration.
Then take our trade. I found it very
diff cult to get what the amount of our
trade with Sweden really was. Even
the official. statistics of both A .erica and
Sweden relating tn reto are only mislead-
ing, for they give only the direct trade,
whereas three-quarters OF our exports
and imports with Sweden are shipped
indirectly, via England, Germany and
other countries, and are credited TO
those countries and not to Sweden.
| made thorough investigation of
this subject with tine help of our United
States cOnsuls and the officials of the
Swedish Central Statistical Bureau and
found that our trade with Sweden
amounted to not less than $11, 000, 900 a
year-a trade. too, greatly to our sadyan-
6age, since our EXPORTS are. nearly three
times the value 5f our imports. surely
rhls; IS good showing for our commerce
with this northern c0un try, and surely
such commerce is worth ealtivating.
And this trade has, been guarded and
cultivated. You may recoliect that I
had the honor of being once before min
lster to the Northlands under President
Arthur. DUNG my mission at that time.
and also during the mission of my Re-
publican predecessors, for many years.
sweden kept harbors wide open for the
Importation of the healthful food pro-
iucts OF the United States, and Ameri-
can pork, wheat, maize,s -four and meal
we're all admitted free of duty. With
his free maket our trade grew and -four
shed, until Sweden bought in 70 und
lum bers 81, 000,G COO worth of American
oork and 81, 100000 more of American
grain products annually.
Not only in i'm Dai grafton and trade.
but in the intricate and delicate field of
our connection with Sweden,
1t least during the last i've years, has
been close and confidential.
When the controversy arose with
treat Britain in regard to the fur seal
fisheries, of Behring Sea, it was King
oscar. who, at the request of the Brit
sh minister and myself, appointed the
norwegian minister of state, Mr.. Gram,
! mem Der of the tribunal of arbitration
ed. may mention al SO, perhaps, that
lpon mr. suggestion to Mr. Blaine, then
secretary Of state. and acting under his
began a + Stockholm the l
negotiations hich resu tied in the two
nod ell extradisf0n tlefa sies of 1873 be
ween the United States and s. eden ana
he United States and N orway.
And must speak of one other incl
lent. 1t is said Dhat Il reDrIbiics are un-
grateful. This is not true. In 1889 Amer
ca sent over the ocean in kingly, state,
in one.of our grandest ships. the body
if the great Swedish-Amdrican, the IN
7entor of the monitor. Lovingly as
\ gripina bore home to Rome the ashes
t Germanicus so tenderly and, honorably
lid America seEd home the body OF John
ericsson so that the land which was his
'radle might also be his grave. 1t was
ny Office to receive the revered body
rom Captain Schley on board the Unit
d States steamer Baltimore, and deliver
t to the Swedish king and people. If
America bore John Ericsson over the
,cean like king. surely like a king did
sweden receive him. This entire incl
lent has had. the most happy effect in
lrawing America and Sweden more
closely together in the bonds of friend
hip and good will.
pended Mr. Thomas. 20. I shall he
Employed nearly all winter in deliver
ng lectures upon my favorite theme.
Sweden and the Swedes.' I have al /
eady engagements extending from
Maine to Kansas, and expect to have
many mOreAas the season advanctss. You
now, perhaps, | have written 1, book
With the same title, work that has
mployed large portion of my Ii fe and
which my latest mission to Stockholm 4
las enabled nue. to complete and publish