The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-04-20
1T WAS AN OVATION
Most Imposing Assemblage O f
Swedish Americans
EYER SEEN IN THIS STATE

Gathers at Hamilton Hail to Greet
Elk Minister w. W. ThOmas-I,S0O
People in the Audience.
A grand ovation greeted the Hon. W.
W. Thomas. Jr., at Hamilton hall last
evening. The vast auditorium was
packed with an eager and enthusiastic
audience numbering fully /, 800, among
whom it was easy to see that our Swed-
ish American citizens largely predomina-
ted. The occasion was the address on
Sweden and the Swedes" by Mr.. Thomas
under the auspices of the scandinavian
Republican club.
The hail was handsomely decorated
with flags and bunting, while the front
of the speakers stand was a mass of
flowers and palms
Governor Morrill,, Mayor Fellows and
large mum ers of the first citizens of
Topeka graced the platform by their
presence.
The exercises were opened by the
patriotic pieces of the Swedish Father
land executed by the Swedish orchestra
of Topeka, aud vocal music
Mayor Fellows, in an appropriate
speech, introduced Gov. Morrill,, who de-
livered an address of welcome to the
distinguished gnest In his youth, said
Gov. Morrill,, in the old Pine Tree state,
he was accustomed to look up to an
honored citizen of his native state as the
type of what an American citizen should
be, and it now gave him great pleasure
to introduce to Kansas audience the
son of that old citizen and friend, who
for so many years had ably and success
fully represented the United States t 0
Sweden and Norway.
Mr. Thomas was received with out
burst of applause as he arose to address
tho a1Ai000Q which al fO
catch every word that fell from his lips.
With the most eloquent English he
mixed the most mirth provoking phrases
in Swedish, recalling by these sounds
from home most wildly the old homes in
the Norshland to every Swedish Ameri-
can present.
Probably there does not live in the
United States today between the two
oceans a gentleman who possesses a
greater knowledge of all that is neces-
sary to treat this subject exclusively
than Mr.. Thomas Selected by President
Lincoln in 1861 to be United States con-
sui to Sweden he remained till 1898, Serv-
ing the period of Cleveland's first term,
closing his service as minister plenipo-
Tertiary and envoy extraordinary under
President Harrison. He speaks the Swe-
dish language correctly from the schol-
astic standpoint and by his twenty five
years EOSiO0nC0 III Iu0 COuHtTy, ming AuE
with the people, he has caught the ac-
cent, the subtle information.
No report short of d verbatim one can
do justice to the gifted speaker, and for
an hour and half he he'd his audience,
willing and most delightfully."- entertain
ed captives. He dwelt in succession
upon the country, its extent, its physi-
Cal features, its geographical position,
its remarkable history, its varied and ex
tensive productions, the habits and char
acteristics of its people, their achieve
ments in science and literature, aud more
than all. the military genius of its great
leaders, Gustavus Vasa, Gustavus Adolf
plus, and Charles XII, showing the ex-
tent of the worlds indie btedness to
them and their armies in esta blishing
freedom of religious thought
He paid glowing tributes to its poets,
authors and artists. His tribute to John
Ericsson, and the incalculAble service he
rendered this country. in building the
Monitor, which crippled and destroyed
the rebel ram Merrimac, brought out
cheers, aud when he closed his grand
Grafton he was given long, continue US
applause. 1t was the most mposing as
semblage of the Swedish A erican rae
that ever took place in Kansas and III Q
credit of calling together this grand s.
semblage belongs in the first place to
our young and enterprising fellow citi-
zen of Swedish extraction, Mr.. A. V. Lin
dell