The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-01-15

been made 70 colonize ScandInavians in
the state Of Texas. and usually with ap-
parent immediate success but never. %
FAR as I know. with permanent success.
The advent OF a succeeding decade wessld.
a. a rule, witness the departure for more
northeriy chimes OF the immigrants OF the
preceding decade. For my part. I feel
convinced that the colonization in this
state on any large scale Of immigrants
from any distinetively southern climate
would be followed BY similar results.
/ have said that IL IS matter of business
with us-that We want immigrants who
viii help Us carry cur burdens. make
further public Improvements and savesop
the resources Of our state.
This involves more than Is at first apuar-
ent- We must bear in mind that immi-
grants are Just as free TO go as they ara 70
come. II he does not feel satisfied. after
getting hers, 20 make this state the home
OF himself and hrs posterity. he is not OF
much use 10 us The climate. scenery and
industrial pursuits OF Washington resem-
bic very much those OF Northwestern Fa-
rope. What the Japan current does FOR
this state the Gulf stream does for the
Scandinavian countries If rha fisheries
on the Norwegian coast are ever 10 be
duplicated anywhere II will be in the North
Pacific ocean. The worlds Shfpping has
laid bare the forests Of Norway, bur not
before Puget sound was ready to take her
The main thing 10 take into account is that
the Scadinavian immigrants. almost 10 a
man, come here with a strongly precon-
ceived attachment for our constitution and
form OF government. From this fact has
sprung results that in their turn operate
as causes. and still further tend 10 maxi
the Scandinavian immigrant feel himself
welcomed and al home In Washington.
II must be borne in mind that there are
alreaNT In this state. at the lowest estimate
50so citizens and residents who speak one
OF the Scandinavian languages They have
formed settlements IN every city AMI n al
most every county in the state These
settlements sre well supplied with churches.
Libraries. clubs. societies and all that goes
to make residence among them desirable
I'm language and race characteristics the
Scandlnayians are, OF course more close
~ related 10 the Germans. Angio-Saxons
and French men than they are 10 the Latin
and Slavonic races. Ii is a noticeable
characteristic Of the Scandinavian races
that they acquire knowledge OF foreign lam
guages with remarkably facility
A general diffusion Of the spirit OF toler-
ance has made them apt Observers and
students of the manners and customs of
strangers. From this northern hive have
gone forth vast populations that centuries
ago settled or invaded Northern England
Scotland and Normandy. The descendants
Of these early invaders have for the last
SIX or seven centuries Deen known only as
Englishmen, Scotchmea or Frenchmen
Ne need not 80 that far. Even IN our
country the Swedes. at the time of Gus
tavus Adolphus made extensive settle
ments in Delaware and New Jersey Their
descendants have so completely amaIga-
mated with their nelghbors surrounding
them that for the century last past, there
has been nothing but the northern names
ana rather scanty collection Of geneaI0g-
zeal records TO prove their presence.
The same tendency is very observable in
all the older settlements of the old North
west. IL is. in my opinion. the manifest des-
tiny Of the entire Scandinavian popula-
ton of the United States 10 amalgamate
completely with their surroundings and
lose their identity at a comparatively early
day. This result is working itself out in the
best possible manner.
Every attempt 10 unduly hasten III con-
travenes the natural law OF orderly pro-
gress.
There are few who realize the great mag
nitude of our Scandinavian immigration in
the past. Norway, with but a population
Of 100000 at home. has l,250. 600 NorWegilnS
ana descendants OF NOrwegians in the
United States Sweden now has about 400o.-
% Of population. and ii is estimated that
there are over l,opo.O0o persons OF swedish
birth or origin in the United States Den
mark has in the past sent an immigration 10
our shores nearly as large. in proportion TO
her population. that OF Sweden. These
countries have from the earliest dawn Cf
history been sending a steady stream Of
surplus population 10 colonize other coun-
tries. and no sign Of the slightest abate-
ment in outflow has appeared as yet. Shall
the state or Washington have its fair share
OF this Immigration. or shall we allow il 10
he diverted elsewhere? presents itself as an
important question for our convention TO
consider.
In presenting. as I have done what | be-
leVe TO be the just claims Of the Seandl-
navian nationality. / trust none of my
hearers has been led 10 infer the slightest
disparagement OF any other race Such an
Idea has been farthest from my intention.
The fact which I desired 10 make prominent
l. that the SCandiuavians, as races, are
by nature Of a very tolerant disposition and
conform readily 20 the manners and Gus
toms OF all the neighbors they find on their
arrival within the United States. Upon
this fact upon the strong attachment OF the
ScandinaYians for our constitution. laws
and form of government and upon Their a
pacity wealth producers. / base my claim
OF desirabilityof Scandinavian immigration.
] therefore believe that all the information
published, or TO De published. by our state
bureau Of immigration and statistics should
be given the widest possible circulation IN
the Scandinavian countries.