The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1896-01-17

been made to colonize Scandinavians in
the state of Texas and usually with ap-
parent immediate success, but never, so
far as 1 know, with permanent success.
The advent of a succeeding decade would,
as a rule, witness the departure for more
northerly 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 distinctively southern climate
would be followed by similar results.
have said that it is matter of business
with us-that we want immigrants who
will help us carry our burdens, make
further public improvements and develop
the resources of our state.
This involves more than is at first appar-
ent. We must bear in mind that immi-
grants are just as free to go as they are to
come. If he does not feel satisfied, after
getting here, to make this state the home
of himself and his posterity, he is not of
much use to us. The climate, scenery and
industrial pursuits of Washington resem-
BILE very much those of Northwestern Eu-
rope. What the Japan current does for
this state the Gulf stream does for the
Scandinavian countries. IF the fisheries
on the Norwegian coast are ever to be
duplicated anywhere it will be in the North
Pacific ocean. The worlds shipping has
laid bare the forests of Norway, but not
before Puget sound was ready to take her
place. But that is not the nrincinal thing,
The main thing to take into account is that
the Scadinavian immigrants. almost to a
man, come here with 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 to make
the scandinavian immigrant feel himself
welcomed and at home in WASHINGTON.
1t must be borne in mind that there are
already in this state, at the lowest estimate.
$1,000 citizens and residents, who speak one
OF the scandinavian languages. They have
formed settlements in every city and IN al
most every county in the state These
settlements are well supplied with churches.
libraries, clubs, societies and all that goes
to make residence among them desirable
In language and race characteristics the
Scandinavians are, of course, more close
ly related to the Germans, Anglo Saxons
and French men than they are to the Latin
and SlaVon.c raceS.s 1t 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
six or seven centuries been known only as
Englishmen, Scotchmen or F'renchmen,
We need not go 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 amalga-
mated with their neighbors surrounding
them that for the century last past, there
has been nothing but the northern names
and a rather scanty collection of geneaiog-
lcal records to prove their presence.
The same tendency is very observable in
all the older settlements of the old North
west 1t is, in my opinion, the manifest des-
tiny OF the entire scandinavian popula-
ton Of the United States to amalgamate
completely with their surroundings and
lose their identity at comparatively early
day. This result is working itself out in the
best possible manner.
Every attempt to unduly hasten it 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 1,250,000 NorWegians
and descendants of Norwegians in the
United States, Sweden now has about 4,000.-
600 of population, and it is estimated that
there are over 100000 persons of swedish
birth or origin in the United States. Den
our shores nearly as large, in proportion to
her population, as that of Sweden. These
countries have from the earliest dawn CT
history been sending a steady stream Of
surplus population to colonize other coun-
tries, and no sign of the slightest abate-
ment in outflow has appeared as yet. Shall
the state Of Washington have it's fair share
of this immigration, or shall we allow it to
be diverted elsewhere? presents itself as an
important question for our convention to
consider. .1
In presenting, as I have done, what be-
leve to be the just claims of the Scandi-
navian nationality, I trust none of my
hearers has been led to infer the slightest
disparagement Of any other race. Such an
idea has been farthest from my intention.
The fact which desired to make prominent
is that the Scandinavians, as races, are
| by nature of very tolerant disposition and
conform readily to 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
| Scandinavians for our constitution, laws
| and form of government, and upon their ca
| pacity as wealth producers, base my claim
| of desiraIbility Of Scandinavian immigration.
| I therefore believe that all the information
| published, or to be published, by our state
| bureau Of immigration and statistics should
| be given the widest possible circulation in
| the Scandinavian countries.