Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-12-01
SWEDE A PATRIOT
His Part in Development of
Adopted County Shown by
Dr.. Gustav Andreen.
AN ADDRESS AT ST. LOUIS
At Ceremonies at Breaking of Ground
for Worlds Fair Swedish
Pavilion.

Augustana college. was one of the
speakers at the ceremonies marking
the breaking of ground for the Swed-
ish pavilion at the worlds fair today.
His subject was What Have the
Swedes Done in the Territory Com
prising the Louisiana Purchaser"
The advent of the Swede in Ameri-
ca, the growth Of his number, and
the important part he has played in
the development of his chosen land
were pointed out. Continuing. he
said:
but the Swedish-American brought
not only Drawn and material wealth
to this territory; the very nature Of
his fatherland and the education he
received there had made him a man
of ideals filled with strong religious
sentiment. In the early settlements
the men would gather before they had
their own rude homes finished to build
larger blockhouse or even sodhouse
than the rest; this they called church,
and here they assembled to worship
God after the manner of their fore
fathers. From these small beginnings
there has grown up a great organic
ed religious work. Out of their early
poverty these pioneers have built 700
to 500 churches. many of them cathe-
dral-like in their proportions, where
the story of the cross is proclaimed
on prairie and in city. As part of this
great work there have arisen schools,
orphan homes, hospitals, deaconess
homes. all in all being valued at more
than S3,OO0,OOO. \ strong missionary
spirit is continually manifesting
itself. The Swede brought with him
from the north no better contribution
to his adaptive land than this strong.
deep. quiet, blessed deyoutness of
character.
Law Abiding and Loyal.
''As citizens. these settlers have
proved to be Iaw-abiding and loyal.
They were early called upon to show
their love for this country. When
the first pioneers began to arrive. the
lowering clouds foreboded deadly
| conflict between the north and the
south. At the first bugle call of war,
thousands and again thousands of
Swedish-Americans sprung to the
front as volunteers. ready to lay down
their lives for the cause in which their
heart believed. On every battlefield
their bones lie bleaching. in number
less homes the sad news of war
brought anguish and tears to loving
hearts. Twas with baptism of
blood then that they became good
Americans, the country they had
fought and been willing to die for.
they had also learned rightly to live
| for. During all these years the set
tiers from the north have taken the
keenest interest in public affairs. We
find their representatives today, not
| only on the farms and in the count
| ing-houses, but also in all depart
ments of city and county government.
! in the halls of the legislature. at con
gress, and in important positions er-
erywhere, all this foreboding the day
when Il man descended from the
north will by right of ability and in
tegrity he chosen to fill the supreme
office Of trust in this country. And
that man will no doubt come from
| the cid Louisiana territory.
America Chosen Bride.
This feeling does not exclude. but
enhances and clarifies, the love of the
land Of the forefathers. To use a fig
ure pronounced by DIR. Enander at
! the dedicat TCn OF the Swedish paNIi-
ion in Philadelphia at the Worlds eN-
position i'm 1876: America is our chOs-
en- bride, to whom we yield the most
ardent love of our hearts; Europe,
and for us Sweden, is our mother,
whom we revere and honor And ev-
cry American, especially he who has
a drop of northern blood in his veins.
choices today that the flag, blue and
gold. which has been carried to vic
tory on many a battlefield, will wave
to the wind among the banners at
this rendezvous of the nations of the
world. Behold. there the stars and
stripes are intertwined with the gold
en- cross and blue background of the
banner of Sweden. May the two ma
tons thus ever be united in their eff
forts for the advancement of human