Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-08-30
Or. Gustav Andreen Delivers Ad-
dress at chautauqua,
NJ, Y.
PRAISE ROCK ISLAND MAN
Best Speech Heard on Occasion of
This Kind Eastward is
Subject Chosen.

for his subject. Eastward" After dis
cussing the cry of Westward he took
I'D a view in the other direction, turn
ing then to a discussion of the Swedes
and Swedish-AmeriCans, speaking in
part as follows:
You will find these Swedish immi-
grants and their children represented
in all the various vocations of life, on
the farm, in the mines, in the profess
sions at the universities, and in poll
tics in politics their leading men have
always stood for purity, for honesty
and for good government Their work
IN this respect has the true American
ring. in harmony with the keynote
given us by our great and good presi-
dent. Theodore Roosevelt. ard some
day. | know not when. We may live to-
see the day. some day man not born
N the north. but a man of northern
descent, will surely occupy the presi-
dental chair.
Taught To Look Eastward.
Born and raised as l was on the
prairies of the west, | learned from
early childhood TO look eastward in
the sense of which | have spoken, to
look eastward toward the early history
# America. to look across the waters
TO the history of the foTefathers in the
pnrth. l heard. too. in the limpid and
poetic language of Sweden of the beau
t:ful 'saGas' OF the north, of the fairies
and the troll of 'Necken.' and of Tomt-
gubben. | heard of old King Costa, of
Charles IX.. of Gustavus AdOlphus, ami
my eyes glOwcd and my blood ran fast
er when | heard how my forefathers
had been along when he crossed the
sound. how in his very death he won
at the battle of Lutzen And finally
the day came when it was my priv
lege to go eastward, first to the his
toric sites of America. where felt as
if ! had come closer to the fathers of
the revolution, then across the waters
to old Sweden. Never shall | forget
the morning when we arrived at the
port of GOttenburg Between the two
and a half years which | have spent
IN Europe for study | have learned
more than ever TO appreciate our blood
relation to the past history of Europe.
rejoice in the fact that Sweden has
contributed much to the general ad-
vancement of the world. | had Occa-
sion to visit the various parts of this
country of our fOrefatheTs from Skanc
and Blekinge in the south to Angeman-
selfven in the north. and felt on my re-
turn and on again taking up my work
here that | better understood and APP
preciated the Swedish-AmeTicans for
having sojourned for some time in the
land of their fOrefathers. | under
stood. too. as never before. their love
of song, the musical language of the
Swedes when il is well spoken. In the
land of the wonderful midnight sun.
and the long winter evenings, song is
a necessity, and poetry and song find
natural expression in the folk songs of
the people and the student songs In
America we have adopted. as it is wOr.
thy, the Scotch folk song. Side by
side with it we may place the Swedish
folk song 1t is well today as Swedish
Americans that we keep this folk song.
translate il into good English. and the
day will come when not only the
Scotch folk song. but the Swedish as
well. has been adopted here. We have
heard of the Swedish students who
took part in the song contest during
the exposition at Paris. who, although
they came last on the program, fol
lowing the Germans, the Belgians. the
French. and despite of embarrassing
accidents. sang so nobly that before
the Judges could meet. the audience
and the other singers had proclaimed
the Swedish students the victoTs
Building Glorious America.
IF in the past We have received
from others, we have also contributed
TO the upbuilding of a glorious Amer
ca. Even with reference to certain
customs we are teaching our Ameri-
cans new things. Little by little we
are teaching them TO eat lutfisk' on
Christmas eve The early Swedish
and German settlers introduced the
Christmas tree as a means of celebra-
ting that day, until now II is almost
universal American custom
During these days we look with
special interest toward the land of our
forefathers where a drama is being
enacted in the separation of Norway
| from Sweden. the significance of which
We cannot yet fathom. Much has been
said and spoken on this subject: differ
ent are the judgments coming To Us
from all sides. bur Of this much | am
sure. that IL Is not through fear that
Sweden lets Norway break the union
In the two years I was in Sweden
have looked her men in the face.
learned to know them in their homes
I I saw their bravery their willingness
| to give their life rather than let their
honor be furnished The descendants
of the men who fought at Breldenfelt
and at Stangeboro still have the spirit
of their forefathers and are as willing
a. they tn shed their LIES blood for
what is honorable and right.
An Admirable Quality.
In the present turmoil. however. the