Golden Valley chronicle. (Beach, Billings County, N.D.) 1905-1916, 1908-06-12
POET OF LIBERTY
and HUMANITY
HISTORY OF HENRIK VERGE.
LAND WHOSE MEMORY WILL
BE PERPETUATED.

June II Will be Great Day foo Nor
wegians in Fargo, When statue Will
be Unveiled in island Park-vio,ent
Opponent Of Barriers.
The following concerning Henrik
Wergeland, a statue Of whom will be
unveiled at Fargo, N. d., June II pre-
sented from Norway to the Norwegt-
ans of America, will be Of interest TO
many in the northwest who were
pleased to see the monument located
in Fargo:
Henrik Wergeland, the Norwegian
Shelly, is the poet of liberty and hui
mainly. The tenderness of his feel.
ings and the infinite sympathy for the
sufferings of mankind, entities MIN TO
the same epfthet which is given his
great English professionalism Cor
dium"-the heart of hearts.
Although Norway in his time was
looked upon and really was neck of
Europe, and Wergeland's journey in
foreign countries, was limited to a
short trip to England and France, he
was always in contact with the great
events of the world. and especially
wide-awake to every movement for
freedom under the prevailing re-,
dictionary conditions in the first part
of the last Gentry.
The revolution in Spain and the
prosecutions of the heroes of liberty
following inspired him to his noble,
ireful poem, "The Spaniel" and the
hopeless cause of the Poles he has
immortalized in the mourning poem,
Caesars"
Wergeland was a violent opponent
of every barrier which race religion,
or faith set among mankind. This
youth, who named even the animals
and flowers his brothers and sisters,
naturally considered every human
being his neighbor.
Friend Of Jews.
The fact that the Norwegian consti.
tuition forbid the Jews admittance to
that country he looked upon as an
ignominy. He proposed change,
wrote article after article and fought
constantly for ten years to have this
provision expunged from the consti-
tuition. He composed two of his most
highly spirited lyrics 'The Jew" and
"The Jewess' during this agitation.
The bill was debated in parliament,
but did not get the majority needed.
Wergeland was not discouraged, but
had the bill again laid before the
house and this time it was carried,
but then Wergeland himself was dead,
having expired two months before the
passing of the bill.
In gratitude for his work the Jews
of Europe erected a beautiful monu-
ment on his tomb at Christiania.
Wergeland was an enthusiastic adj
mirer of America. In his writings he
ofen refers to the freedom and demo-
cratic institutions of this country
compared to the conditions of Europe,
and especially did he hold forth. the
splendid opportunities this rich coun-
try gave to the laboring classes. But
slavery Mortified him, and when the
Norwegian violinist Ole Bull, first
went to America he wrote a poem
greetings from Norway to Amerfca)
in which he commissions the great
musicion to soften by his music, the
hearts of the Americans. so that slav-
cry would become an impossibility.
When the people of Norway wished
to present their countrymen on this,
side of the ocean with a monument it..
was natural to choose the most Co.'S
mopolitan spirit that Norway ever
produced, the friend of all humanity.
The Artist Vigefand. I
1t adds to the value of the monu-
ment and the representative import
ance of the gift that the statue is
modelled by Norway's greatest sculp-
tor and one of the foremost artists Of
the day-Vigeland. The 17tn of June
is the century jubilee of Wergeland's
birth. and all over Norway the Nor.
wegians will be celebrating the day.
as also in America. Naturally as
many as can will go to Fargo, where
this monument is erected and where
his, for the Norwegians So we'll known
and beloved features, are to be un
yelled.
:. From all over the northwest farm
ers and laborers, business men and
professional men will gather together
to greet him, their poet. their hero.
their national symbol.
He has come to stay among them.
they will receive him with honor and
gratitude.
About the Program.
The committee composed of five
members of the city council, five
members of the Commercial club and
five members of the Sons of Norway,
and which has the unwilling exercises
In charge, has decided to ask the
Jews of Fargo to supply a speaker for
the unwilling program. Rabbi Rein
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