Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1911-11-01
tons are about the same as III An
erica under the lead Of the German

OF Europe lS@DOund Dy race and lam
guage ties to America, and vice YER
So; and we can say, "Blest be the tie
that binds" These things help to.
weld us together and to pave the way
for the coming federation or fellow
ship Of nations. Americans are los
ing their spirit Of seclusion, separa-
ton and independence and are fast
coming to realize that America is a
continent, not an island, and with
ties already existing rather than to
be created; ties binding, not to a
part, but all, Of Europe. Naturally,
certain sections Of one continent are
particularly united to certain sec
tons Of the other; for instance, New
England with Britain; Pennsylvania,
Ohio, Illinois and Wisconsin with
Germany; and the Northwest with
Scandinavia. In spite Of these fav-
orable conditions we cannot meet Eu-
ropeans halfway upon acquaintance.
They say we are underlanguaged, are
not noted for our language pride, but
rather for the lack Of it.
These relations are permanent
for what nation, as we have said, is
likely to displace the Scandinavians,
for instance? Sixteen million Prot
estant Scandinavians and Films hold
the North in Europe and love the
North in the new world. No better
class could be desired; nor could they
concentrate elsewhere more advan-
tageously. Having passed through
several colonial eras and possessing
now no colonies but still being pion-
ieer races, they can hold this section
|of America. If it is their birthright
by discovery and settlement, they car
sell it, squander it or neglect it more
easily than others can take it from
them. The English and the Germans
might supplant them, but they have
theirs.own territory to colonize anG
besides they have their favorite 10.
calities in America. Ireland's fou1
million cannot displace them. Thu
northern Slavs have all Siberia, ant
!, the southern Slavs and Romance ma
tons prefer a southern cline and FOL
other reasons are not be be feared
at present.
Every year strengthens the tie:
} that bind to their fatherlands tn
three Scandinavian races in ou
Northwest. Last summer American
Scandinavian professors shared il
the University celebration at Chris
tiania while Professor Odland con
! Quoted church summer school il
5 Minneapolis. This bond is proving
a great blessing to America, to tn
> fatherland and to the emigrant; jus
> las did the tie that bound New Eng
t land to the British Isles. Sweden
l Norway and Denmark are each de
: veloping her own line of American
steamships built by Scandinavian
: capitalists in both America and Eu
, rope. These countries are rapid,
: undermining their ancient viking life
l as the Germans are their hanseati
!; industrial trade. Thus bound to thei
4 American children, the fatherland
: will the better serve their country
: men in other continents.
!; Europe is cosmopolitan, Americ
: provincial. In developing cosmopol
itan Americanism, Germans an
4 Scandinavians speaking the tongue
V of central and northern Europe, leai
: and work together with the sam
: spirit and ideals. They have it with
: in their power to form the north o
: the new world, so that it will no
: need a reformation. AS pioneer
J, they can now put their imprint indel
!, IDLY upon it for all time to come. Wi
: they do it.? Never, if they forge
: the languages and culture Of thei
!. Netherlands.
), The Reformation Festival remind
: us Of the true mission Of Protestan
n Germans and Scandinavians in tn
S closer cultural union now developin
f between Europe and America. r..
: Reformation Day, October 31s1
e 1911.
b J. n. LENKER.