Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1912-05-01

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record worthy that Of their forefathers
In other great empires. From Manitoba
they exerted marvellous cultural infiu-
Ience in Canada.
Ano1 asanS y o1shwsst.
When our own vast northwestern
states ana territories reached out In
every direction IN quest Tor pioneer
settlers, none responded from the warm
er countries. How fortunate for our
northwest and for the, whole United
states. that the highly christianfzed and
civilized Scandinavian Peninsula, pro-
1ect1ng farthest into the north Of the
old world, and needing Its sons and
daughters at home. most generously Of
fered them to plant their culture and
language In our TAR northwestern do
main. No European nations were bet
ter prepared by kind Providence to
endure the cold and billiards. Of the
north OF the New World and to plant a
Detter type OF christian civilization
tnere than the Norwegians, Swedes,
lanes lcelanders and Firms, the five
natlons tnaI speak the two scandtnav-
lan tongues ana represent the Scand1n-
avian culture with three languag pub
nc scnool system equal to the best in
Inc Worlo' Whlch they will plant and
cultlvatesln the virgin soil Of the New
Wor1d When the opportune time comes
From the signs OF the times 1t will soon
De at tnelr DOORS
i Z 10 NOR NJ hr oc%o
coast of the old world anchored their
culture not on the fringe Of the new
world. but here in the very heart of the
North American continent, In one COM
pact BODY. They hold strategic posi-
ton In the New as they do in the Old
world. what they have accomplished
mere Is an Instructive chapter in the
Worlds history. 1t is open for tnspec-
| ZION. Americans and themselves are
proud OF their achievements on the farm
ana IN town and city. In no other part
OF the world have they done better. No
part OF our country developed faster
ana healthier than the northwest where
these people settled. Nowhere has their
free viking heroism a better chance to
express and materialize itself. Their
work so well begun should be developed
to the highest degree. Their father
lands have no colonies at present else
where, and if their interest and emf
grafton are not diverted from our north
west anu fort Arthar de1ense OF their
oui'uie NC erecteo ny the scnools IN tne
lisihs seneratlon' they Will MAINTAIN
80 ee.s.s o''u 90 'e 1Aineiica as WE'LL
II not petter' III the future.
70 ynCf !,
are crying for immigrants, white people
being always preferred. But the source
of supply of European, or white, immi-
grants Is limited, especially from and
in,,i a,ants - aa+t'a s.., ~ eo t1Ae
nor+hor, 1870
there are far more people and much less
land. Hence the question is vital one
where is the the vast territory of the
north, especially that of the New World
to obtain settlers? The Norwegians
Swedes, Danes, Ice1anders and Films
l have made a beginning. Subtract them
from the northwest and what have you:
Minneapolis would be the northwestern
frontier instead of the center of North
America: Italians are no more at home
in Canada than Scandinavians in Ala
bama. There is an eternal fitness OF
things also In developing and conserv'
ing the material and cultural resources
of races and nations.
Scandinavians are a patriotic peop1e
Their patriotism. hitherto EXPRESSED in
Admiration of their history and country
lis turning also to an annreciation n,
their culture and Language. to their mis-.
sion on the sea and beyond the sea, ir
uniting their worldwide scattered sons
land dauehters- in retaining and spread.
ling their culture and language in a nurf
form.
@4nne.pon' scanonsv1an cultural Cen
i 'o1 " A1ne1aoa' -
Minneapolis should be the center Of
Scandinavian culture in the New World
Chicago and New York are competing
for this international honor hut Mime
apolis. as I have tried To show in nrint
has advantages. Each Euronean ma.
ton already possesses snch cente,
Ieither in North or South America an5
mo nation ia stronger in ;nf,uance tho,
Its strongest center. What the Scan.
Idinavians of America need is the strong.
lest nossible cnltura1 center thew car
|develon in the northwest M;nneanol;.
lis fortunate in having all three Scan
ldinayian nationalities wen represented
land it could be easily made a little
Stockholm, Christiania and Copenhagen
lall in one. The only wav this~can h.
REALIZED. however. is bv keeping I'M thei,
|culture repeat this the mother anf
Iout tho ear1v continued and hoortv co