The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1914-07-09
GOVERNOR HANNA
PRESENTS STATUE
ONE OF THE GREATEST EVENTS
IN NORWEGIAN HISTORY IN
YEARS-CEMENTS RELATION.
SHIP OF TWO COUNTRIES.

Chfisttania, Norway, July 4.-A
tribute to the Scandihavians who sup.
ported the American Union and fought
In its armies during the civil war was
paid here today by Governor l.. B
Hanna Of the state OF North Dakota
U. s. A., who, at the head Of dele
cation Of his fellow citizens, present
ed to Norway bronze statue of Alb.
raham Lincoln.
OF the men who settled the north.
west part Of the United States, said
Governor Hanna, none from foreign
lands made more valued citizens OF
have risen to greater eminence than
those Of Norwegian parentage.
"Among the peoples that for many
years have come flowing into North
Dakota, from Europe, there have come
many men and women from the
Northland," said Gov. Hanna. "About
one-third of the several hundred thous.
and people who live within the borders
of North Dakota came either from
Norway direct or are of Norwegian
parntage. They established towns;
villages and cities and in the years
that have gone by, they have done
their part in the building up and in
the making of great state. And
now in this year of 1914 the eyes Of
the Norwegian people of America
have turned again with love and rev.
erence to the Fatherland of Norway
A people who have respect and love
for the country of their ancestors
have in them the making and the
ideals for the building up of a nation
which is theirs by adoption.
"Today, I am glad to bring to you
from the people Of North Dakota their
kindest and most cordial greetings
On behalf of the people of that state
! present to you a bronze bust Of the
greastest American that ever lived
Abraham Lincoln.
''The Almighty called Abraham Lin
coin to the. Presidency Of the United
States at the most critical period in
its history. The God Of Nations knew
that at that time the country needed 9
man Of power and integrity. As truly
as Moses was the leader of the Jewish
people, so Abraham Lincoln was the
leader of the American people.
"In the war between the north and
the south many Norwegian-Americans
took up arms in defense of the Union
One regiment from the State Of Wis.
consin was made up almost entirely
of Scandinavians and largely Norweg.
ians, and the record made by that reg.
iment is one of the most honorable
made by any regiment Of the many
thousands Of regiments which were en-.
gagged in that war. During the dark
days Of civil strife, the Scandinavian
people in the United States loved Lin.
coin. They revere his memory. They
honored the principles for which he
stood. AS the years have gone by
Lincoln has been idealized and I be.
lieve rightfully so.
"This monument with it's base of
granite, with it's tablets in bronze, and
with this bronze bust of Lincoln sur
mounting it is very similar to the mon
ument that stands upon the field Of
Gettysburg, where was fought the
crucial battle of our Civil War. ]
know Of no memorial or tribute that
might be presented to the people of
Norway by the people of my own
state that could be more appropriate
than this memorial Of Abraham Lin
coin. It is presented to you in the
centennial year of Norway's indepen-
dence. The memorial is that of man
whom America idealizes and whom
the whole world loves. The nations of
the world shall teach their children in
the years to come lessons from the life
of Lincoln, and those children shall
women by reason of those teachings.
make stronger and better men and
women by reason Of those teachings.