Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1914-07-08
OF INTEREST TO
SCAND|NAV|ANS
News Gathered in the Father
land and Elsewhere.
/. f. !. T. !. !. f. j. j. !. i. 4. !. i. j. + !.
f. SWEDEN. +

+ 4 j. i. + !. j. \ !. X !. + j. i. + j. j.
When our own Northwestern states
and territories reached out in every
direction in quest for pioneer settlers
none responded from the warmer
countries. How fortunate for our
Northwest, and for the whole United
States, that the highly Christianized
and civilized Scandinavian peninsula,
projected farthest into the north of
the old world, and needing its sons
and daughters at home, most gener-
ously offered them to plant their cul.
tire and language in our Far North
western domain. No European ma
tons we're better prepared by kind
Providence to endure the cold and
billiards. of the north of the new
world and to plant better type of
Christian civilization there than the
Norwegians, Swedes, Danes, Iceland
ers and Firms, the five nations that
speak the two Scandinavian tongues
and represent the Scandinavian cul-
ture, with a three-language public
school system equal to the best in
the world, which they will plant and
cultivate in the virgin soil of the
new world when the opportune time
comes. From the signs of the times
it will soon be at their doors. These
people from the northwestern 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
compact body. They hold a strategic
position in the new as they do in the
old world. What they have accom-
plished here is an instructive chap
ter in the worlds history. 1t is open
for inspection. Americans them
selves are proud of their achieve
ments on the farm and in town and
city. In no other part of the world
have they done better. No part of
our country developed faster and
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 we'll begun
should be developed to the highest
degree. Their fatherlands have no
colonies at present elsewhere, and if
their interest and emigration are not
diverted from our Northwest and a
Port Arthur defense of their culture
be erected by the schools in the ris-
ing generation, they will maintain
themselves and serve America as
we'll, if not better, in the future. Every
state in the West and South is cry
ing for immigrants, white people be-
ing always preferred. But the source
of supply of Europeans, or white, i'm
migrants is limited, especially from
! and fOCsethesr north. s.aItsai sfaEa@ easioE
to secure immigrants to settle South
ern than Northern lands, because in
the South there are far more people
and much less land. Hence the ques-
ton is vital one-where is the vast
territory of the North, especially that
of the new world, to obtain settlers.
The Norwegians, Swedes, Danes, Ice
landers and Firms have made a be-
ginning. Subtract them from the
Northwest and what have you? Min
| neapolis would be the Northwestern
frontier instead of the center of
North America. Italians are no more
at home in Canada than Scandina-
VANS in Alabama. There is an eter-
| nal fitness of things also in develop
ing and conserving the material and
culture resources of races and ma
lions. Scandinavians are a patriotic
| people. Their patriotism, hitherto
| expressed in admiration of their his
tory and country, is turning also to
an appreciation Of their culture and
language, to their mission on the sea
| and beyond the sea, in uniting their
worldwide scattered sons and daugh.
tiers, in retaining and spreading their
culture and language in pure form.
Two million people in the British
Isles speak the Celtic tongue and
100000 of the population of British
Canada speak French. 1t ought to be
easy for the 100000 Scandinavians
in the free country of the United
States to maintain their langu ages.
| i !. j.
Nelson Morris of Chicago has been
appointed United States minister to
Sweden by President Wilson. It was
thought for a while that the post
would be offered to Minnesota man
but the honor goes to an Illinois man
this time. Harry Lund, prominent
Minneapolis attorney, was among
those mentioned for the post.
4 !. !.
i The Swedish parliament has re
ceived a petition signed by 100000
: women urging woman's enfranchise
ment. A bill along these lines is nov
in the diet and has much support
but it is supposed the First chamber
will reject it.