Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-06-26

/
MIDSUMMER DAY
is CELEBRATED
Continued From Page ~
noon. The flaxen haired lassies wind
Ing in and out with their ribbons of
Iyellow and blue, symbolic of the way
the Swedish people are entwined and
cling together after leaving their ma.
tive shores, presented sight not soon
forgotten.
Mayor Gives Welcome.
! The program was opened by the in
vocation by Rev. A. T. Lorimer of
Omaha, who gave thanks that the
Swedish people in America were able
to gather together and celebrate as
they did Thursday. Following came a
selection in Swedish by male chorus
led by Rev. G. A. Sundberg. Mayor
Fred Carter next made his address of
welcome. His humorous way of saying
that probably he and small colored
lad, who sat in the front row were the
only ones that did not understand the
song, brought down the house. He
also alluded to an Irishman who sat
next to him at luncheon at noon and
the cheers were mingled so that it was
impossible to tell whether they were
| applauding the speaker or the Irish
man. -
j Rev. BerseiI Makes Address.
Rev. P. o. Bersell next made an ad-
dress in Swedish and translated
Sh ~ &C. To lot Nv No MI
ans the little colored lad know that he
was very glad that the United States
and Sweden are not at war as are most
o.. the leading nations Of the world and
that he hoped to see America and
Sweden, clasping hands, lead the other
nations onward and upwards and show
to them the folly of the destruction of
humanity.
Treats on Citizenship.
| Swedish Americans and American
Citizenship" was the subject of the
very able address delivered by Lieut.
Governor ]. A. A. Burnquist of Mime
sofa, chief speaker at the midsummer
day exercises In Caldwell park Thurs
day.
Mr. Burnquist first dwelt on the ap-
probation of the Swedish-Americans
Of American citizenship and OF Ameri-
ing to the fact that they ought spec
tan opportunities and liberties, REFER
tally on this occasion be reminded Of
and appreciate the religious liberty
here enjoyed, for on midsumer day,
1880, exactly 2s5 years ago, the
Swedes landed in Germany and there
fought for it's religious liberty under
the leadership of Gustavas Adolphus
! who after great victories met his death
in the field of Lutzen two years later.
"Swedish-Americans have no sym.
pathy with doctrines advocating the
destruction of government. In Swed-
en-, anarchism is unknown, and there
Swedish-Americans believe In the
proper use of ones liberties and not
their abuse"
The growth of the rights Of fran
chise was taken up and plea made
for the proper exercise thereof. In
this connection the speaker referred
to the fact that Sweden was the first
nation in the world to give to women
tiers and soon it is expected will give
them this right on all matters. He
stated that many problems will arise
in this country because OF the diver
sity of citizenship. zone of these is
the colored problem, and these color
ed people, said he, must be treated
Justly, honestly and fairly. More than
fifty years ago great Swedish, Ameri-
can. Captain John Ericsson, did his
duty toward these people and the
United States in donating his services
to the building Of the Monitor which
saved the north on sea- We OF today
should do our share in helping to solve
these problems.
Pleads for Education.
"The greatest instrument for secur-
ing a proper solution Of race and ma
tionality problems Is the education of
our citizens of various races" said
the speaker. "The American school
system cannot be too highly encourag-
ed. for annually out Of the children
of all our foreigners, 1t is the mill that
turns out good, true American citi-
zens.
with education, continued Mr..
|Burnquist," must go the proper spirit
of broad mindedness which teaches
that men and women OF different
nationalities are not enemies but
friends. This is what should
have been taught the nations OF
Europe during the past decades and
there would have been more Of justice
and less of militarism Here again we
would do well in following that distin-
guished and world wide known Swede,
Alfred Nobel who gave his fortune
~ ~ - 4sls-