Decorah-posten og ved arnen., 1916-09-29

<h00iSoS uCllNCICu at Tic dIllludl IIlSNh-
ing OF "Sondre Hordalands-Laget'
at Morris, Ill, Sent. 9TH, 1916, by
Nicolay A. Grevstad, formerly
Editor of Scandinavian and U. S.
Minister to Uruguay and Paraguay.
Mr.. Chairman, Ladies and Gentle
men! 1t is a great honor to have an
opportunity to address such a SPLEEN
did audience OF cOuntrymen and tel-
low citizens as this, especially on j
subject dealing with the history OF
our people in this country. You have
come from many states and from
many settlements and cities that owe
SO much OF their growth and well be-
ing 10 the hard work and industrious
care of your parents and yourself.
You have httingly chosen for the
meeting place Of your eunlon this
thriving city Of Morris. in the heart OF
a large and prosperous Norwegian
neighborhood, not far from the seat
OF the second pioneer Norwegian
settlement in the country, which
among its founders and builders
counted also men and women from
your part OF Norway. And | take it
that descendants or relatives of those
sturdy leaders are with us in this
gathering today.
"As 'Horder' from southern Horda-
land. you have your special traditions,
memories and customs in common, as
you have your own accent OF the
mother tongue. But you are all good
Norwegians and, like all good Nor
wegians, good Americans.
What About the "Hyphen?"
But are we not hyphenates-those
of lis who were born in NorWay-you
as well as /? That we cannot deny,
nor can we help it nor are we asham-
ed of it. On the contrary, we are
proud of hailing from old Norway.
We are hyphenates, but only in the
same sense that our native born fell
low citizens may be hyphenates on
occasions. We may speak about IL
linois Americans or Minnesota Anne
r%icans,' etc, just as we speak about
Norwegian Americans Swedish
Americans etc.
There are shades OF differences be
tween Americans from Iowa and
Americans from New York, for in
stance, as we'll as between Americans
born in Norway and Americans born
here. But these differences are not
or need not be essential. In all sec
tons OF the land, east and west, espe-
cially in the cities, we have organiza-
tions OF residents hailing from some
other state. on the lines of similar
organizations Of residents from the
same country in Europe. All of these
groups have certain old home ties i'll
common which draw them together;
but it has never been suspected or
charged that the Americanism of, say
The Sons OF Maine" in any of our
cities was liable to be tainted by their
flial attachment to their old home
state and their memories of their
early years. 1t is the same human
sentiments that live in the hearts of
all normal citizens born abroad.
Clannishness.
Some years ago-before the
"hyphen' was invented-we used to
hear. about election times, charges OF
clannishness against this or that
group OF adopted citizens. Those
charges were in some instances well
founded. But clannishness was not
confined to foreign born voters. 1t
is safe to say that there was more
scratching, and may be now, of for
eign born than of native born candi-
dates. We had a curious instance of
native clannishness' during the last
primary campaign in Chicago. There
are supposed to be about $4,000
voters born in the state of New York
in the metropolis of the West; and it
was stated in the public press that
all OF them were working to secure
the nomination of a certain candidate
because he was a son of their state.
This beats any outcropping OF clan
nishness among foreign born citizens
that has come to my notice; but moth
ing was said about it.
Nothing to do with Loyalty.
The "hyphen" has been very much
overworked. 1t is merely a handy
and practical way of designating GER
tain groups of citizens when we desire
to do that, and does not or need not
mean anything else. 1t saves time in
speaking or writing, and the term is
so clear and definite as TO prevent
misunderstanding. 1t has nothing to
do with loyalty or disloyalty. As far
as Norwegian Americans are concern
ed, we can say, t%ruthfully, that there
is no hyphenated allegiance among
us-we are as true TO the flag as any
other group of citizens, native or for