Evening star., 1925-06-08

merely brought together q large num-
! ber of people in a large place.
Had these misGivings been juSti-
fed when the hour OF trial came, it
| would have meant disaster to us and
to the world. But instead of crum-
bling into a chaos OF tliScurJant ele-
! ments, America proved its truly ma
tional unity. 1t demonstrated CON
clusively that there is II spiritual
quality shared by all races and con.
ditions of men, which is theiT uni
versal heritage and common nature.
Powerful enough TO hold this people
to a high ideal in time OF supreme
trial why may we not hope that the
same influence will at length reach
men and women wherever they are
found on earth"
Mr.. Coolidge spoke as follows:
How often in the affairs OF this
world a small and apparently insig-
nitiCant occurrence turns out to be an
event Of great Importance, carrying
in its train a mighty influence for
good or evil. Such Importance always
flows from he character of those con-
cerned The generations of the earth
treasure the rude hut that sheltered
the infancy of Abraham Lincoln, seek
out the birthplace OF ShakeSpear, and
the title of the Holy Land, all because
certain obscure happenings in those
places produced those who left broad
mark upon the future course of hu-
manity. The character of the partici-
pants brought future fame. 1t is such
an event that we meet to commence
rate today. One hundred years ago
a little bark sailed from Norway to
America. 1t was almost unnoticed at
l.
hardihood of its navigators. but it
brought with it the representatives of
a stalwart race. men and women of
fixed determination, enduring courage
and high character, who We're to draw
in their retinue a long line of their
fellow countrymen destined to change
the face of an area broad as an en-
pire, direct the historic course of SOW
ereiSn States and contribute to the
salvation OF great Nation. These
mighty works have been wrought be-
cause those Norwegian immigrants
We're we'll worthy to follow in the
wake of the Pilgrim and Cavalier.
This celebration is most happily
identified with the present year, which
is an anniversary of notable events in
the history of our country. We are
rounding out century and half
from the beginning of the American
revolution 1t was a half century
from the days of Concord and Lexing-
ton to the beginning of that stream of
immigration from Norway which was
to help guarantee that the spirit of
freedom which had been so tri-
umphant in the colonies should not
be lost to the States.
PrOfited by immigration.
When we consider the astonishing
number of immigrants which the
Scandinavian countries have contrib
uted in proportion to their own popu-
lation to making the body of Ameri-
can citizenship, we will appreciate the
significance of this anniversary 1t
well deserves the consideration it is
receiving here in this State which has
so richly profited by a larger proper
ton of this north-of- Europe immigra-
ton than any other commonwealth
Minnesota would not be Minnesota,
the group of imperial Northwestern
States would not be what they are but
for the contribution that has been
made to them by the Scandinavian
countries.
Because of profound appreciation
of that contribution and of its truly
national value l have found 1t an es-
pecial pleasure to come here and join
of loyalties that are all beyond possi-
hility of question, it may be difficult to
choose among the many national and
racial groups that have sought out
America for their home and their
country. We are thankful for all of
them, and yet more thankful that the
experiment of their common citizen
ship has been so magnificently justi-
fed in its results. If one were seek
all races of men, if one were to chal-
lenge the riddle of Babel in support
of aspirations for a unity capable of
assuring peace to the nations, in such
an inquiry | suppose no better teSti-
mony could be taken than the eXpe-
rience of this country. Out of the
confusion of tongues, the conflict of
traditions, the variations of historical
setting, the vast differences in talents
and tastes. there has been evolved a
spiritual union accompanied by a
range of capacity and genius which
marks this Nation for q pre-eminent
destiny. The American people have
commanded the respect of the world.
Anniversaries influential.
1t is a good thing that anniversaries
such as this are so widely commemo-
rated. The next few years will be
nlleu WIN cOntlnulng succession OF
SIMILAR occasions. l, wish that every
one of them might be so impressively
celebrated that all Americans would
be moved to study the history which
each one represents. l can think of
no effort that would prdouce so much
inspiration to high and intelligent pa
triotism. Occasions of this nature
bring to our attention whole regions
of the past that would otherwise re-
main uneXplored, tend to be forgotten
even by scholars, and pass entirely
from the public mind. These incen-
tives to special examination of par
tfcular historical phases teach us bet
ter to understand our country and our
countrymen. Any one who will study
the institutions and people of Amer.
lea will come more and more to ad-
mire them.
One reason that moved me to accept
the cordial invitations to come here to-
day was the hope of directing some
measure of national attention to the
absorbinEly interesting subject of the
social backgrounds of our country.
The making of such a country is not
to be told in any mere category of
oates, battles, political evolutions and
partisan controversies. Back of all
these, which are too often the chief
material of history, lies the human
story of the unSung millions of plain
people whose names are strangers to
public place and fame. Their lives
have been replete with quiet, unpre-
tentious, modest. but none the less
heroic virtues From these has been