Evening star., 1948-06-05
By fhs Assoeioted Press

i ] ext OF Ium(
BY the Assoeioted rrsss
CHICAGO, June 5.-The tert
OF President Truman's address
last night before the S,Oedish
Pioneer Centennial Association:
Mr.. Chairman, Distinguis h e
Guests, and Fellow Citizens:
We are meeting here in Chicago
tonight to do honor to a group Of
American pioneers-the men, womer
and children who came from SWe.
den one hundred years ago anc
joined the great procession of pio-
neers that was moving out to the
prairies of the Middle West.
The first of the Swedish people
to seek a new future in this land o1
freedom and equality were religious
leaders and scholars from the uni.
versities. But the main stream OF
Swedish migration to our shores
consisted of men and women with
deep love of the soil. In the great
American West they saw a chance
| for a future that was denied them
in the Sweden of their day.
The America to which these SWe-
dish settlers came was a land that
needed the hardy qualities they
brought. 1t was not land that was
particularly softhearted toward new
corners. but everyone believed that
each man should have fair chance
regardless of his origin.
Soon Felt at Home
The newcomers quickly learned
their way about and soon felt al
home. The Homestead Act of 1856:
provided them, as well as many
other pioneers, with an opportunity
to Acquire lana and establish family
fafsssSsH TO the MAA -k6ngr yss5
grants, The tough prairie sod seemed
golden opportunity and they con-
quered 1t by hard work.
Before the Swedish migration
cd S&aA&
of the United states. Today, more
than one-quarter of all people o1
Swedish descent in the world live
in the United States. There is
scarcely a family in Sweden which
does not have relatives in this coun-
try. That is the kind of personal tie
which strengthens friendly interna-
tional relations. I am sure we car
look forward to continuation OF
the long period of friendship be-
tween our two countries.
This friendship is heightened by
the fact that Sweden today is one
of the most prosperous and pro.
gressive democracies in the world
America is proud of its citizens o!
Swedish descent and the part they
have played in building up the
Middle West. We are all familiar
with the development Of the co.
operative movement in Sweden ano
I am happy that the same move
ment which has brought such pros
perity to Sweden has many adher-
ents among Swedish Americans In
this country.
Source Of Our Strength
When I think back on the great
epics in our history, like the Swed-
ish immigration of a century ago,
am reminded again of the source OF
our strength as nation. Early set
tiers in the United States came here
to escape harsh restrictions on per-
sonal liberties in their homelands, OF
to find economic opportunity. Here
the people were proud of being dem
ocratic, and they looked on individ-
ual liberty as something sacred. The
law recognized no aristocracy, and
man was respected according to
the measure of his own merits. The
rights of the little man were just as
important as the rights Of the big
man.
And we must fight to see that
America stays that way.
Since the day of the first settlers
America has been beacon Of hope
to the victims of oppression every
where. The best fighters for freedom
have brought to us their talents
their ideals. and their labors. They
have helped America grow and be-
come world power both in strength
and in moral leadership.
Today, persecution and oppression
again impel a new group to seek
homes in foreign lands. They are in.
nocent victims of war. They are the
displaced persons in Europe.
Millions Uprooted.
Their present situation is a re.
suit of World War II. AS the Nazis
swept over Europe, they uprootec
millions of its people and sent them
of to serve the Nazi war machine OF
to suffer in concentration camps
Millions of these victims were killed
Most of those who remained wher
Europe was liberated have returned
to their former homes.
But more than three years after
We Day. there are still 900. 900 dis.
placed persons living in Germany
Austria and Italy. These people ART
heroes of democracy-and that i.
the reason they cannot 60 bacl
home. They are anti-Communist
Originally they came from Estonia
Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, the
Ukraine, and Yugoslavia. All of u.
know only too well why anti
Communists cannot safely 60 bacl
to those countries.
Look at the reward these people
are getting for their opposition tt
communism! Most of them are liv-
ing in camps under conditions thai
violate all the principles of freedom
that are dear to them and to us
They have no homes. Few of then
have jobs. Under present conditions
the future holds no hope for then
or their children.