Year: 1871

ful1lIullilll


Scandinavian Secretary Of State.
We publish below an extract from


the translation of an article in the Nor


dish FoAcdIaat adj, e Scandina


vian paper. It discloscs the real posi-


tion Of our Scandinavian friends, an,


ctfectu ally refutcs the foolish asscrtio,


which has often been made, that unless


the demand for Norwegian Secretary


was promptly met by tho Republican


party, the Sc,ndinaviuns would bolt in


a body. The position Of the writer *


correct. He does not demand a State


office for his countrymen because they


arc foreigners, but because they are now


and always have been unwavering in


their su oport Of the Republican party


We do not understand that the Office OF


State Seer etary is the only ono they


would accept, and VIC would Suggest
that favorable compromise might be


be made by conceding to them the OF


fee of Treasurer. 1t has been confined


to one nationality for some time ana


there would be no harm in change.
When the Scandinavians come up like


men, as they no* do and say "we think


we are justly entitled to good Office at


the hands of the Republican party, we


shall 80 into the canvass and secure it
if possible, but whether We get it or


net VIC arc still Republicans, and no


personal considerations can drive US
from the party VIC love-" Then is the


time to treat them honora5ly and fairly
and recognize their noble patriotic de-
votion to liberty and American institu-
tions.


The Scandinavians constitute as We all
know, about one fourth Of the popula-
tion in Minnesota, and they are, with
very few exceptions, all Republicans
and vote the Republican ticket; it is
therefore plain, that they form an I'M
portant clement Of strength in the party.
We say without fear, that there are
many, who now hold important Offices
in this state, who Lever could have
been elected if it had not been for the
fidelity of the Scandinavia ms to the
party, its principal and leading men.
We lea,e it to the leaders of the Re-
publican party, if, under such circum-
stances, it would be just or good policy
to ignor entirely our wish to see our
selves represented in the state govern
ment, and we earnestly protest against
the offensive language in which several
papers have expressed themselves about
US for daring to utter our wishes; we
are sorry to see the St. Paul Press in
the dictatorial tone so often used by
that paper, seems to take the lead in
this matter. It is important that We
should not be misunderstood by our
countrymen or by the Republican party
at large. We do claim as right that
a Norwe: ian should get the nomination,
we do not threaten that the Scandinav-
ians in a body will have the party even
if their wish is not fulfilled, but we
claim the right to be heard, tho right
to recommend a man Of our nationality;
and we believe that it will be in the
interest of the Republican party to listen
to our wishes before it decides. AS
we claim nothing, but as
branch of the Republican we claim the
right to be heard. At the samc time,
as we do not threaten, we must confess,
that in case the Scandinavian citizens
should present the name Of MAJ be-
fore the Convention, and he is defeated,
it cannot help causing dissatisfaction
and, as consequence, apathy, if moth
ing worse. Whether a Norwegian gets
the nomination or not, the editors Of
she Nordish FoMeblud, and with them
many Scandinavians, will do all in their
power to promote the success of the
party but there would be
many who would make use Of the cir
that Norwegian did not
get the nomination, to spread dissatis
faction among the people. 1t is hardly
necessary to say that the man whose
will be presented by the Scandi-
navian dclcga tcs, will be one possessed
Of the necessary qualifications for the
Office, and VIC hope the convention will
reject any one who might not possess
education and ability. five are to have
a representative it must be man Of
whom we shall not feel ashamed.


We desire to secure victory for our
party in the coming campaign, and with
this aim we must express ourself, that
it would be unreasonable and unwise to
ignor the wishes which the Norwegians
have expressed.