Show Scan Uu1vlan moricans The Scandinavian people who como to this country are thrifty orderly hardworking hard-working and intelligent and readily adapt themselves to their surroundings They quickly learn the language and the younger portion of them are able to master very quickly its pronunciation which to the older persons has obstacles that they seldom sel-dom fully overcome They also rapidly become an integral part of the community acquiring citizenship and considerable familiarity with American politics and I methods of government Professor BOTEHSON in the North Amen I can Review points out one circumstance connected with them which has no doubt been observed by a great many individuals who have observed their ways He says the Norwegians are jealous of the Swodes and the Danes are jealous of both If a Swede is a candidate for office he is very likely to be opposed by tho other nationalities nationali-ties of the Scandinavian race and he will usually oppose them This rivalry has been observed somewhat some-what in these parts though perhaps not to the same extent as it prevails in portions of the northwest In consequence of it few comparatively ofthe Scandinavians obtain public positions It is said that in a population where there are but half as many Irish as Scandinavians the former usually obtain a much larger representation representa-tion in municipal and county offices This Professor BOTESSON justly explains is not in consequence of lack of aptitude for pub lio affairs But he considers it due to thsir lack of unity and discipline and the prevalence prev-alence of personal enmities It may also be partly due to their defects in pronunciation pronuncia-tion which unthinking people confound i with lack of ability and so genuine talent is unappreciated because of imperfections in speech But this failure of Scandinavians to obtain ob-tain marked recognition in official life may not be altogether an evil For while it IB desirable that union and harmony should prevail among people of the same race the organization of national societies such as Irish Americans German Americans SwedishAmericans etc Is not a good thing for the country These national characteristics should be aa fast as possible obliterated Not In the capacity of Scandinavian Scan-dinavian or Scotch or French or German aspirants for office should candidates succeed suc-ceed but as American citizens without distinction as to race or language or previous previ-ous conditions This division among Scandinavians as to their Swedish or Danish or Norwegian origin appears more marked to lookers on than it does perhaps to themselves Not that people usually discern any difference either In person or in dialect between Swedes and Norwegians and Danes unless they be close and critical observers But In this clannish spirit which crops out every now and then the national opposition is manifest and for their own good it should not be permitted to grow and be transmitted to their posterity The American spirit should unite all classes of resident foreigners When an alien becomes naturalized he is a citizen of our common country Old national ties are sundered all his interests of country are made new Henceforth he should banish feelings born of sectional prejudice and regard his fellow citizens of whatever race or nation as members of the same national family living under one government marching under the one flag I |