The Causes of Immigration--American Influence on Europe, and Especially
on Sweden--The Condition of the Swedes in America--American
Characteristics--Antipathy against Foreigners--The Swedish Press on
America--American Heiresses.
Much has been said on the causes of immigration. These are numerous, but
the chief cause I have found to be that the people of the old world are
now being aroused to the fact that the social conditions of Europe, with
its aristocracy and other inherited privileges, are not founded on just
principles, but that the way to success ought to be equally open for
all, and determined, not by privileges of birth, but by the inherent
worth of man. And here in America is found a civilization which is, to a
large extent, built on equality and the recognition of personal merit.
This and the great natural resources of the country, the prospects for
good wages which a new continent affords, and in many cases greater
religious liberty, draws the people of Europe, at any rate from Sweden,
to this country.
Sweden is a very good country, but more especially so for those who are
fortunate enough to be born to title, honor or riches. To be sure, even
there instances are known of men from the ordinary walks of life making
their way to wealth and prominence; but those are exceptions, possible
only in cases of unusually great personal merit. Here, on the other
hand, the reverse is the rule; the self-made man accomplishes most, as
instanced by the history of our presidents, governors, financiers and
other distinguished men. And this is quite natural, for the prospects
and possibilities which a man sees before him in this country stimulate
his ambition, and arouse his energies to surmount the greatest
difficulties.
The new ideas now permeating society in Europe, and which will gradually
transform it, have, to a great extent, originated in America, more
particularly the idea of brotherhood, the sympathy with equals, the
conviction that it is our duty to better the condition of our
fellow-men, and not despise them, even if they are unfortunate. In this
respect, as well as in many others, America exerts a great influence
over Europe. To me the better situated classes of Sweden seem
short-sighted in their hostility to emigration, for a man of broad views
must admit that emigration has been beneficial even to Sweden herself.
It may not have benefited the higher classes directly, as they cannot
hire servants and laborers as cheaply as formerly; but the people have
benefited by it as a whole, their condition being now better than
formerly, when competition between the laborers was greater.
America also exerts a great influence on the mental and moral
development of the people of Sweden, although this may not be so
apparent on the surface. The thousands and hundreds of thousands of
letters written every year by Swedish-Americans to the people of the
working classes of Sweden arouse the latter's ambition, and develop
liberal, political and religious ideas among them. No one can calculate
the scope of this influence, to say nothing of the eloquent language
spoken by the millions of crowns which are annually sent home to poor
relatives and friends, and which either lighten the burden of poverty or
enable the recipients to prepare a brighter future for themselves in
this country, and how many a poor, down-trodden fellow, who could
expect nothing better than the poor-house in his old age in Sweden has
become an able and useful citizen in this country!
When the poor young laboring man or woman, who in Sweden has felt the
oppression of poverty and looked forward to a life without hope, arrives
in this country, the timid, bashful looks give way to hopefulness and
self-reliance. It is true that this is often carried too far, especially
in the line of expensive and extravagant dress, which sometimes makes
the wearer appear ridiculous; but these are trifles, the main thing
being that those people learn to know their own worth, and are able to
create a brighter future for themselves.
The tact and manner acquired within a short time by common laborers who
looked thoughtless and careless while at home, are simply astonishing.
A Swedish diplomat, who visited Minnesota twenty years ago, and, among
others, met one of his father's former farm laborers, who was now in
good circumstances, in an official report to the government of Sweden
expressed his astonishment at the change which the Swedish people had
undergone in that respect.
It cannot be denied that many among the higher classes in Sweden feel
very unfriendly toward the United States, and it was even not long ago
a common saying among them, "America is the paradise of all rogues and
rascals."
Many Americans suppose themselves to be better than all others, and
believe their country and institutions to be perfect. In this they are
mistaken, for in several respects this country is as yet in its infancy,
and has many defects which the countries in the north of Europe have
long since outgrown. As one instance I would mention that the school
system is altogether too dependent on local influences, so that while
the common schools in the northern cities and towns are very fine,--in
some instances perfect,--those in the country rate very low compared
with the same class in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Northern Germany.
Another case in point is the system of taxation which notably gives
unprincipled men of wealth opportunities for escape, while the poorer
classes are taxed for the full amount of their property, the burden thus
falling proportionately heaviest where it ought to be lightest, and
_vice versa_. Again, the laws which make possible rings, monopolies, and
trusts, to the great prejudice of the people, or permit gambling on the
produce of the country as carried on in the great commercial marts of
America, robbing the producer of the fair wages of his toil, and many
other things which would not be tolerated among the nations of Europe.
Thus it lies within the power of one man, in this our great state of
Minnesota and other states, to make or unmake cities, towns, and
communities, by a single edict locating a railroad, fixing a time-table,
and in many other ways exercising arbitrary power that no European ruler
would think of assuming. The execution of our laws, also, in many places
has proven highly unsatisfactory, often making our much-boasted jury
system, especially in criminal cases, a farce and a disgrace.
The trouble is that political demagogues and Fourth of July orators
continually keep pointing out only the best sides of our institutions,
which undoubtedly are both many and great, while few have the courage to
speak of the defects and short-comings.
As for the conduct of the native Americans toward the immigrants who
settle among them, I venture to say that although they consider
themselves very tolerant, and are so in a general way, they are in many
respects very intolerant and prejudiced; but this is owing to a lack of
knowledge concerning other nations. It is true that the immigrant,
especially from the north of Europe, is bidden welcome, and is generally
well received, but he is expected to be content with shoveling dirt,
chopping wood, carrying water, plowing the fields, and doing other
manual labor, no one disputing his right or his fitness for these
occupations. But when he begins to compete with the native American for
honor and emolument in the higher walks of life, he is often met with
coldness, mingled, perhaps, with a little envy, and although the adopted
citizen may, in many instances, start on an equal footing with the
natives in culture, intelligence, and business ability, it is only
exceptionally that he will be recognized as an equal socially; and there
is scarcely an adopted citizen of the non-English-speaking nationalities
who has not deeply realized the truth of this statement.
It may be safely said that it will on an average take two generations
before the children of the non-English-speaking immigrants shall cease
to suffer more or less from these prejudices. Certainly the children of
immigrant parents, although born and brought up in this country, are
often subjected to sneers and taunts by their more fortunate
playfellows, even within the walls of the American public schools.
This antipathy is most noticeable in places where the number of
foreigners is very great, but less where they are few, and may be
explained and partly excused by the fact that, when a great number of
foreigners live together they are more apt to maintain their customs,
language and amusements, which differ from those of the native-born. But
the chief reason is that when the immigrants, most of whom belong to the
hard-working classes, arrive directly from a long and exhausting
journey, they are often poorly dressed, awkward and ignorant of the
language and customs of the country, and look forlorn and crestfallen.
The first impression which the native American thus receives remains
with him, while he does not stop to consider that the same class of
people coming from America to Europe would not appear to better
advantage if they should go there as immigrants. Nor does he consider
the injustice of judging whole nationalities by their less favored
representatives under such circumstances. There are, of course, many
noble exceptions among the native Americans; but as to genuine tolerance
between different nationalities, I have seen far more of it in the great
cosmopolitan cities of Europe, Asia and Africa, than in America.
But these shortcomings may be easily overlooked for the many noble
traits of character which all admit him to possess. And most striking and
beautiful of these is the honor and respect he shows to woman. There is
no other country in the world where woman is treated with such
consideration, and where she is as safe and honored as among Americans,
and if we judge nations by the way their women are treated, as I think
we should, the American nation has no peer in the world.
But if the Americans have a one-sided and wrong conception of
foreigners, so have also many foreign people a wrong conception of
America, and we ought not to blame the former more than the latter. The
Swedish press, for instance,--with praise-worthy exceptions, of
course,--has always shown great prejudice or ignorance in its treatment
of America, and especially of the Swedish-Americans. Thus it has always
been ready to dwell on the dark sides and keep silent about that which
is praiseworthy in this country. If, for instance, a lawless deed has
been perpetrated on the frontier it is pointed to as a sample of
American civilization, without considering that such things take place
only in the western cow-boy or mining life, the days of which will
soon belong to the past. And if an immigrant, who, deservedly or
undeservedly, has been unsuccessful writes a letter to his old home and
slanders America, how eager the newspapers are to rush into print with
it. Even if the man has been here only a few months, and seen only a
small spot of the country, they are still ready to accept his story as
reliable testimony, and judge the whole country accordingly. But this
by no means applies to Sweden and the Swedish press alone; it may with
equal truth be said of the Europeans and the press of Europe generally.
There is no gainsaying the fact, however, that new-comers as a rule must
expect adversity and difficulty on account of being strangers, and
because of their unfamiliarity with the English language. And such as
are unaccustomed to manual labor and have not learned a trade stand a
poor chance, especially in the beginning. Book learning is of little use
at first, for there is no lack of educated people in America. Hence it
is a great mistake for young men with nothing but an education to depend
upon to come here with the expectation of making a fortune, for the only
way to success will at first generally be by taking hold of the spade or
the axe. Have they the courage to do this? Then let them come, for
opportunities will open after a while to those who shall deserve them.
Certificates of character and recommendation are here of little value;
titles and family connections of still less. One cares not much for what
you have been; but only for what you are.
In the last civil war a young German officer came to President Lincoln
and offered his services as a volunteer in the army. The man had high
recommendations, and talked a great deal about his noble birth, and even
intimated that royal blood was flowing through his veins. Having
patiently listened to all this, Lincoln, putting his hand on the young
man's shoulder, said, encouragingly: "Don't let this trouble you, my
friend, for I assure you that if you only do your duty well and
faithfully, these things will be no impediment to your success. We are
not so unjust in America as to think less of a man on account of his
European titles. No, I can assure you that you have precisely the same
chance for advancement and success as if you had been a man of the
people, provided you prove as competent and meritorious as one of
them."
I have often heard Europeans wonder how it is that with such a
democratic spirit so many American heiresses seem anxious to marry
European noblemen. But it should be remembered in the first place that
there are not many, but comparatively only a few who manifest this
desire, and also that those few by no means represent public opinion
here. On the other hand, is it not quite natural that when European
gentlemen of the highest classes meet and get acquainted with American
girls, their social and intellectual equals, that a mutual attachment
may in most cases be the true motive for such alliances? For, as the
grand Lincoln remarked, when the European nobleman possesses all other
requisite qualifications his titles are no barrier to his success,
either in the army, in business affairs, or with the fair sex. Old names
and titles are usually a guaranty of good education, culture, and other
praiseworthy acquisitions.
In my contact with the world and with men of different peoples and
races, I have found that it is unjust to judge them by nations or
classes, as if one nation or one class were necessarily better or worse
than others, for there are both good and bad characters among all, and a
good man is just as good, and a bad one just as bad, whether he be
Hindoo, Mohammedan, or Christian, American or Swede, nobleman or
peasant. Much good may be hidden under a coarse and common exterior, and
we must not search for virtue only among the accomplished, the rich, and
the fine-looking. Just as much, indeed, is found among the lowly and
unobserved; and in the quiet, humble daily walks of life are constantly
enacted deeds of heroism and virtue which are never known or applauded
by the world, though fully as deserving as many of those which are given
an honored place in the annals of history; yes, often much more so.