very large majority you gave me. The time does not admit of any
extensive remarks upon my part, yet so much has been said lately
regarding the Scandinavian element, that the subject, perhaps,
requires an explanation from me; and, as the chosen representative of
the Scandinavian people of this state in the present campaign, I am
authorized to express their views, and I do so from a thorough
knowledge of them. It is true that we have left our beloved land; we
have strewn the last flowers upon the graves of our forefathers, and
have come here to stay, come here to live, and come here to die. We
are not a clannish people, nor do we desire to build up a Scandinavian
nationality in your midst. You have known us here for many years; you
have seen us come among you unacquainted with your language and your
customs, and yet I know that you will bear me witness how readily
and fraternally we have mingled with you, learned your language
and adopted your ways, and how naturally our children grow up as
Americans, side by side with yours. We have been cordially received
in this great west by your own pioneers, and have become prosperous
and happy. Yes, we love this great country of freedom, and we wish to
be and remain Americans."

Being elected a few weeks later by a large majority, I assumed the
duties of secretary of state on the 1st of January, 1870. As secretary
of state I was still a member _ex-officio_ of the board of emigration,
and had charge of all its work and correspondence, which amounted often
to a hundred letters a day.

In the month of June following, rumor came to the capitol of a new
Indian outbreak on our western frontier. It was said that Indians had
come in the night and committed depredations, and quite an alarm was
caused all along the frontier; the bloody massacre of 1862 was still
fresh in the memories of our people, and while the state authorities did
not believe this rumor, we deemed it necessary to take measures at once
for pacifying the people by protecting the frontier. Therefore I started
out at once with several hundred stand of arms, with ammunition
and authority to organize the settlers into militia companies and
commission officers for the same. Selecting a few friends for company
and aids, we went by rail as far as Benson, Swift county, thence by ox
teams northward, following the frontier settlements to the northern
portion of Otter Tail county. Four companie