Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1865-07-14

tam CeutTStToH, anu Oruefeu nun III ar
rest. Upon second thoughts, the kim
changed his tone, offered to return th
sword and to excuse him from the oath
: on condition Of his attending him during
the rest of that day. The young maj
remained true TO bis principles, anC
said that bis majesty could not confide il
, him, and asked to be excused from tht
, proposed service. He therefore remain
ed under arrest with his two companions
The officers being gained, it was ar
, easy task to secure the CO. operation o
the soldiers and the good will of the peo,
pie, by whom the young king was enthu
siastically beloved. A guard of soldiers
surrounded the senate-house, and locke
in the members. The next morning the
king presented himself before that body
and announced TO them the changes be
designed to make in the government
He declared that, in future, the king
alone should have power to convene and
dissolve the legislature; that the king
should have the absolute command oI
army and navy, and the power to appoint
and remove all officers, military, naval
and civil; that, in case of necessity, OF
which the king alone was to be the judge,
he should impose taxes without consult
! ing the Senate that the Senate should
discuss no subjects except those proposed
by the king but that no offensive war
should be undertaken without their con>
sent. He then declared the Senate
dissolved and its members dismissed
from all their employmerts. He con-
cluded by taking psalm book from his
pocket, and gave out thanksgiving
hymn, which the whole assembly rose
and sang.
The kings triumph was complete. In
two days, Sweden, from being the most
strictly limited monarchy in Europe, be,
came one of the most absolute.
The despotic power thus gained by ly-
ing and audacity, was employed by the
king both for good and for evil Many
old abuses were reformed. Offices were
no longer sold. On the other hand,
new and dangerous importance was given
to the military and naval forces, both
being greatly increased, better dsciplin-
ed, better paid 50 that the elite of the
nation sought a career only in arms
The strength Of his army and navy
tempted the king to engage in foreign
wars, in which he displayed an ability
and courage which threw veil of "glory"
over fields of carnage and desolated prov.
inces. Under the peaceful sway of the
constitution, Sweden had enjoyed such
long period of repose that she had re-
covered from the exhausting wars ofI
Charles XII. Under the rule of a des-
potic king, ambitious to make himself of
consequence in Europe, she was plunged
again and again into strife. When, in
1892, the eleventh year of his reign, the
kings of Europe leagued themselves
against republican France, Gustavus, too,
remote as he was from the scene, was
true to the instincts of despotism, and
prepared to join in that gigantic raid up,
on the rights of a suffering, terrified and
distracted nation.
The mobiles, meanwhile, excluded from
their share in the government, bad never
ceased to plot against him. In 1890,
twelve Of the nobility bound themselves
by an oath to kill the king and restore
the ancient constitution. They cast lots
to determine which of them should ex-
ecute the deed, and the lot fell upon
Johann Jacob Anekarstoem, a young
man who had already been one OF the
kings pages, aud who had already been
once tried for treason and acquitted
He was a man of fiery and determined
spirit. His trial had been conducted, as
he thought. With unjust severity, and be
burned with resentment against the
usurper.
Two years passed, after this compact
had been formed, before an opportunity
occurred for its execution.
March 10th, 1892, the fashionable
world of Stockholm was preparing for a
grand masked ball, to be given in the
evening at the opera house, which the
king had recently completed. The king,
the royal family, the court, the nobility,
officers, and all who could pretend to
social or official rank, were to be present.
In the morning an anonymous note
was handed to the king, warning him of
he plot, advising him to attend no balls
for year, and assuring him that if he
went to the ball that evening, he would
be assassinated. The king read this note,
and tossed it aside with an expression of
AT a late hour in the evening the king
entered the magnificent saloon, and sat,
or awhile, in box, looking on. He
here spoke carelessly of the note, saying
hat he was evidently right in despising ,
t, for if there bad been any design upon
lis life, what better opportunity could =,
here be than at that moment, when be :
vas sitting apart with only one person
lear him +? He then descended to the =
loor and mingled freely with the gay ,
rowd until a late hour. AS be was
preparing TO leave the ball, number of
masked men gathered about him, one Of
vhom fred pistol at his back. The
ing fell, and scene of indescribable
ensued. The doors were clos :
d; every one was unmasked and search
d; but upon no one was discovered
nything indicative of guilt, for the as |,
ASSN had dropped bis pistols and his 4
agger on the floor near where the deed +
Gas done. .
The king died on the thirteenth day