Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1865-07-14
From the New York Ledger.
Assassination of Gustavus III.
BY JAMES PARTON.


ces, young, handsome and intelligent
were at Paris enjoying the hospitality o.
the French Court and the various pleas,
ures Of the gay metropolis. Gustavus
the heir to the Swedish throne, was one
Of them, and his brother, the Duke oI
Sudermauia, was the other They were
the more welcome in France because
they shared the skeptical opinions that
were then so fashionable on the conti-
nent. The French philosophers, exclud-
ed from the presence and the favor oi
their own king, gathered round these
princes, and celebrated their affabiity
and liberality in prose and verse. Gus
tavus and bis brother were preparing to
visit Vo!tare in his retreat at Ferney
on the borders of Switzerland, when the
news of the death of their father called
them suddenly home. Votaire, in one
of bis poetical epistles, expresses his dis
appointment at not having received them
"n his desert and in his humble home,'
as he pleased himself TO style his elegant
chateau and its magnificent grounds.
Gustavus became King under the III
tie of Gustavus Ill, in his twenty.sixth
year. There is no doubt that he was a
considerably enlightened and well>inten-
toned monarch, who desired to reform
and elevate his country. Being the
nephew Of Frederick the Great of Prus,
sia, and his character having been form,
ed at the time when Frederick s renown
was at its zenith, when he was STYLED
"the Solomon and the Alexander of the
North" it was natural that Gustavus
should accept him as his model, both as
a king and as a man, and that he should
desire to govern Sweden as his uncle
governed Prussia. But there was an
obstacle 10 his way. Sweden was very
limited monarchy. The real authority
of the State resided in legislature com
posed of the four orders of the kingdom,
mobiles, clergy, burghers and peasants-a
large and somewhat unmanageable body,
which lefC to the king little more of roy
atty than the name and the external dec
oratious This legislature, like all rep
reseniative bodies, in all ages, was divd,
ed into parties, whose conflict sometimes
disturbed the country, and often retarded
necessary legislation.
In such circumstances, there are two
courses open to a chief magistrate.
One is, to use all his power, and the
great influence which a virtuous head of
government can scarcely fail to possess,
to improve or reform the constitution ofI
bis country. This is a slow and difficult
process, but it is one which oulasts the !
lifetime of him who worthily does it, and |
confers benefits that sometimes endure
for a thousand years. There are Roman
laws, legal methods and institutions which
to-day are serving all Christendom.
The other is, TO destroy the constitu-
ton and found upon its ruins despotism.
Gustavus III, young and impatient to
begin his kingly work, chose the easier,
the shorter, the ignoble course.
August l9tb, 1872, the second year Of
his reign, a number of military officers,
and other persons known to be disalfect-
ed toward the Senate, were summoned
TO attend the king at his palace in Stock
holm. While they were assembling, the
king rode through the streets on horse
back, bowling as he went, with particular
affability, to the people, acknowledging
the salute of the humbIest person. He
visited his regiment of artillery, to whom
he was all condescension aud politeness.
Returning to the palace, he invited the
officers and civilians whom he had sum,
moned, into the guard-room, where he
delivered to them long address, in which
he displayed talents for oratory that
would have powerfully aided him if he
had sought to save Liberty, instead of
destroying it.
He began by limiting that, amid the
Of the time, his own life was
and that he was compelled to
seek safety in the counsels of the faithful
officers and friends then in his presence.
He painted in exaggerated colors the un-
happy condition of the kingdom, accusing
the mobiles of being bribed by foreign
gold, Of selling offices for money, of
all needed reforms by factious
disputes and mean contentious for the |
He then declared that il
was now his design to put an end to the |
disorders of the Senate, to Danish cor {
ruptiOn from the state, restore true lber. {
y and the ancient lustre of the Swedish
name. He solemnly disclaimed for ever G
absolute power, II am obliged" said {
le, in conclusion, 'to defend my own [
liberty, and that of the kingdom, against (
he aristocracy, which reigns. Will you i
DO faithful to me, as your forefathers were /
o Gusiavus Vasa and Gustavus Adol- t
,hus ? | will then risk my life for your '
Welfare and that of my country" r
AS all the assembly appeared to ac- &
luiesce in the kings design, which they c
title understood, he instantly proposed ?
o them an oath of unqualified obedience, n
which all but three as instantly took v
)ne of the three, Frederic Cederstrom, k
young captain of the kings guards, c
aid that he had very recently taken an e
ath of fidelity to the Senate, and conse-t e
uehtly could not take this new oath, a
which was inconsistent with it.
Think of what you are doing" said d
he king, sternly. v
81 do," replied the young officer sand
Vbat / think to-day / shall think to-mor- a
ow and were | capable of breaking d
he oath by which ! am already bound to s
he Senate, I should be capable Of break D
ng that which your majesty now requires /,