The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1872-10-31
Sweden and Norway.

Sweden and Norway.
/. By the recent death of Charles XIV, King
of Sweden, his brother Oscar was elevated to
the throne The new King earned the reputa-
ton of an intelligent, virtuous Prince, when
of the imperial seat, and will doubtless leave
the purple robe Of supreme command spotless
to his. successor. King Oscar rules over two
nations. His sceptre stretches over two KING
donis.' He is the head of Sweden and Norway,
which are tinted under o hereditary and con-
stitutional monarchy. The succession to the
throne is limited to the male line of the royal
family. Females are positively prohibited
from meddling with governmental affairs in
this part of Europe. The ruler Of Sweden and
Norway cannot exercise his choice as to the
matter of religious belief That is fixed and
determined by law; as it is in England, and
other European countries. The King of Nor
way and Sweden must be a Lutheran; that Is
indispensable as loyalty to the occupant of the
throne. In the Interpretation and administra-
ton of the laws, the King is assisted by roy
al council of ten eminent citizens. This coun-
Gil embraces three privy counsellors, and the
ministers of Justice, war, marine, finance, reli-
gion, foreign and internal affairs. The diet, or
parliament is composed of four chambers, rep
resenting four estates-the mobiles, clergy,
burghers and peasants, each OF which has Its
own hall of assembly, and conducts its delibe-
rations without regard to the others. The
regular sessions of the diet occur once in three
years, but it may be called together oftener If
necessary. The sessions usually extend over a
period of three or four months. The King has
the power of absolute veto of all legislative
acts, but this is counter-balanced by the right
70 inf hno rdc nj
and supervision, the duties of which are to
keep careful eye upon the proceedings of the
Supreme Courts of justice, regulate the nation
al banks, the liberty of the press, the public
debt the public treasury, and in short nearly
every department of domestic government.
Owing to the inconvenience of this system in
some respects, several important changes were
made in 1866, and this Diet now more nearly
resembles the British Parliament of Lords and
Commons. None but believers in the Luthe-
ran faith can hold Office in Sweden, and citi
zens who abandon this form of worship and
adopt another, are punished by the forfeiture
of certain privileges in the Kingdom. Sweden
maintains standing army of 100000 men un-
der a peculiar system. Most of the soldiers
are supported and maintained at the cost OF
the landed proprietors, and reside on their es-
tates, in dwellings provided for them by said
proprietors. In return for this maintenance,
the soldiers, in time of peace. serve in the ca
pacity of farm laborers, except during the an
nual drill season of four weeks. The balance
of the army is composed of volunteers, who
serve for six years, and besides this every
Swede between the ages of twenty and twenty
five is Obliged to join the National Guard. One
hundred and seventy-one vessels constitute the
Swedish navy, which is officered by appointees
Of the crown, and considered quite efficient.
The local administration of Norway is based
upon a constitution adopted in 1914. The leg
islative chamber of the kingdom holds trienni-
al sessions. 1t is composed of members chosen
by the freehold voters of the several districts
every male Norwegian who has attained the
age of twenty-five years, and owns property to
the amount of $3.50, being entitled to the right
of suffrage. The Legislature assesses all the
taxes, which are collected by royal officers, and
the laws enacted by it must be ratified by the
King. II, however, any law is passed by the
Legislature three times, it becomes valid with
out the assent of the crown. Norway and
Sweden are united so far as the Sovereign, for
eign policy and diplomacy are concerned; but
outside of these the former is an independent
State, with the exclusive control of its own
affairs. The King is commander-in-chief OF
the Norwegian army and navy, but he cannot
increase or diminish either without the consent
of the Council of State, which consists of Nor
wegians only. No foreign troops can be
brought into Norway except in time OF war,
nor can native troops be sent out Of the coun-
try unless in similar emergency. There are
certain State rights held sacred in Norway.
These they will not allow even the King tovio-
late. The constitution of Norway looks to the
total extinction of class privileges in that
State. 1t provides that no one can be confirm
ed independent of the tenure of office, and no
one can be raised to the rank of noble. With
the death of the last representative Of the 6f-
teen noble families now existing-the members
of which were born previous to !S21-eyery
form of hereditary aristocracy will cease, and
eyery man stand upon his individual record IN
the community There is but small army
and navy maintained by Norway, and the peo-
ple are not taxed to keep up military force
These are the nations over which King Os-
car is called to preside. Much attention has
been paid to popular education IN both coun-
tries, and the people are intelligent and peace
full. They are attached to the ruling family,
and will second all efforts put forth by the new
monarch to improve the condition OF his king
dom. If peace continues to prevail IN this
part of Europe, the advance Of Sweden and
Norway will be rapid in all matters that relate
to art, manufactures and agriculture, The
people have caught the progressive spirit the
age and are moving in the right direction with
steady steps. King Oscar mounts the throne
associated with the golden age in the history
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