Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-09-10
Minister to Sweden-Norway

pointed ana uulV commissioned CullOu
S atcs Minister Resident to Sweden and
Norway. While we regret that the accept
ance of this position will remove him from
this city and State for several years, We fee
gratlfied that the government will have IN
Mr. Stevens an able, honest, and every
way worthy representative in the import
ant place assigned him. We shall lose Tor
a time good citlz N. wise. faithful. en-
ergetlc political leader, but the country
will gain a servant sagacious, trusty, and
well qualified for his mission.
la a political point of view Mr.. Stevens
deserves the confidence which the Presi
dent has reposed in him. Originally a
/ Wing, he abandoned that party and en-
rolled himself in the Republican party at
It's very beginning, where he has con-
tiuued up to the present time, distin-
gushing himself as editor of the kenne-
bee Journal for fifteen years, "a member
and ch tirman of the Republican State
Committee several years and as a speaker
ON the stump aud Representative and
Senator in the State legislature. Dur
| lug the last campaign he was acting chair
man ~ the State committee, doing in
valuable service in organizing aud carry
| ing out fully the work of the campaign.
As soon as the battle was over in Maine
he went to other States, speaking efficient
ly in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and
Ohio, for Hayes and Wheeler.
But long and distinguished service as
a Republican is not the only claim which
Mr.. Stevens has to the favor of the adj
ministration. Few men in New England
are so we'll fitted by culture and expert
ence for foreign appointment as he is.
The most exacting civil service reformer
can make no reasonable objection on the
score of qualifications. Starting in ac-
| tive life with a good education and the
habits of a student, his career has been
such as to give him the essential train
ing for a diplomatist. AS an editor he
was in the way OF acquiring information
that could but be valuable to him. Then
came three years experience as Minister
to Uruguay and PAraguay,-years of
most faithful and acknowledged competent
serv ice for the government-in which his
acquaintance was chiefly with the am
bassadors and other officials of foreign
governments, and his leisure time was
! employed in close study OF international
law and the French and Spanish Ian
guages. Resgnng his position four years
ago he visited England, France and
Germany. After his return home he kept
up from inclination and habit the studies
which had employed him in South America.
reading French aud Spanish authors in
their own language, periecting his know
edge of the works of the best writer's ON
international law, and thoroughly famil-
iarizing himself with ancient aud modern
history. 1t will thus be seen that Mr..
Stevens is prepared to discharge with
ability the duties of the position to which
he is appointed. The interests of this
government in Sweden will be faithfully
aud intelligently looked after by him.
The kingdom of Sweden though not one
of the great powers Of Europe, has an in
terestiug history and the character of its
people is such as to command deep re-
~pect from other nations. Sweden and
Norway are united under one king, each
country however having its local legisa-
lure. The population OF the united king
dom is about six millions. The people are
noted for bravery, enterprise, honesty and
frugalty. They lead the world according
to numbers in their commercial marine
Their vessels are 10 every sea, their flag
is found in all ports of extensive com
merce. Education is free and compuso-
Try. Consequently the people are intell-
gent aud well Informed, scarcely person
being found who cannot read and write
While agriculture and navigation have
been the chief resources of the people in
times past, manufactures are rapidly
growing. Ia 1880 the value of goods
produced in the manufactures was So
900. 900; in 1870 the value produced was
the State religion. but all sects are tolera-
ted in the kingdom. The old Morse Lam
guago was The original language of the
whole scandinavian peninsula, but the
Swedish language as it now exists is
Scandinavian tongue modified by German,
Latin and other languages. The part
which Sweden bore in the Reformation,
beginning in 1929. with Gustagus Vasa. is
a memorable epoch in her existence. The
/ glorious career Of Gustavus AdoIphus,
closed by his death at the battle OF Lulzen,
makes a brilliant page in Swedish history
as also do the remarkable though reckless
campaigns Of Charles XII. Sweden has
her great poets, artists, historians aud writ
ers OF fiction. Her rugged soil and rough
climate are favorable to the growth OF
sterling men and women.
From Stockholm, the residence of the