Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1882-06-06
A LITTLE NoRWECIAN HISTORY.

May 18th was tho anniversary OF an
svsntful date in tho history Of Norway.
In name it il the union with Sweden,
which il marked for celebration; but in
fact II is the birth Of the new Norwegian
Independence, and the beginning Of the
growth of Norway in all that marks q
FREQ and progressive state, self-governed,
proud of it, liberties, and intensely con-
sentative. No title Of race or nation
calls up more poetic visions than that
of tho Norssman. The Scandinavian
people have q history extending back to
tho dim ages of myth, when Odin was
tho progsnitor Of tho royal line. They
have literature whose bold and rugged
beauties have never bssn surpassed.
They live in the imagination as tho race
whose sea-kings were the terror of an
earlier time, who first dared to penetrate
tho mysteries Of the terror-haunted At
lantic, and whose rule in England, iuds-
pendent of a common origin, connects
them by closer tic with every one Of
English name. From tho time Of Harold
Harfager, with whom authentic HISTORY
begins, down to about SIX centuries ago,
tho record Of Norway, though glorious
enc for the stormy annals Of those times,
10 ono Of almost constant battle, with al
tsrnating conquest and submission.
Then came decadencs; and from the
early part of the fourteenth century. the
kingdom Loaf its nationality. Now q
province Of Sweden and now Of Den
mark, manners, Independence, and even
language were made 10 conform to the
caprice Of the conqueror. Not until
less than . century ago did Norway
catch q glimpse Of the security and
honor which shc now enjoys. The wars
Of Napoleon dragged tho scandinavian
kingdoms into that conflict which had
Europe % it, thsatsr, and laid the foun-
dations Of Norwegian Independence.
The great emperor had . lavish way Of
beatovina sovereignty upon brother
or favorits, and Of giving away provin-
oss a. il they were his rightful inhsr-
itanoe. He had assigned TO Russia the
Swsdish province Of Finland, to which
he had no claim; and Russia made her
peace with Sweden BY making her
present Of Norway, which was not hers
to give. when this arrangement was
ratified, Norway declared her indepen-
denoe; and the national assembly ct
Eidsvold, ON April II, 1914. adopted .
constitution; aud on May IL. sixty EIGHT
years ago, Prince Christian Was elected
king. Although forced TO yield BY the
combined power Of England and Sweden.
and to accept the union, the constitu-
tion Of Eidsvold remained substantially
intact. Its provisions guard most jsal-
ously against Swedish encroachmsnts.
and tho first article provides that Nor
way ahall b free state, Independent.
indivisible. and inalisnabls. united to
Sweden under the same king" The r.
suits Of the union have been most bens-
fetal to both countries, and the event is
worthy Of celebration, since nowhere,
probably ,does there exist a constitutional
monarchy which grants TO ito subjscts
such complete aud perfect Independence
- that snjoped by the brave and indus
trious people of Norway. The bands Of
The old ssa- kings once advsnturously OF.
plorsd our most inhospitable shores:
nov their descendants have sought in
America permanent home. The wild
Norss warriors once descended on the
fertile folds Of England. TO plumber and
rava9e; nov. after fourteen centuries,
The came race comes 70 till the still more
fertile fields Of EnRlAnd's greater OF
spring. Norwegian and Svsds ale
bound here by closer union than that
which holds their native lands as one
common kingdom. The conquest they
ars making with the plov viii b moro
enduring than the old victories Of the
l. - - B.