St. Paul daily globe., 1888-02-12
POLITICS IN SWEDEN.
The Tariff Is About the Only
Issue Now Before the
Swedish People.
Some Of the Theories Ad-
vaneed by Men Who Repre-
sent the Two Factions.
They Want Protection as
Long as the United States
Clings to the Idea.
Inner Workings Of the Riks-
dag---Nymanover's Letter
on Swedish Politics.

Rarely has there been any items OF
international newspaper interest in the
political management of Sweden during
King Oscars reign. The sessions of
the riksdag have usually been occupied
with local atfairS-the transactions OF
national loans, the appropriations for
military and naval purposes, the build
ing of ships of war, appropriations for
national museums or educational insti-
tutiOns and for the personal eXpendi-
lures of the royal family, etc. The
political ambition of the country has
consequently, so far, been content with
the usual Pharisaic ObServanceS Of
treaties and due payment of the mint,
aniSe and cumin of national diplomacy,
so that, practically speaking, no change
of any serious character has during his
reign affected the kingdom.
THE TARIFF QUESTION.
Yet, even herein the Ultima Thule
great principles agitate the people
and especially the popular branch of
the ricksdag; and the most remarka-
BILE thing of all is the fact, that the min
istry is in sympathy with the popular
element of the country. The principles
that sgitate the people are the free
trade principles, and the all absorbing
question is the question of high or low
tariff. BY this article to the GLOBE |
wish merely to give a fair exposition of
the present political fight between the
prOtectioniStS on the one side and free
traders Oh the other. We all know, to
illustrate my article by historical refer
ence, that for instance protection. with
its complicated but conservative system,
was introduced into European policy by
French statesman, on. Colbert in the
year of 1867. Before his time Holland,
for example. supplied all Europe with
manufactures, and received in payment
the raw materials of its poorer neigh
borS.
Colbert sought to force, really, the
if Of 1867, by Which the
importation of all manufactures was
prohibited. Such was the origin, shortly
speaking, of the idea of national protec-
ton to France. At once came the free
traders into the market of Europe with
their gospel of non-interference. They
said: Those statesmen, who first intro
duced protecting duties, had for their
object what, no doubt, they themselves
very sincerely believed would be at
tained-the encouragement and ad-
Vancement OF domestic industry. But,
allow us to remark, they said, at the
time when the project of protection
was first conceived, nothing was known
as to the true sources of national indus
try and wealth! In fact, opinions, they
observed. were wholly formed from first
appearances, etc. This led very natu-
rally to the conclusion that the only
means by which industry and riches
could be rapidly and extensively adj
vanced, was by granting legislative Sc
curity against all interference whatever
of those hated and rival foreigners.
Such were the sentiments of the free
traders during the last century.
And then came the famous Richard
Golden. fifty years ago, and said in
voice much like thunder, that all leg
islative interference with industry is
wrong; that the wants Of the people are
the only supports of industry and
wealth, and that in proportion as they
increase with the increase of ciyiliZa-
ton,
INDUSTRY Is EXTENDED,
and. at the same time. all those under
takings which create national wealth.
Such. in fact, are the sentiments of the
free-traders in Sweden at the present
moment. Such, also, were the senti-
ments of his eXcellcncy, o. II. Themp-
tander, the present premier of Sweden,
with whom l lately had the pleasure of
an interview on the subject. Such were
also the PRINCIPLES of Rudolph Wall. the
well-knOwn editor of Dagens Nyhcter
in Stockholm. (The Daily News.)
Labor and capital" the latter said,
twill, when no restrictions interfere, be
employed to produce those things which
the peculiar circumstances of a country
allow Of being produced with the great
est advantage; while those which can
be produced with greater advantage
abroad will be imported, and paid
for by exporting homemade goods.
You see," he said, 1.-The varieties
of climate, situation and soil afford
to every country in the employment of
industry, some advantages not possessed
by others. By making use of such adj
VantageS, every country will exert itself
in the way that is most beneficial in the
production of wealth. Hence it is that
the capital in Sweden is much more pro
ductive Of wealth if employed in tim
Der, iron or butter and cheese business
pre-Supposed that such business is car
ried on rationally) than if employed for
farming purposes in producing cereals,
or those things which a foreign country
can make or produce cheaper. PrOtec-
ton, consequently, diminiShes the worth
of every mans income, and leads to con-
sequences wholly opposed to those ben
eficial results which are produced by
leaving the wants of society to take
II1Ctl Wv IL COuISSs
THE ARCHBISfIOP'S VIEWS.
To these and other sentiments of the
"CosmOpOlitan'' Swedes Qike Wall, and
his fellow-politicians), shall, for the
sake of contrast, compare the arch
bishops. Archbishop Sundbcrg, whom
referred to in aprevious letter, is 1.-The
very champion of the protectiOnistic
party in Sweden" to quote the premier's
words. The tariff in Sweden, the bishop
maintained, is prOtectioniStic. and of
course, ought to be. The Swedes are
Swedes, and their hearts turn to their
mother country. Sweden, to paraphrase
his sentiments, has now only quasi
protectionist aspect. The character of
the tariff is a mere revenue tariff. the
offspring of sheer fiscal neceSsity in
fact. The opposition will bring high
tariff TO a square issue in the coming DO
litical campaigns, and make it pure
protective tariff once for all. Why we
want tariff is because of the Russians
and the Americans! If United States
for example will hover her tariff, all
right, we Swedes will then be free
traders to man. As it is, we cannot
afford to be. By the free traders we
are called protectioniSts, and we accept
the name, but else we call us the ssNa-
tiOnal party" and our cry is national
policy" that is to say, a fiscal
SYSTEM adjusted to the special interests