New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-10-06

English of the Swedish Revolution under Gus
tavus vasa a revolution which, in its inception,
was really n war of independence, but which IN
the end wrought only change Of masters ana
burdens, and established more firmly than ever
the principle of hereditary monarchy IL may
he that the virtual failure OF the Swedish popular
movement is one reason why u has rot hereto
fore engaged the attention OF English historical
writers and students Astounding as IL docs
with picturesque and romantic incident ana
brilliant examples of patriotic heroism, it cannot
but be felt that all this magnificent endeavor and
self-sacrifice was practically thrown away; or
that az best the revolution issued in but one
lasting benefit TO the people, in their enfranchise-
ment from the dominion and intellectual despot-
ism Of Rome. Mr.. Watson has not undertaken
TO write the life Of Gustavus ErilSson, but simply
the history Of the revolution which put him on
the throne He ends his book with the coronation
Of the King. An additional chapter even nghuy
sketching the events Of his long subsequent reign
would have rounded out the work Handsomely,
and perhaps the author may in future edition
see fit TO insert it.
The story of the Swedish Revolution is init
mately connected with the history of the Hans
eatic League When the young Gustavus was
kidnapped by Christian the Second of Denmark
and imprisoned in the castle Of kalo his escape
thence would have been futile had not inc
burghers Of Lubbock extended their hospitality
and protection to him, refused TO deliver nm up
at Christians demand and finally furnished MIN
the means with which to prosecute the reVolu-
tion Even then il seems doubtful whether Gus
tavus would have succeeded in arousing the now
thoroughly subdued and discouraged Swedes but
for the treacherous cruelty of Christian in the
menace OF the chief Swedish mobiles. Again
Lubbock came 70 the aid of Gustavus when the
sbirs of Norby were marrying his coasts ana 10
WINS the war vessels of the League when peat
back the fierce pirate and prevented MS co-oPera
ton with Christian But despite Mr. Watsons
honest endeavors to set forth all the crcuin-
stances clearly and fully, and notwlthstaha'hs
the extent Of his researches among the oweolsn
archives, the precise manner OF the accompiisi
ment Of the revolution remains obscure IL VIII
be observed by the reader, for example 'n"O
in nearly all the descriptions of military MOVE
ments during this period the Swedish forces APP
near 10 get the worst of it and this, too, is per-
fectly natural when we remember that they we're
almost wholly undisciplined, poorly armed peas
ants and farmers, whose habit il was TO disperse
and 90 home after a battle no matter what Ihe
issue of the fight.
,t.or ,bo first enpapements the Swedes seem
IN have been quite regularly beaten by the DANISH
troons: and vet they were gaining ground steaulS'
Tine siege of Stockholm by Gustavus was really
for many months no investlture aI all ouD i"'N''
an observation. lie was unable TO lace the army
of Christian, and Was repeatedly dflNeh iar """S
from the CITY, II with extreme oihcuI'S
that he kept together few hundred men, an"
they were always ready to run away anu "'Ne
refuge in the woods. How. in spite OF all inns tnc
Revolution waxed while the strength OF CHRISTIAN
waned, is not sufficiently explained. The pre-
,bot
that though not strong enough TO fight pltched
battles he was able TO devastate the country rouho
ahout the Danish camps and to cut OIL foraglhe
narties The stoppage Of reinforcements. oil
course counted for much III the ultimate ueie"O
of the Danes and the fact that they coulu 10
longer count upon important ana from the o"euI'"
faction which had accepted the rule OF CHRISTIAN
When Gustavus at last found himself on the throne
and the country was partly paclhca' ne was Gun
fronled by financial difficulties OF formoaDle
character and it is quite evident that these dill
cultes had more TO do with the nature Vi HIS
subsequent internal policy than any religious CON
victons There is, indeed. no reason ior De-
1icvinr that he would have interfcred with the
feudal system which he found existing, If 1t had
not traversed his necessities in two ways III
Tho first place the Council of Mobiles challenged
his sovereignty. In the second place, the NasI
possessions of the Church impoverished his treas
ury.
No king ever assembled the throne more hampered
in fiscal matters lie was deep in debt TO Lubeck;
and Sweden mad for years been so trampled anu
numbered that the capacity OF the people lor
responding to taxation was nearly exhausted Dc
sides this they were in an irritable ana SENSITIVE
mood prone to find fault with the new UoVerh-
ment. and too accustomed TO revolution by this
time to be dealt with vigorously. Ousta'us leIu
that the first necessity was the payment Oh inc
Lubeclx debt. and. indeed, he was mercilessly
dunncd by the agents OF the city. In MS EN-
barrassment be turned 10 the Church. wsch was
needlessly rich. and thus he almost insenslbly
entered upon the path which was TO lead to the
enrolment of Sweden among the Protestant States
and 10 provide excuses for the absorption ana
oonfiscation of ecclesiastical property. An In
tercsting episode in this campaign is the struggle
between the King and Archbishop Brask VINO
WAS almost equally alarmed at the monarchs
leaning toward Reformation doctrines and his In
creasing greed for Church lands and treasure.
In regard to the latter, Gustavus had way OF
securing what he wanted which tended TO lessen
resistance 10 the next demand lie peremptorlly
ordered the Bishop TO send him so much money
and he repeated these orders until he was obeyed
His own i'm perious necessities no doubt sharpened
his temper and rendered him harsh but he was
naturally man OF little scruple. and his prn-
cples were not above those of the princes VINO
were his contemporaries. In his contests Win
Brask who was divided between his duty TO Rome
and loyalty 10 his sovereign, Gustavus had the
advantage when the question was of religious
doctrinal reform. From the first he assumed
perfectly frank and candid desire that the truth
should be established. The doctrines Of Luther.
he asserted, professed to be founded on Scripture
II so, they mast be worthy of reverence and &C
S,.nt- f0mn Had no pN-
posture of the fact would dscredit them. But 1t
WAS not for laYmen 20 determine matter of this
kind The Church must do it, and TO that end
he proposed public disputatons between the fol-
lowers of Luther and the clergy.
I,ras sa,r tl,e snnrn In this oStensiblY inRnuOuS