New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-09-15
THE COMING NORWEGIAN EIpcTIoNs.
REFORMS THAT THE sTEEN PARTY WILL DEMAND
IF THEY WIN THE FIGHT-TALK OF
=
INDEPENDENCE. :

London Sept 14.--The general elections in Norway,
which have been fixed for December, are Of unusual
importance as determining the fate Of the Liberal
Cabinet under steen with its policy Of internal re-
forms and greater autonomy for Norway. 1t will be
recalled that the Conservative Ministry under Stang
was forced from office by coalition vote which gave
a majority enabling Steen TO form Cabinet Among
the issues upon which steen obtained power the post
prominent was that OF the National party, the first
plank In whose programme is the special diplomatic
representation of Norway abroad and consequent in
creased power TO interfere in the conduct Of Scandi
navlan foreign relations.
The by-electons which have taken place since the
tel OF Stang have gone in favor OF the present MIN
stry which has added to its programme the ques-
tiop Of suffrage extension. Under the present Con-
stitutlon the lower house OF the Riksdag has 214 mem
hers of whom 145 are elected by parishes, or sub
divisions the Provinces and the remainder by towns
having over 10000 inhabitants. Electors must possess
property valued at 1000 crowns. or show hveyear
farming tenure Of estate worth 6OO0 crowns or pay
an income tax on 800 The franchise IS thus
so narrowed chat hardly onc-fteenth Of the population
are entitled to vote The Agrarian Peasant party,
hitherto SUPREME have always resisted every attempt
at suffrage reform rhere now however, symptoms
that their opposition is relaxing steen has mad the
courage TO 60 all the way in proposing universal
suffrage.
The stecn party. relying upon popular support and
Conservative dcfcct1OnS calculate thnt III Ine new
storthing they will have n majority of about forty.
pledged both to suffrage extension and enlarged pnvi-
egcs for Norway in the guidance of foreign affairs
IL is known that II siren obtains majority his first
step will be to demand the creation Of n Norwegian
Minister of Foreign Affairs. King Oscar and his Gov
crninent consider this claim of the Norwegian Ma
HOnal leaders as tending toward carly dissolution
nf the unon. The Government papers accuse tho
Norwegian National leaders Of aiming AT the es'ab-
lshmcnt of republic and It Is predicted that should
the Stockholm Government veto the resolutions Of the
new storthng the Radicals. led by Sieen. will declare
Norwegian independence. at the risk Of war with
Sweden.
The "Norrkoepings Tidningar" a shpaper, which
is at times inspired by the Government az Stockholm,
published fw days ago " remarkable article In re-
gard to the election in Norway. II said. in part i:
"The future depends entirely upon the result of the
elections for IT,, StOrthing 1t IS impossible to under
stand fu1y the grave consequences which would re-
salt from triumph Of the Radical party. Olc of tho
first results would be therupture of the Union. To
the numbcrless questions menacng the peace Of the
world VIII then be added the scandinavian Question:
In a word the OF the Right means order
security, maintenance Of the st@tus qIo the victory
of the Left, The othI hand. would preclpitate
scandinavia into a hOttOmess abyss, would let loose
dssensiOn and disorder and would create one OF the
most dangerous OF situations, which would place at
hazard far than most people imagine