The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-04-24
IN LIBERTY'S HONOR.
Norwegians Will Celebrate
Their independence.
NATIONAL SONGS AND oRAToRY.
Norsemen Preparing for Feast Of Song
ana Eloquence-How Their Free
dom Was Gained.

The Norwegians of Seattle and the
sound country will on May II unite in
celebrating the granting of constitutional
government to Norway. Last year the
anniversary, which in Norway corresponds
to the American Independence day. was
commemorated by an excursion from
Seattle. Tacoma and other points on the
Sound to Mukilteo, where 5000 people
took part in the festivities. This year it
mas been thought best to confine the cele-
bration to an evening entertainment in
the city
Accordingly the various Norwegian So
cieties have arranged for musical and
literary gathering at Ranke's hall on the
evening of Tuesday, May IL. A commit
tee has been appointed to arrange the pro-
gramme, consisting of K. G. Faegre, Frank
Oleson, ]. Hendriksen, Professor Aker, A.
Winge, II. Rode, NJ. Munson, P. Bolgen,
Miss Carrie Oleson, Miss Martha Strom
and Miss. Annie Poulson. Orations will
be delivered in Norwegian by Rev. R.
Melby and in English by some prominent
citizen. 1t is understood that several of
the Norwegian artists. such as Mrs. Tn.
c. Hirsch, DR.. and Mrs. Thoresen,
Professor and Mrs. Dahl will assist in
rendering the musical part of the pro-
gramme. DR.. Thoresen is already we'll
known in musical circles of this city and
Mrs. Hirsch has clear soprano voice of
great power. The Norwegian Singing So
ciety and the Sagatun Quartette, both of
which have among their members many Of
the leading Scandinavians of this city, will
take leading parts. Norwegian national
songs will be rendered by sixty male
voices, now training under the leadership
OF Professor Melting. After the literary
exercises grand ball under the direction
of Professor Aker will be given. No efforts
will be spared to make this one Of the
most enjoyable occasions of the season.
The event which the Norwegans cele-
brate is the signing of their constitution at
Edsvold on May II, 1914. by Christian,
Crown Prince of Denmark. On April 8,
1872, the Swedish government had entered
into the coalition against Napoleon, and
by convention with Russia the possession
OF Norway, which was then province of
Denmark, was guaranteed to Sweden.
England also entered into this guarantee,
and the newly-elected crown prince of
Sweden, Bernadotte, who had been one of
Napoleon's marshals, in accordance with
his engagements took command of an
army in Germany. After the battle of Leip-
sic, October 1919, 1918, the crown prince
led the Swedish contingent / to Holstein
with view to compel the Danish govern
ment to cede Norway. After the fall of
Lubbock and some bloody actions in Hol-
stein, the Danes were forced to the peace
of Kiel, January H. 1914, and Norway was
acknowledged as dominion of Charles
XIII. of Sweden. The people OF Norway
heard of this treaty with great indigna-
ton. The Danish crown prince, Chris
tian, went at once to Norway. convoked q
national diet in May at Eidsvold, near
Christiania, and accepted the crown Of
Norway in independent sovereignty, and
with it constitution hastily drawn
up on the spot This constitution
was signed on May II by Hendrix
Werdgeland, leader of the Norwegians,
the constitutional convention ana the
crown prince, and by it the national
storthing, or parliament, was established
and the kings absolute veto renowned.
In July the Swedish crown prince. at the
head of an army, invaded Norway by way
of Frederikshald. A British fleet ap-
peared off the coast and blockaded the
ports. Resistance was obviously waste
of life and property, and after few I'M
important actions the country submitted.
The Danish prince addicted his new
throne, and on August IA an armistice and
a convention were signed at Moss, uniting
Norway and Sweden. The Norwegians
obtained far better terms than had been
designed by the allies originally, and the
storthing formally ratified the union on
October 20. The constitution of Eidsvold,
with few alterations, was accepted by the
king on November T.