New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-07-31
A NORWEGIAN REPUBLIC.
BJORNSTJERNE BJORNSON AT LAST NEARING
HIS GOAL.

|
men has political agitation run so high as now;
| nor bas it surely taken hold upon the hearts
Of all the people. There have been, heretofore;
| proposals looking toward disunion. But they
have ended az proposals, nothing more. Now a
stronger movement in that direction is in progress.
and it is so strong that IL can scarcely be checked.
II stayed at all, it will be only temporarily, and
at the cost OF such blow TO the crown, ana
such loss Of royal prestige as few monarchs
have ever been called upon TO endure.
1t Is a curious fact that this Nation which
now 80 strcnuously seeks independence has never.
in all its history. enjoyed that boon. There are
legends, it is tue, of ancient Kings OF Norway.
Longfcow has enshrined one in the Saga OF
King Olaf Probably there were independent
chiefs, many centuries ago. ruling over much
OF what Is now known Norway. But in recene
years Norway has not been separate Nation.
For centuries il was Danish Province. In the
cfangcful times Of Bonaparte, in 1914 it was
cut away from Denmark, and made an autono-
nous kingdom But no king Of its own was
granted. On the contrary, ii was put under the
sway Of the King of Sweden, who therein found
consolation for the loss Of his glorious Provlncs
Of Finland the Land Of the THOUSAND Lakes.
This union was, and has ever been, exceedingly
distastefu to both Sweden and Norway, for .
heart Of each of these peoples Yet its advan-
tages have been go manifest and important
that the Norwegans have tolerated il, and the
Swedes have most TcsOlutely maintained II ana
are now ready 10 go 70 war 10 prevent dis
union. Yet the bond between the two has been
Of the slightest. Each nation has its own flag.
Each has its own constitution, laws and Parlia-
ment, lis army and navy, its own fiscal
system. Norway has a right to impose tariff
upon Swedish goods: and, indeed, 10 make any
laws she pleases, regardless OF her sister Kingdom.
Only, Norway is compelled 10 be under the King
Of Sweden, and to have her foreign affairs, both
Diplomatic and commercial, directed by Swedish
Foreign Minister
1t is, ostensibly at any rate, upon this last
named point that agitation has Deen conducted,
and that the ultimate breach is coming, or has
come. In the diplomatic and consular service OF
the dual kingdom, both Norwegians and Swedes
are employed impartialv. The Ministers of
Sweden and Norway, at Paris and at Madrid, for
example are Norwegians so many other
representatives OF King Oscar abroad. Yet the
Norwegiars are not satisfied. They want TO he
represented everywhere by Norwegans, and to
have a NorweNln FOREIGN Office to direct the
service They want to conduct their negotiations
with other countries entirely through their own
Ministers at hone as well as abroad That az
least, is their aim. And IN II they are sincere
But that is not all They want that, not for
itself alone or even chiefly, but for something
else. which les leyond. That something is
independent Norwegian Repub ic. Their idea Is.
that if they can get an independent Foreign
Minister and diplomatic service Of their own, they
will he able To form alliances and TO make treaties
that will powerfully aid them in the work OF
entire separation from Sweden. That idea is no
RAT nnha fla of nf = 1
Norway is not entitled 10 have Foreign Minister
Of her own without the consent Of the Swedish
King and Parliament. SO il is 10 eXtort, IL
possible that consent that the present agitation
was begun Whether il Will succeed or not Is
a problem The King says, no. But consttu-
tional kings are not omnpotent, and King Oscars
no may not be able to stand against the yes of
the Norwegian people The Swedish Parliament
says no, also, and adds, We will teach those
Norwegians 10 talk Swedish" But neither are
Parliaments ornnipotent and that OF Sweden may
not be abe to stand against the people of Norway.
Would Swcden-rake up arms forcibly to restrain
the secession of Norway The current belief Is
that she would not Yet the utterances Of
many Swedish statesmen indicate the contrary.
" Certainly. we would fight" said one in CONVERSE
ton few days ago. d" Did not Americans take up
arms 10 prevent the disruption OF their Union?
We would do the same. Nor would il he only for
our own sake. but for Norways sake well.
United we form Kingdom ranking only just be-
low the Great Powers in importance. Divided, We
should he two petty and inconsiderablc States deS
tltutc of influence or power"
The leader of the NOrwegians is, of course. Born.
stjerne Bornson. farmer, novelist and statesman.
lie is unquestonaby the greatest man in Norway,
and will he the first President of the Norwegian
Republic if that Republic shall be established in
the near future as now seems not improbable.
And, indeed. he is worthy Of such "A position. An
independent Norwegian Republic has been, and still
is. the dream and the ambition of bis life. To IL
his best thoughts and hardest toll are given.
Years ago. when he first avowed his Republican,
ism. he unpopular. Norway wanted independ-
cnce. but under a King of her own. She not
yet educated up 20 Republicanism. Then. amid
unpopularty, Bjornson began the talk of educating
the people in politics Now be has succeeded
Norway is Republican to the core. And be is by
far the most popular leader in the whole country
He is not only Republican, he is an advanced
Radical; aud such he not only he's majority
of the Norwegian Parliament, but of the Norwe-
sian people. also, at his back.
BjornsOn's writings well known 10 the
worh And Norway is very proud of his fame
as writer. Yet. to-day, l think he is held
in higher esteem a statesman and political
leader. lie is regarded as the destined liberator
OF his country, and as the founder of the Repub-
lie lie has moreover, entire faith in himself, and
in the success OF the cause he champions. llD
oratory is superb. Nowhere else in Europe. now
that Gambetta is dead, lis there any like it, HD
speech is like of his own Norwegian cstaracu
in the impetuosty of its flow. 1t sparkles and
flashes and CLOVIS with enthusiasm IL roaD and
thunders with intense conviction Whether OF
the public platform, in his own house az
Aulestad, before multitude, or in the presence
o. tl,rno Con fri In 10 Of he mOS1