The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-06-04

Consideration he gave his consent stsp1l-
iaing, however, that Sve--s1 arms
should never be Used against Frax1ce-
How well Bsrna6otte kepS tnzs fsTo-s1'se
history tells Us. TIE -1ewiy-a1ads prince
started Immediately for Stockholm VIZ
Havre. whore q small Swedish ree- was
waiting 10 convey him 30 me S~eC.sl
capital. Twsnty-ToIs- hours later al I'M
rerfal courier was sent post haste 20 IL
rercepE tne general btrc arrived too late;
the feet vas Just disappearing in the dis
lance. with telegraph Or teiep1one On
thar occasion history could have oeeS
cllaaa Sd TO some extent
So the royal family OF Norway ard
Sweden today is OF rather plebeian origin
Queen Deside-ta, the corTsort 81 Berna-
doJte. was the daughter or wine rner-
chant By intermarrsage with petty Ger
man princesse<. the present KING ana
his son have become related 90 some OF
She reigning families os Europe, ana the
AMBITION OF the crown prince, together
with the ruling class IN Sweden. IS. no
doubt, 10 try ana regain the prestige their
country once possessed, perhaps dream
ing Of Scandinavian empire, with a iio-
era tad Finland joining the union oa more
intimate terms than Norway. Ihat tfl1S
dream Is not altogether castles or the
air the military and naval increase or
Sweden goes TO show. The crown prince
IS utterly detestsd in Norway. and 90
soma extent in Sweden, but King oscar
has been a rather popular regent in ooth
countries However, he is growing oiu,
and is more aai more controlled by ms
son, who is ambitious. but not very DRILL
liant intellec tlaliy. nor was he ever ac-
cused OF possessing any sIatesmanship.
He apparently does not seem TO unaef-
stand the popular movement in Norway,
nor is IL understood by the Swedish
people at large. whose press unmercdully
abuses them, mistruSts them, misrepre-
sants tham 10 the world and 10 the Swed-
ish people themselves. Radicals, they
eE1eerfFzgly call them. forgetting 10 men-
uon that what - brightest intellectually,
what is truszst in manhood, what IS most
patriotic the noblest of young Norway,
have fioclsed 10 the standard OF The LIB
eral party
Norway wishes as a nation 10 deflne
her position. The people are not Wiling
10 embark in any kind of adventure with
Sweden, be the gains what they may.
prestige or territory. They for them
selves seek only peaceful ends ana pur-
suits. They viii make war on no one,
but are determined to defend their coun-
try and flag TO the last. The topograhy
OF Norway proves il easy of defense.
Sweden found that out in 1914. Norway
is in reality a republic and misnamed
monarchy, but as long as the present
conditions exist. and the technlcal pow
er the king possesses as an executive Is
used in a constitutional and parhamen-
tary way the people will not object The
storthing successfully impeached the gov
eminent OF King Oscar in 1854, and Will
undoubtedly do il again If need be. Nor
way has not much of navy. but splen-
didly developed torpedo system; no stand
ing army 10 speak of, but an excellent
organization OF volunteer sharpshooterS,
numbering 25.0o0 men in time OF peace
These are independent of the small stand
81 a
empt from military duty. The govern
ment furnishes competent officers to in
struct and drill these independent sharp
shooters, and also supplies them with the
very best of modern arms and ammuni-
ton. But there will be no war between
Norway and Sweden. King Oscar is not
a fool. but has the name or being one or
the wisest of European monarchs. 1t
must not be forgotten that he has small
following, even in Norway, mostly OF the
Official class and their friends who would
be the losers by a more popular form or
government Should the king, however.
by imprudent counsel of the nobility and
bgheads in Sweden, resort TO arms and
send Swedish troops over the border they
will meet united people.
The first shot fired will no doubt be the
lighted fuse that will set armed Europe
ablaze. The hereditary foe of Sweden To
the northeast with its young emperor, is
undoubtedly watching progress on the
Scandinavian peninsula. The official press
of Russia is friendly to Norway. and if
hostility should begin Russian troops
would undoubtedly be massed in Finland.
The German fire-eating emperor would no
doubt like 10 help crush lberty-loving
Norway. but he evidently has his hands
fun at home, and if Germany should at
tempt 10 assist Sweden recuperated
France would throttle her, and one of the
81 -
outcome would not be doubtful. France
and Russia would come out victorious;
Norway would be a republic and Sweden
lose another slice of territory England
would keep neutral, unless there was gain
of money or territory in view. Why Rus
STA should aid Norway. the two countries
so politically opposite. many would ques-
ton, but the same question was put when
Russia sent a large fleet Of cruisers to New
York in 1863. when France and England
seemed ready to interfere in favor of the
rebelllous states. Ii had effect.
The Swedish people at large are I'M
doubtedly opposed to war and when they
see that Norway does not blum, but INA
out that they can have all the night they
want the question will be settled IN
peace and on terms TO suit the storthing.
The liberal party never had a brainier
set of men than the present parliament
Mr.. CASTELAR,, the great Spanish orator
and statesman. calls the Norwegians the
brains of Europe. and not without rea-
son. for no nation OF Norway's size to-
day has produced such host or literary
giants. many OF them famous in this
world
Such war, IL waged by Sweden upon
Norway would chronicle one Of the dark
est pages in the history OF the former
country. even outstrippping the deeds of
the lunatic King Charles XII in his mad
career through Europe. ending in his be
ing shot at Fredrickstein. Norway, while
besieging that place in his unjustifable
war on Norway.
II war cannot be averted the Norweg-
iaus can count on the moral support OF
the enlightened world, and patriots will
flock TO her standard from many coun-
tries and the little Yankee land Of Eur
ope will march progressively onward,
outstri1ping her king-worshiping neigh
Dor 10 the East JUSTICE.
MARCUS WHITMAN.