The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1897-03-13

that leads many people TO expect Sc
rious trouble. The radicals, one Of
whose leaders Is the famous poet,
Bjornstjerne Biornson. whose ardent
desire 10 10 make a republic Of the
western part Of Scandinavia, have used
the explorer. In truth. "a a means &c
their end. and Nansen apparently has
cast his lot willingly with them. Leay-
Ing out OF consideration the merits Of
the political question. Il Il a pity that
he should lend himself al the moment
Of his scientific triumph TO political In
trigue.
But this evidently he has determined
10 do before his return 10 civilization.
Ter on the mast Of the Fran az she
sailed from the frozen north home
ward bound was the single fiag Of Nor
way. and not the swedish-Norwegian
ensign. Nansen's fellov-republleans
In Christiania. therefore. were not sur
prised when. Al the great festival 10
bis honor. he poured out his soul In a
plea for an Independent Norway. But
there was one man from whom every
word drew blood-Klng Oscar. the
scholarly occupant o. the double
throne. Although The sympathiss Of
all Americans are naturally with Nor.
way In its longing 10 become a repub-
lie. King Oscar. Il must be admitted.
had reason 10 expect a less reactionary
course from Nansen. His majesty has
not forgotten that Il was bis financial
aid whieh-after the refusal Of the Nor
Vegians 10 appropriate a sufneieni
amount-onabled the explorer TO I'M
deriAke his hazardous expedition.
The king has been Obliged to submit
10 sights on many occasions In Nor
way In the last ten yean and has
a hard time IN preventing the Norwe-
gian storthlng from refusing 10 appro-
pirate lie part OF the royal salary. or
appanage. But nothing that has hap
pened heretofore has 80 excited him or
led him 10 express himself 20 openly
az have the incidents subsequent to
the return Of his protege.
The reception In honor Of hansen 10
Christiania. In fact. was At the sane
time almost a demonstration against
the king. Although the explorer was
received as a returning victor. the
king. upon his arrival az the station
70 take part In the welcome. was hard
ly noticed. But be did no, let this pre-
vent him from giving a gala dinner Al
the castle In honor Of the returning
traveller He used the occasion. how
ever, 70 express In no uncertain way
his opinion Of the course things had
taken. Only one toast was given and
this was By the king himself Tor Nan
sen. But the toast became a speech OF
unexpected bitterness. After referring
70 the fact that Il had often been said
that he was no Norwegian. but a
stranger. the king turned dedantly 10
the radical leader. ex-Mlnls,er s,een
who sat az hls side. and shaking his
finger significantly. he continued: 4
'ook upon Il no; only a. my holy duty
but ] also consider Il my lrrevocable
right. 10 be here az the interpreter OF
the feelings Of my Norwegian sub
lects."
No one replied 20 the king. Of course
and the guests were glad when the
time came 20 leave the castle. But
bis majesty's remarkable assertion was
soon under discussion from one end OF
Scandinavia 10 the other. He had
thrown down the gauntle, to Norway.
The Indignation Of the king grew a.
be rejected upon the course OF aIalrs
and he decided TO attend no more OF
the series Of entertainments In honor
of Nansen. On the morning following
the castle dinner he received several
newspaper correspondents. and spoke
with a freedom and indignation seldom
known IN q monarch. To one Of them
he said: Il have a very dlfhcuh place
and admit that the future flls me with
misgivings. The Norwegians follow
politics more than any other people
That has caused me many an unhappy
hour already-but with the helm OF
God" and here the hing raised his
voie9 end bic eye bore a determined
look I shall attain my goall am
and shall remain, king Of Norway. II
IL a hard bAttle-i shall conquer"
In sweden Il has long since been
believed that Emperor William has
Non King Oscar AZ a secret member OF
the triple alliance The Norwegian rad.
ieals are bitter AZ this. az they SEE in
Il a danger for the expected Norwegian
independence.
But the dispute 10 which fre has
been added by Nanscns return. viii
likely end sooner or later 10 tho repub.
I ne OF Norway