Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1898-11-23
SCANDINAVIAN NEWS
Interesting Notes From Across the
Ocean.
HAPPENINGS IN THE FATHERLAND.
principal Events that Have Occurred In
the Old Countries About the
North Sea Within q Week
or So just Past.

1hose who are keeping up the pres
ent controversy about the union of
sweden and Norway are trying to out
90 each other in defending their side
In the foreign press. For time Bjorn-
stJerne Bjornson has been the most
prolific contributor to this political
warfare, and he, of course, aims to JUS
thy Norway before the world. But
the Swedes are bound to get even with
him. The London Times recently con-
tanned three-column correspondence
from Swedish source, reviewing the
history of the union, and finally MAX
ing an assault on section rs of the con-
stltution Of Norway. This provides
that the king cannot order the Norwe-
glan militia beyond the boundary line
OF Norway. On the surface, this seems
very reasonable. But it is contended
that the storthing may so construe the
word militia Qandvern) that the whole
army of Norway may be put under this
category and thus kept at home while
hostlle armies are ravaging Sweden.
l he Times also devotes an editorial to
the discussion of the union question.
comparing the position of the Norwe-
S1an people to that Of the Irish, en-
phasizing that Norwegian home-rule
has reduced the farming population Of
Norway to bankruptcy and created a
dangerous wOrkingmen's democracy
IN the cities. Verdens Gang, Kris
tlanla, responds to the statements in
the Times by a three-column editorial
IN English. The strongest point in
nj rs hN II 80
attempting to prevent the king from
using Norwegian troops in defense of
the union, the storthing, in 1888, in
creased the regular army from $4,000
to $4,000. In other words. ten years
ago the king could order only $4,000
Norwegian soldiers across the bound
airy line Of Norway. while now he may
order -, 900 to do so. Eerdens Gang
not only vouches for the loyalty Of the
NOrWeglanS to the union. but in it's evil
dent eagerness to make out a strong
case suggests a breach Of the cOnstitu-
ton of Norway. the Outburst of the
paper being couched in the following
terms: 1T is so far from the Norwe-
gian storthing having any thought Of
turning the entire line forces Irregular
army into the landvern (militia), in
order to betray Sweden in the hour of
danger. that the opposite sentiment
has been officially promulgated in the
Norwegian storthing by a minister be-
longing to the radical party. He stated
and no one contradicted him-that
should such contingency at any time
arise. that the safety Of Sweden and
the union should depend upon the
1andvern marching across the frontier
to fight alongside the Swedish ranks.
1t would go in spite of any constitu-
tional provision. The law would have
to sleep when the safety of the coun-
tries were at stake" To this, we
imagine, the Swedes will answer:
} Who is to determine when 1.-The safety
of the countries is at stake?'' Suppose
the Swedes have voice in that matter?
At any rate, this talk about the law
going to sleep" does not contribute to
the lawful settlement of the contro-
versy. 1t only makes an actual breach
Of the constitution seem less atruciOus.