The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-12-15
THE INDEPENDENCE
OF NORWAY.
A Norwegian Tells Just what the
Country Is Striving For, and
Its Chances of Getting Just
what It Wants.
(By Carl Petersen.)

The cables say that Norway is at
the point of revolt against King Os-
car and is about to declare itself free.
If this is true it is nothing strange,
for Norway has been on the point of a
Declaration of Independence for the
last twenty-five years. Its discomfort
dates from a previous King, but Nor
ways days of real disquiet began with
the reign of King Oscar IL, who came
to the throne in 1872.
King Oscar rules over the Scandi-
navian peninsula, which is divided
into Norway and Sweden. It is a
large, beautiful piece of land extend
ing into the Atlantic Ocean and bound
ed on the south by the North and
Balt1c Seas, and on the west by the
Gulf of BOthnia. It's northern coast
is very cold, but it's southern is washed
by the warm, soft waters of Central
The greater part of the Scandinav-
ian peninsula is occupied by Sweden,
which, perhaps, takes up tWo-thirds
Oh the territory. The remaining third
IS Norway. Norway lies by itself, for
It IS cut off from the mainland by a
very narrow neck at the extreme north.
Sweden separates it from the mainland
of Europe. Norway, except where it
borders on Sweden, is entirely sur
rounded by water, and it's people carry
On their relationship with the British
lsles by means of a swift, active COM
nerce across the North Sea, which
at that point is quite narrow.
It is the Norway part of the penin-
sula which is not wholly satisfied with
the state of government in which it
finds itself. Norways complaint is
specified, if you ask a native, in King
Oscar, who should rule the two coun-
tries with equality, but who is partial
to Sweden and greatly neglects Nor
way.
The royal palace is surrounded by
the most magnificent grounds, and his
fTs1rs 49,, L
Although he lives in a very cold coun-
try he raises the most exquisite exc
tics under glass.
King Oscar lives at Sweden nearly
all the year round. He has a beauti-
full palace at Stockholm, where he holds
high court.
It is indeed a beautiful sight to ap-
proach the royal grounds of Stockholm.
His Majesty is extremely affable and
entertainS all Americans who visit the
country, inviting them to the royal pal
ace first, and if they desire, he takes
them for a hunt in the grounds after
wards.
He makes a tour of Norway once
year and remains only short time.
While there he does not honor the peO-
pie with many exhibitions of his car
riages or horses, but lives very quiet
ly at Christiania, NorWay'S capital.
On recent visit ID Norway, King
Oscar was treated with cold neglect,
and, when he rode through the streets
of ChriSt1an1a, there was a lack OF the
loud fhurrahI'' with which a King ex-
poets to be treated. 1t was as though
the people, by common consent, remain
ed in their houses.
The King, on his side. has equally
we'll Worded explanations. Although
His Majesty does no. condescend to
discuss them with the people, he has
given it to be understood that he thinks
the Norwegians are prejudiced and diff
ficult to deal with. They ask too much
of their sovereign and refuse to con-
slider that their part of the peninsula
is the smaller of the two. Piqued at
not getting their share of the royal
attention, they refuse to receive him
at ALL treating him with such marked
neglect that he prefers to stay away.
On one occasion King Oscar, ac-
companied by a number of gentlemen,
went hunting in a Norwegian forest.
When he entered the wood, so the story
goes, the owner of the property or
dered him off the grounds, to the great
embarrassment of the King. oscar
told him that he was the King, and
that the gentlemen in company with
him were some of the representatives
this had no effect upon the owner and
he said that King or no King, he would
have his forests to himself. This so Of
Tended King oscar that he left Nor
way on the following day.
The Norwegian trouble has been on
the eve of opening for a long time, and,
within a few weeks there will be either
an amiable adjustment of the matter
or Norway will come out openly and
tell what she thinks of her King.