Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1899-03-01

Smalands Allehanda says: ''Those who
| are on the inside track claim that it has
been the intention for some time back to
drop Douglas the minister of foreign at.
fairs. and put in his place a man who
would quietly yield to the Norwegian
storthing on the flag question. and order
the consuls to accept the pure Nor
| wegian flag. At the same time a new
ordinance was to be issued for renew
ing the Union Jack from the Swedish
flag. thus placing the Swedish people face
to face with an accomplished fact But
the temper of the Swedish people was
misunderstood. The slap of the Nor.
wegians at The blue and yellow colors
in the flag left deeper wound than was
surmised The most precious symbol of
the Swedish people had been disgraced.
Many were those who thought the an
noyances of the Norwegians ought to be
rebuked. At the opening of the riksdag
this sentiment was to be expressed in a
manner which could not be misunder-
stood. The leading newspapers of the
country voiced the same sentiment in a
firm tone. This irritated the aged king.
He desired peace, no matter how deeply
he regretted the ingratitude Of the Nor
weg1ans. If the Norwegians had remained
quiet, satisfied with their victory, the
SWedes, out of respect for their VEN
Grated king, might have yielded. But the
Norwegians haughtily threw their cords
Norwegians haughtily threw their cards
game: Through the breach caused by
the flag law they proposed to force a set
Element of all the union problems. A
proposition had already been made to
change the Norwegian laws so as to
completely revolutionize the consular
service without regard to the Swedes. In
short. the political situation was such
that concession to the wishes of the
king looked like a REIMBURSEMENT of the
legal status of Sweden in the union for
all time to come. The unimpeachable po-
sition formerly occupied by Sweden was
to be surrendered. Hence, a firm atti-
tude of Sweden in regard to the flag
question would be absolutely necessary
in order to save the rights of Sweden.
Count Douglas plainly proved himself to
be at one with the Swedish people in this
matter. The crown prince has always re-
manned in the background during the dis
cussion of the union problems. But those
who are in close touch with him claim
that the repeated attacks upon royalty
vested in his father have cut him to the
core, and that his firm character is not
inclined to give up everything to Nor
wegian self-assertiveness. The position
of Premier Bostrom on this question is
not clear. Personally he is said to favor
firm resistance to the demands of the
Norwegians, but he has developed a Pc
culiar habit of going around things and Of
always leaving an open way for retreat.
1t is hard to tell exactly where he is.
Officially he stands immovable with the
rest of the cabinet, but all of sudden
he is interviewed by some newspaper
man to the effect that he has a back
door, and that concessions may be made
And one of these concessions is, that
Douglas is to be overthrown to please
en- must accept the change of the Nor
Wegian flag. The stress and storm
aroused in the minds of the Swedish peo-
pie by this question has seriously af-
fected the nervous system of the king,
distorted his sleep, embttered his tenn
per. He needs all the rest and ease he
can get. The steps to be taken now must
be decisive. Weakness and vacillation
now may disturb the foundations of the
union. Immovable firmness is necessary,
or else the whole fabric will drop to
pieces. Under these circumstances the
regency of the crown prince has deeper
meaning than otherwise. 1t is expected
that the crown prince will be at the helm
of the government for months to come.
In the course of that period definite steps
must be taken in regard to the pending
union question, notably that Of chang
ing the Norwegian flag" The above is
given because it affords a reliable and
interesting glimpse of the inside of Swed-
ish politics with reference to the union
controversy. It must be added that the
king, contrary to expectations, recovered
so rapidly that he could resume his du-
ties as actual ruler of Sweden and Nor
way on February II.
The "piece party" in the riksdag held
caucus three weeks ago. The old off,
GERS were reelected. A. Hedin was in
structed to present a motion to the ricks-
dag, demanding permanent neutrality for
the three Scandinavian kingdoms, and
asking for an appropriation of $1,000 for
carrying on diplomatic negotiations with
this point in view. It was finally re-
solved to have the peace party repre-
sented at peace conference which is to
take place in Krstiania August next.
Upon presenting those motions in the
second chamber, Hedin explained Russia
has not yet been wholly persuaded that
Sweden means peace, and that Germany
is still figuring on Sweden as a sure ally
in case of general European war. Un-
der the circumstances Hedin was strong
ly in favor of having the peace policy of
Sweden and the other Scandinavian coun-
tries definitely established by formal
declaration. He thought the times were
favorable to such a step. On the one
hand the defenses of Sweden are in a
fairly good condition: and on the other
the car has made himself conspicuous
before the world as a champion of peace
DENMARK.
The minister of the interior has pre-
scented a comprehensive report to the
rigsdag from the railway department. the
estimated cost of the improvements pro-
posed being almost ten million dollars.
The most prominent features of the re-
port are proposition to build bridge
across the Little Belt. double track
across the Fyen, additions to the stations
at Esbjerg. Aarhus and Korsor, and large
railroad shops in Copenhagen.