Durango semi-weekly herald., 1901-09-30


their views. They favor most of the
pianks i'll the liberal platform. and in
addition, advocate the adoption of So
c'alistie reforms, the loaning of pub
lie money without interest to the poor,
public pensions to the helpless, sweep
ing reforms in the labor laws, and the
purchase and maintenance by the
state OF rail- public enterprises that
effect ,ne public welfare, such as the
street car lines. the insurance COM
panies, the banks, etc. The peasants
In the country are protectionists and
belong 10 the conservative party
The mechanics in the cities are gen
orally socialists. Politics, however
is not very exciting. The tariff. labor
questions and other propositions are
always discussed, and of late years
the most interesting issues have been
the appropriation of money formation
al defense, the increase of the term
of military service from 80 TO $50 days
for every citizen. the modification of
the electoral law and the regulations
OF the forests.
The king is "a power in politics and
usually has his way. The conserva-
tive party has been in power ever
since he has been on the throne, and
he has been its actual leader, although
other men have osteusibly occupied
that position. Mr.. Bostrom, who had
been prime minister for sixteen con
secutive years, was compelled to re
sign last year because of the defeat
of his plans for the reorganization of
the army. and a Mr.. Won Ottar is now
the head of the government
Peasants have been members of the
parliament for more than 500 years
and now constitute more than half of
the membership of the second cham
ber-intelligent, well educated me-
chanics and farmers, who take deep
interest in the affairs of the govern
ment and generally are on the right
side. The agricultural peasants are
invariably loyal supporters of the
king. The mechanics from the cities
are usually opposed 20 him.
The forests of Sweden, like those
of Norway and the United States,
have been wasted in the most reck-
less manner, and the government is
trying to stop it. The timber on the
public lands is now protected. and
only so much OF it as can properly be
removed is allowed to be cut, but the
lumber companies are buying up all
the timber lands they can obtain from
private owners and stripping it as fast
as possible There is a law pending
in parliament prohibiting such sales,
Il ,.l,
certain area of timber. The poll
tical parties are united upon this prop
osition, but somehow or another 1t
does not go through. The lumber
men are sufficiently influential to pre-
vent its enactment.
The liberal party has long advo-
Gated the separation of church and
state which in Sweden is one and the
same thing, with the king at the head.
and is supported by public taxation.
II is the argument of the liberal party
that dissenters from the Lutheran
faith should not be compelled to pay
for the support of a religion they do
not believe in, because it is viola
ton of their constitutional rights.
There are n good many materialists
in Sweden. The people in the agri-
cultural districts still adhere to the
old faith. but the city people to a
large extent are drifting away from
the church and becoming materialists
Not long ago n young editor named
Lennstrand. disciple of Robert G.
lngersoll. was sent to prison in Stock
holm for blasphemy and kept there
six months. His friends and the free
thinkers of Sweden consider him
martyr to the cause of free speech,
and his case probably did more to
weaken the hold of the church than
anything that has occurred. He was
a young man of brilliant intellect. an
eloquent orator and had many adj
mirers.
II is not probable. however, that the
relations between the Swedish gov
ernment and the Lutheran church will
be disturbed during this generation.
A new building for the use of the
parliament is beng erected on lit
tie island near the royal palace. 1t
has been under construction for sew
eral years. and is slowly approaching
completion. They do not do these
things very rapidly in Sweden.
The annual session of the riksdag
opens Immediately after the holidays
with great deal of pomp and cere-
mony. 1t is one of the most imposing
functions in all Europe. The mem
bers OF both houses meet at their re-
spective halls. attend divine service
at the cathedral. where they receive
the sacrament and listen TO n sermon
of admonition. Then they march in
body to the royal palace. where they
are received by the kings ministers
with great formality and escorted to
what is known as the throne room
As they enter each man bows rever.
emily to a silver throne, which stands
upon a dais at other end of the apart
ment. The members of the first cham
Der are seated on the right side of the
great hall and those of the second
chamber upon the left.
When the sound of trumpets is
4