The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1903-05-16
SWEDEN AND NORWAY. g,
Some Facts Regarding the Government
Of the I've eountries.

q war cloud overhanging the kingdom
of Norway and Sweden. 1t is asserted
that the mutterings come from Nor
way. The occasion for the dissatis
faction is alleged to be the undemo
cratic attitude of Prince Regent Gus
tavus, the crown prince who will sue
coed his father on the throne of the
dual Kingdom. Oscar before the ap.
pointment Of his son as regent, was, at
stated and frequent intervals, entire,
ly willing to see anyone who wanted
to see and talk with him. The popular
effect Of this among the Norwegans
was partially offset by the fact that
in Christiania there stands huge pal
ace where the royal family are ex-
pected to live and entertain at least a
portion Of the year, and King Oscar
complied with the expectation only so
far as he considered absolutely neces-
sary. Gustavus has not yet devel-
oped the popular qualities Of his ia
Their. He is more secretive, more aris-
courage the people to come to his
counsel table with their grievances.
Added to this, the Norwegians feel
that their country is being very much
neglected and Sweden securing all Of
the royal attention, says the Home
Journal and News.
oE 1,se ,DA 10 1>o
Gent reason for war, nor is it. The
fact is, as it is in the majority Of all
manner of difficulties, the occasion is
Of much slighter Importance than the
real and underlying reason. The occa-
sion is of the moment, the reason laid
deep i'll the foundations of the history
was anciently governed by her own
kings, and to regain that estate has
been her aspiration ever since the year
1887, when she lost her independence,
and at which time she was under the
dominion Of Denmark. When the Danes
driven out of Holstein by Bernadotte,
(afterward Charles NIVD, concluded
peace by the treaty Of Kiel in January
Of the year 1914, Frederick vi. Of Den
mark coded Norway to Sweden. The
Norwegians detested the Swedes and
made an attempt to assert their indie
pendence under the conduct of Prince
Christian Frederick, cousingerman and
heir of Frederick VI. Christian Fred
erick was proclaimed king of Norway.
The Swedes appeared in force by land
and sea upon the frontiers of Norway.
At the same time the allied powers
from motives of policy opposed the
Norwegian movement. But in spite Of
all this not until Sweden had guaran-
teed the complete national indie
pendence Of Norway did the Nor
wegians consent to union. The agree
ment was made and the constitution
granted ON May II. 1914, at which date
the contemporary history Of Norway
begins. The extraordinary storthing
met in the autumn Of the same year
and revised the fundamental law, and
the revised constitution bears the date
of November !, 1914. Nearly every
peasant farmer in the old country now
has this fundamental law framed and
hung in the chief room of his house.
The act of union with Sweden Is dated
August 6. 1915. The union of the two
states is a union of the crown alone.
That is, Norway is not under the
dominion of Sweden: the union con-
sists in the law that the king Of Sweden
shall also be the king of Norway. The
Act of Union in it's first clause speci-
fically states: "'rhe kingdom Of Nor
way shall be Il free, independent in
Invisible, and inalienable kingdom,
united with Sweden under one king"
and hereditary monarchy, the same
form as that of Great Britain. The
union of Norway with Sweden being
such rs it is, Il few things naturally
follow. For instance: \ Swcdc in Nor
way is rs much of a foreigner as is
an American in that same country;
therefore no Swede participates direct
ly in the government of Norway
Again, none of the ancient institutions
of Norway are in any way altered by
the Act of Union. AS in America. the
government has three recognized and
distinct branches. First. there is the
executive. who is the king. In the sec
ond place, there is the legislative
branch; and, lastly, the judicial sys-
TEN. In both these latter branches
Norway is absolutely independent of
her sister kingdom. The democracy of
the smaller kingdom is shown by the
constitutional clause to the effect that
'tllc people shall exercise the Legislative
power through the Storthing" which
consists of a lighting and an OdclS-
thing. 1t is safe to say that in very
few. if any of even the worlds re-
puhlics is it expressly decrccd that
1.-THE people shall exercise the legislative
authority" The real reason for the dis.
satisfaction in Norway does not arise
from anything that is stated in her
fundamental law. She made that her.
SELF The dissatisfaction arises from
the forced union. Norway loves her in
dependence. such as it is. and wants it
kept intact: at the same time she suS-
poets Swedish statesmen of more am