The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-06-08

HISTORY OF The UNION, NOW BROKEN.
II the Norwegians hold to their action Of
yesterday, Norway will be an independent
nation for the first time in more than five
centuries. In 1879. when the crown OF the
little Morse kingdom fell to Danish ruler.
she passed under the sway Of that country
and was only Danish province. although
an unruly and independent one. until 1915,
when she was passed over to Sweden.
The differences between the two little
nations have vital basis. The Norwegians,
living in rough, mountainous country
with long seacoast and deep bays, are by
nature sailors and mountaineers; the
Swedes, inhabiting the fertile part of the
peninsula, are farmers and city jewellers.
They differ in language, and to a certain
degree in blood. The Norwegians are
democratic by instinct they were governed
by a national assembly from viking times.
and maintained it through the five centuries
Of their subjugation. The Swedes are more
conservative. The national feeling Of Nor
way encouraged by an active liberal party,
has been growing for a century.
The causes OF the present crisis 60 far
back into the past Late in the fourteent
century, Margaret of Norway. a remark
able figure in Scandinavian history, made
her son Olaf King Of both Norway and
Denmark. Albert, a weak King, was on
the throne Of Sweden. Margaret sent an
army against him. besieged him in Stock
holm and seized his throne. She had her
grandnephew Eric crowned king Of the
three kingdoms in 1897. Through a stormy
century Sweden. although often in rebel
lion, was vassal Of Denmark and Norway.
The power of this dual kingdom was grad
ually vested in Denmark. When, in 1923,
the Swedish patriot Gustavus Vara or
ganized successful rebellion. Norway
remained under Danish control.
Under the dynasty founded by Gustavus
yara Sweden became the great power Of
northern Europe. Gustavus Adolphus was
the champion OF Professionalism in Europe.
Charles XII, who died in l7ls, defeated a
coalition Of Denmark. Poland and Russia.
He reached too far. however, and before
his death had lost nearly all the Swedish
territory on the mainland. In the begin
ming Of the nineteenth century Finland.
long Swedish dependency. went with
the rest, and Sweden was a third class
power
1t was in the reign Of Charles KILL, who
yielded up Finland to Russia, that the
Swedish Diet passed one Of the most curious
acts of succession in history. 1t was the
age Of the Napoleonic wars.
Napoeon's most serious rival in France
was Jean Bernadotte, marshal OF the
empire. The son of country lawyer.
Bernadotte had risen from the ranks to be
the second soldier of the Grand Army.
He was made Minister OF War during
Napoleon's absence in Egypt, and In that
capacity he reorganized the army.
Napoleon feared him more than any
other man in France.
Swedish noblemen taking part in the
Napoleonic wars had encountered this
Bernadotte. His ability, personality and
ambition made great impression upon
them. His rivalry with Napoleon was
matter Of common knowledge.
Charles XIII. was childless. The success
sion became a matter of concern to the Diet.
The collateral branches OF the royal lire
had no strong candidate. coalition of
mobiles startled Europe by proposing
Bernadotte, a Frenchman, who had never
even seen Sweden, as Crown Prince and
successor to the throne. They won their
point. Bernadotte accepted, and became
at once virtual ruler Of Sweden. He
silenced those Swedes who feared that
he would hand them over to Napoleon by
joining a coalition against France.
With the help OF England, Bernadotte
forced Denmark, in 1914. to hand over
Norway to Sweden. In return, Sweden
coded parts Of Pomerania, her last posses
sions on the mainland, to Denmark. Nor
ways Diet formally refused to submit to
the change Of rule. Bernadotte led an in
vasion at once, and conquered Norway
with very little trouble.
When, in 1918, Bernadotte, came to the
throne as Charles XIV he established the
union OF the two countries. Each kept its
old code Of laws, with few slight modifca-
tions to make the joints fit. Each kept its
national assembly, with power to legislate