Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1905-11-15
KING HAK0N.

The NorWegians have decided for tn
continuation Of the monarchlcal form Oh
government. The announcement is sur
prising to those who know how general
the republican sentiment has been for
many years, in the country. The In
fiuence of foreign governments must
have been strong upon the present lead
ers of the affairs of the state, to cause
them to abandon the well-dehned policy
Of the Liberal party. Nothing short of
fear that recognition for republic
would meet with lnsurmountable diff
cultles. accounts for the result OF the
plebiscite. When even Bjornstjerne
Bjornson, the great admlrer OF republic
can forms Of government. comes out for
king, there must be important rea-
sons, even ~ these are not apparent to
the general public.
The selection of Prince Charles, OF the
Danish royal house. Is undoubtedly the
very best that could be made, after
the refusal Of the Bernadottes to ac-
cept the honor. The Prince Is the sec
ond son OF the Danish CroWn-prince and
the Swedish princess, Louise, the
daughter Of the late Charles Ky. King
oscars brother and predecessor on the
dual throne. Charles Is, therefore, on
his mothers side, a Bernadotte. closely
related to the deposed monarch. He
was born IN 1870, and Ia 1898 he mar
rled Princess Maud, third daughter Of
King Edward OF England. He there
! fore brings to the throne. II he accepts
the can Of the people, such prestige as
may come from relationship with a
great ruler. And this Is not an Insight
| hcant matter when new dynasty is
! about to De established The question
Of finding kings for vacant thrones Is
| not always very simple. Eligible home
material IS scarce The Greeks too had
| TO go TO Denmark for king For Rou-
mania Hohen2ollon was found. Ger
| many. II Is thought does not look with
| favor upon the selection OF the Danish
prince, because 1t means an English
| princess as queen in Norway and, m
| the course Of tme another lady OF the
! royal house OF Great Britain as queen
In Sweden This IL has been asserted.
does not suit the German Emperor. But
the selection h.. nevertheless. the very
best that could be made and IL IA to be
| presumed that German objections viii
be removed. or oyerruled.
II the Danish prince accepts the
throne. IA he undoubtedly viii do he
intends, it is said. TO perform his Nugly
duties under the famous name Of Hakon
By SO doing he takes up, as IL were.
the broken thread OF Norwegian history
where the last really independent king
OF that counuy.olso a Hakon left H. This
was the last male descendant OF Harall
Haarfagre one Of the most prominent
heroes OF ancient saRas When tho first
Eakon came to rule Norway and bring
peace to the country that had been de-
vastatcd by Erik Bloodax, the people
received him as the resurrected Haar-
fagre So much did he resemble his
father. Hehad lived In England ms foster
brother TO king Aethelstane and had
become converted 10 Christianity As
soon as practicable, he laid plans for
the conversion Of his pagan subjects But
I'm this he was not successful. He
sent to England for bishop ana
priests, ana issued a decree forblddng
the people to sacrifice to the old gods.
The people. however, refused point
blank 10 obey. Hakon called a grea,
assembly ami preached . passionate
missionary sermon, calling upon tho
| people to turn away from their stone