The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-06-14
NORWAY AND SWEDEN.
EXPLANATION OF the Neress ~ for Break
1ns Their Art'f,riai Bond OF mon.

where she had the opportunity to watch
the political conflict bet wecn the two couh-
tries on the scene of action"
To Judge from her intelligent ennsion
the observation might just as well have been
made in Alaska
Velma Swanston Howard. Il appears. at
tended the opening of tho Riksdag at the
Royal Palace in Stockholm. and heard KING
oscar = 'masterful" speech, II she had
taken inc trouble to go to Norway ana
attend the opening Of the Nor veg ian Storthing
ParlIament). that observer would have dis
covered that In Norway the representatives
OF the people do not have to assemble in
royal palace. and do not receive "masterful
addresse from the King. They have there q
more correct understanding Of what they
owe TO the dignity OF their country. Nor Is II
likely that the King would undert AXE TO adj
dress the Norwegian Storthing in "mastcrful
way. even though that may be the proper
thing in Sweden.
Nelma Swanston Howard also seems to be
over whelmed by the wonderful fact that
through tho courtesy Of member she
Obtained permission to attend and listen
to the discussions" Of that august body. the
ROYAL Swedish Rksdag.
In Norway Nelna Swanston Howard would
have needed no permission to attend the
sessions OF the Storthing II being free coun-
try. anybody may walk into the galleries Of
tho House OF Parliament and listen. But
her observations are an excellent iustra-
| ton OF the enormous difference in political
and mental development in Norway and
| Sweden.
AS regards vema Swanston Howard's
| lament alton that the financial st atus OF these
two little nations would be inadequate to
assume the added expense involved In main
tanning separate consular services she.
| being Swede. probably knows whether
| Sweden Is pauper or not. Norway has
! always met her obligations, and is also now
ready and able to pay her representatives.
Al to the expression. two little nations
| II can be- noted that Denmark, Greece, Servia,
Bulgaria. Cuba. HaytI. &c. seem to be able to
| pay for representation abroad. Is Sweden
so reduced that she cannot do the same2
or has Norway been paying for Sweden? II
50, no wonder the partnership became too
onerous.
Velma Swanston Howard adds: There was
no precedent. either. for such q course.
meaning separate consular services. How,
then. about Sweden 8 solemn pied ges regard
ing Norway "a Constitution, formally acknowl-
edged in 1914 by the King and Parliament OF
Sweden? II calls for separate consular repre-
sentaton. and that solemn agreement has
never been Cancelled.
That the two countries have so far had con.
sular representation in common has merely
been matter Of convenience. But the COM
mon representation has gradually become
injurious to Norway by causing damage to
her en- ormous shipping and her trode I'M ter ests.
1t was therefore a matter Of necessity for
Norway to give II up.
The comparison with En- gland and Ireland
Is false. because Norway has never been q
part OF Sweden, but according to her Consti-
tuition and the Act OF Union, soelnnly and
formally sworn to by the King of Sweden and
the Swedish Parliament, is a free independent
and sovereign country. And 80. y Norway
chooses to appoint her own consuls she
Is simply acting within her constitutional
rights. Does Sweden perhaps intend to
deny to Norway what her Con stitution calls
for? If so. would not that constitute viola
ton on Sweden = part of the Act Of Union? Is
it Of no consequence to the King of Sweden
and tho Swedish Parliament to break an
oath? Is perjury right? Is there no such
thing as honor?
The comparison with the United States is !
also false and could only originate in an ig- |
nornnt mind. The American Union Is fed |
Grafton. where each State ia an integral part |
of tho whole, thus forming one people. Conse-
ducntly, citizen Of any State Is a citizen Of !
the United States OF America, and the Federal |
Government is tho Government Of all indi- |
viduals in all the States Likewise is the Con-
gress tho national representation Of but one
people
Norway and Sweden however. are and have
separate governments separate parliaments,
separate armies, separate navies sepa.
rate flags, different languages There Is a
customs frontier between them and Swede
cannot claim Norwegian citizenship. or vice
versa. The SO called Union was not fedora
tion, and was never intended to be one. as
Nema Swanston Howard and all Swedes are
perfectly well aware; but II served tn cir pur-
poses to have the world believe it federation
hence the misleading name Union. That It
never WAS intended to be federation is also
borre out by the fact that King Oscar had to
be. and was crown ed separately as King of
Norway. and had TO take the oath as such,
apart from his oath and coronation as King of
Sweden. According to the Constitution Of
Norway. he must reside a certain period OF
the year in Norway in order properly to ex-
ercise his duties as King of that country.
The Norwegians were therefore only in
sistiny on hjs carving out tha CONSTITUTIONS
in rnnuos,ing hin, 20 oo-n. 20 Nor,ror oni
~ ''v"'a'''s MN W COMO W MT wa! ana
refused to do his duty and come ia a reach
of the Constitution On HE nart
m, oon,nor;s., ~, C,I,
=, u" .''lPa, '9o', WIN "r"'ia ireAaho ana
fhHIahd Is therefore again false, Great Brit
ain and Ireland being one nation. King Ed
ward was never crowned King of Ireland sena
roteIy md Iro,ond hos ~ sana,a,a na,ti
"i' '.''"n' mas no eepa' ave iarHa
'han' army, navy. nag &c.
That the Norwcgians do not wish to ba
|