The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-07-23


In the creation Of psw statss over "a during |
the VIKING psricd. They founded cc'onies
on Iceland and Greenland and on the noos-
fish Isles, which long remained part OF sne
Of Norway; they settled on the lsie
of Man, founded q kingdom In Dublin ana
took part In the raid that seized and perma-
nently occupied Normandy. The Norsemeh
OF that day were the first systematic ocean
travellers In history since the Pf oenicians'
needless OF navigating along the COASTS
as was until then customary, they fearlessiy
set the course Of their prows across the
Atlantic, and, during these voyages Len
Erickson discovered and landed upon the
American Continent, A. d. 1000, probably
upon Nova Scotia. which he called Vinlaho.
A Norwegian colony was established there
for q time, but, owing to tbs incompetence
OF the historical record, II Ia Impossible 70
say how long the connection With Norway
was maintained.
Whom the Norwegian royal house died
out In the main line In 1887, Norway's crown
fell by right of descent to the Danish royal
house, and, owing to the loyalty OF the
Norwegian folk to tho blood OF its former
Kings. and owing also to its lack OF IN
fluential families, the country came 70 Dc
united without opposition. first with Den,
mark and Sweden (under the 40 called
union OF Kalnar), and subsequently with
Denmark slone BY that date each OF the
three Scandinavian peoples had developed
for itself distinct linguistic and ethno-
graphic peouliarities the history and traoi-
tions OF each had gone forward along OIL.
yereent lines, and the three nations hao
often had bitter wars with one another.
The union OF Kalmar, therefore, was from
the FIRST unfortunate, and Sweden broke
out Of II by means of the insurrection
headed by Gustav,s Vasa In 1921. Dem
mark and Norway, on the other hano'
held together as two separate and inde-
pendent kingdoms, indeed. but linked oy
common dynasty. The consenital loyalty
OF the Norwegians to their royal mouse
manifested itself at the time when the Dan
ish King, Christian H., who had first OF
all been driven from Sweden by the rising
~ 1921. was compelled later on to leave
Denmark also, but found a last refuge with
his faithful Norwegian subjects, 1t should
be remembered that, under the union OF
the two realms, Norway always continued
70 be a hereditary monarchy, whereas Dem
mark long had an elective King. The fact
explains why the sovereigns Of the dual
monarchy generally came to look upon
the democratio Norwegians, rather than on
the Danish nobility, as their surest support
II was not until 1880 that resolution was
carried making the Danish as Wen as 'he
Norwegian crown, hereditary. norway
continued TO DO dynastically united WIN
Denmark until 1914, although with con-
stitution Of it's own. Norway always hao'
for instance, its own national and lnoe-
pendent army. and when circumstances
| In the early part Of the nineteenth century
made It's support necessary, it Responded
| to the call.
Il was inevitable that Sweden, which
under the House OF Vasa became Euro
pean Power Of the first rank, should come
TO aim at complete dominion over the Scan
dinavian peninsula. 1t has been recog-
nized by a Swedish historian that Nor
way for centuries constituted the objective
of our great Kings policy that the aspira-
tions OF the Swedish people tended In the
same direction and that, after the loss OF
Finland In 1909. the possession OF Norway
wa, looked upon as essential to sweden
security and Independence. DR.. Nanssn
recalls how time after time Sweden made en-
croachments upon Norway but he notes that
curiously enough, fortune was apt to leave
the Swedish arms as soon as they got over
the Norwegian border. In the end, however.
owing to reverses suffered by the Danes
the King Of Denmark and Norway had to
cede Torway's southern and eastern prov
inces. Bohuslan, Jemteland and Herjeda-
len. which are now part OF Sweden. The
last serious attempt OF the Swedes to subju'
gate Norway by force ended with the death
OF Charles XII. under the walls of the Nor
weeian fortress OF Fredriksten in 171S
During the succeeding ninety years Sweden
WAS occupied at home in recovering from
the prostration caused by exhausting wars
but. as we have said, the compulsory ces
sion OF Finland to Russia in 1909 served tt
revive more intensely than ever the Ole
dream of incorporating Norway.
It is we'll known that by the Treaty o
Kiel (Jan. IL, 1919 Frederick vi. Of Den
mark ceded his right to the Norway thron
to Carl Johan (Bernadotte), whom tn
Swedes had proclaimed heir to their owl
crown. The Norwegian people held that
although the Treaty of Kiel dissolve
the dynasty union previously existen
between the kingdoms OF Denmark an
Norway, it imposed upon Norway no obi
cation to enter into any combination wit
Sweden. They proceeded to declare thei
country an independent sovereign State
to adopt a new constitution and to cleo
Prince Christian Frederick Of Denmar
, their King. Subsequently. however,
union between Norway and Sweden wa
contaminated by the 30 called Hgsal
(Act of Union) Of Aug. Q, 1915. which wa
agreed to by each Kingdoms nations
assembly and accepted by Carl Joha
(Bernadotte) on behalf Of Charles XVI
OF Sweden. The Rigsakt Is the only Leg
instrument defining the constitutional unto
between the two kingdoms, and formal
> embodies tho conditions Of the unio
under one King, but with separate laws I
government, which has been entered int
: between Norway and Sweden On its fax
, this document Is an International treat
3 between two sovereign States.
0 From the outset Of the union. however
i tho Swedes have been inclined to take
: different view of the Rigsakt and to loo
: upon Norway as politically incorporate
, with their country. DR.. Manson direc,