Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1905-03-22


consists of four conservatives, four
liberals and two moderates. All men,
bers of the cabinet are agreed on
prosecuting Norway's plan to appoint
its own cOnsuls and to carry the meas
ure through not later than April l,
1906. Should King Oscar not sanction
the new bill, crisis would ensue. The
cabinet, however, will use every en-
deavor to obtain the royal approval OF
the new measure. Nansen, the arctic
explorer, at q meeting held in Christi
ania the other night, expressed the
common feeling that there is only one
party in the country-that of Norway.
He was asked to enter the ministry,
but is excluded by reason Of not being
a member of the state church. He
promised his services in all other di-
rections. The new premier, 2. G.
Nicholson, outlined the governments
program in the storthing March 10.
Relative to Sweden and NOrway's con-
sular system he said the new cabi-
net was formed to establish the con-
stitutional right of Norway to a sepa-
rate Consular service and to preserve
Norway's sovereignty as free and in
dependent kingdom. 1--WE know" he
said. that we have on our side a
united storthing and a united people.
The people Of Norway have no greater
desire than to live peacefully and on
good terms with everybody, more es-
pecially with their Swedish neighbors,
so that they can devote their whole
strength to the development Of the
| material resources Of the country. l
am firmly convinced that the united
and unbending will of our people will
accomplish the much desired result"
The warning, which Regent Gustaf
| sent to the Norwegian storthing about
| two weeks ago, in which he cautioned
its members to take no action which
will be likely to cause a rupture be-
tween the two countries" and to
measure the consequences carefully"
has been ignored by the storthing's
committee of nineteen, which on Tues
day, March Z, decided on the establish
ment of a separate consular service for
Norway before April /, 1906. This
| can be done by the storthing by
passing the measure three times, the
king having no veto power over a
measure thus passed. This action and
| the announcement that c. Nicholson
leader of the Norwegian extremists,
has been appointed Norwegian premier
seems from a generally viewed stand
point to bring Norway step nearer
a breaking away from the union eX-
| listing between the two countries. The
attitude of the crOwnprince regent in
dicates that he will not agree to
Swedish prince as king of Norway. He
has taken pains to point out to the
Norwegian storthing that the two
countries will be greatly weakened if
the union is dissolved, and it is be-
lieved he will go to war to keep Nor
way in the confederation. At least so
come the reports.
The news of Russian reverses in
Manchuria and Korea has naturally
| been received and commented upon
| with great deal of interest in all
three countries. Russia, Sweden and
er be feared. For years the brother
kingdoms, which now and then seem
| on the verge of war between one
another (but never go to war; have
| feared Russian invasion, as 1t has
long been apparent that the Muscovite
has been looking for an ice free har-
Dor with the breezes sweeping west
ward. In fact so pronounced has Rus
sia's intentions seemed in this drec-
tion that even the most conservative
Scandinavians regarded such move
as merely matter Of time. But the
marvellous Japanese successes have
put an end to all such apprehensions
and it is evident that Russia must at
least abandon her efforts of expansion
in a westerly direction for years to
come. Naturally, Of course, Scandi-
navia's sympathies are almost wholly
in favor of the japanese.
Swedish newspapers which have re-
Gently reached the United States il
Illustrated the work of Russian censors.
One has reached Chicago and has
caused some newspaper comment
which is. to say the least, interesting
The copy in question was mailed from
Finland to Mr.. Herman Johnson, of
North Park college, Chicago. The
paper originally sent from Sweden to
Finland, was re-edited by the censor
before delivery In that country. All
Of the front page, which probably con-
tanned news concerning the cars
dominiOns, was blotted out, as were
several telegraph dispatches on the
succeeding pages. Only 'local" news
was left. The college professor of
Helsingsfors who sent the sheet ex-
pressed willingness to pay almost
any price for an American newspaper,
which could give him any idea of what
was taking place In the world. ut is
like living in bag, this Finland" he
writes. The sheet received was the
"vort Land" bearing date of Feb. /.
Colonel G. III. Smith, the wealthy
Minneapolis lumberman, has recently
donated $4,000 to the English Luth-
eran church In Camden Place, sub
urb of the city afore mentioned Mr.
Smith has on several occasions donated
large sums of money to various edu-