The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-06-14

Stockholm, Sweden, June lathe
attitude Of the laboring classes is like
ing any possible disposition on the
part of section Of the riksdag to sug-
gest the adoption of coercive measures
toward Norway and influencing the
cham Der in favor Of accepting the dis,
solution Of the union of Norway and
Sweden.
Swedish labor unions are daily tele-
graphing to Norwegian unions, saying
they will refuse to take up arms, and
the social democratic party has issued
proclamation to the working classes,
reading:
"It becomes more apparent daily
that the upper classes and reactionary
newspapers are attempting to cultivate
the sentiment hostile to Norway with
the view to calling the people to arms
against her in her struggle for hber-
The proclamation says it is the firm
decision of the working men not to re-
spond to call to arms, and asserts
that they intend to go out on strike
over the whole country If the riksdag
the proclamation calls upon the labor
ing classes thruout Sweden to manifest
their opinion of the situation at public
meetings.
Letter from the King.
King Oscar, in long and vigorously
Norwegian storthing, M. Berner, de-
clares that the accession oath of Nor
ways king makes 1t the kings duty
nouncement of the Norwegian council
of state or the occasion Of his ma es-
| tvs veto Of the consular bill. The
! king maintains that he did not over
step his prerogative, under the consti-.
%,,tS md hot InYrof1 ION for
the union imposes on the king the duty
of exercising his constitutional rights.
"The King Of Norway he adds,
stmust always bear in mind paragraph
l Of the Norwegian constitution, which
reads:
THE kingdom of Norway is free,
autonomous, independent and indivisi-
III feel self-justified in demanding re-
spect for the decision taken by the
King of Norway, in accordance with
the constitution. The powers which the
Norwegian king, in order to entitle him
to promote the welfare of the country
according to his convictions, are no
greater than those which must be re-
served to the monarchy. united with
Sweden under one king. ~
Norway Monarchy.
After lengthily repudiating the dec
laration Of the council of state that his
veto was unconstitutional because no
member of the council regarded him
self as being in a position, to counter
sign it, King Oscar proceeds:
One of the fundamental principles OF
the constitution, and a fact that is most
important is that Norway shall be a
constitutional monarchy. 1t is clearly in
compatible Herewith that the king
should sink to the position Of a mere tool
in the hands Of the state council If the
members of the council Of state by refus-
Ing to countersign any Of the royal de-
cisions could prevent them from having
force the king Of Norway would be ex-
cluded from participation In the state ad-
ministration. Such station would be as
degrading to the monarchy as harmful tc
Norway. The position Of the king, a:
monarch Of the united kingdom o.
Sweden and Norway, makes it incumben
upon him not to PREJUDICE as monarch Of
one kingdom questions affecting the 9TH
er kingdom.
The duty of the king this poin
cannot be reconciled with the view tina
one kingdom, thru the refusal OF 1T
council Of state to append counter
signature, can annul the royal judgmen
wherein the king refuses to give a de-
cision prejudcial to the other kingdom
and injurious to the union.
States His Position. -a
The Norwegian people and the Nor
wegian nation have tried to force th'
king to give decision which in his op1n
ion conflicts with his duty as monarch o.
the united kingdoms and king of Sweden
therefore the king of Sweden must o.
altogether dependent as regards MS DE
cisions upon the Norwegian council o
state as regards his decisions. SUCH
construction of power can only descrlp'
as being irreconcilable with the law lal
down in the riksakt (the charter promul
gated in 1850, establishing new 1unoa
mental laws on the terms that the uhlo'
of two kingdoms be indissoluble and If
revokable, with the prejudice TO III
separate government, constitution ah
laws of either Sweden or Norway.
Norway's Place in Union.
My endeavor has always been to CIV
Norway that place within the union t
which she can rightly lay claim. M
duty to the union requires me to en-
deavor to uphold it's legal basis, eve
when by SO doing I come into opposltlo
with the Norwegian national feeling
The law on which took the oath an
which has regard for the welfare OF IN
united kingdom has determined my de
cision on the consular question. but her
I was met not only by the refusal OF tn
Norwegian council Of state to counter
sign that decision, but by the resignatlo
of it's members.
When I declined to accept the res1gna
ton of the council it threateningly de
ated in carrying out my decision would a
the same time be without a fatherlant
We. ~, Doro