The Mercur miner. [volume] (Mercur, Utah) 1895-1913, 1905-08-19

in the newspapers Sweden has assn ned
the defense OF both countries while Nor
way since 1885 has exempted 63 per cent
or her small army from Joint defense
service The NorweRians have built
fortresses not against possible foreign
foes but against Sweden
There does not exist more than one In
stance OF a conquered country being Of
fered equality. This was when the crown
prince recently proposed to Norway
union on the basis Of equality. What
more does Norway desire?
The fact Is that Norway desires to take
the lead In the union or disrupt 1t. II
had already been proposed that the post
of foreign minister should be filled by
Swede or Norwegian responsible for
his acts TO the diets of both countries,
but Norway objected. Even the oner
made by Prime Minister Bostrom OF sepa-
rate consuls under certain guarantees was
declined
When the thirteen American colonies
declared themselves independent OF Eng
land II was In consequence of taxes Inn
posed upon them. Norway has never paid
any taxes to sweden. Norway possesses
her own privy council. Norwegian gov
ernmental affairs are less dependent than
the Swedish upon the Joint king The
Norwegians themselves claim that the
King does not even possess the power Of
veto over the representative storthtng
Swedish officials are never appointed In
Norway, but there are many Nerwegians
employed in the Swedish foreign depart
ment as agents In foreign countries. As
a matter OF fact. instead of sweden hav-
ing gradually deprived Norway OF power,
Norway has gradually been raised from
"A condition Of vassalage to one of equal
ity.
Yet the taking possession OF Norway
has cost Sweden not only troops ana
money but the province Of Pomcrania
turned over to Denmark by the treaty OF
kiel In compensation for the loss OF Nor
way. II has also In "A way cost Finland,
Russia
which she found herself In 1872, was al
lowed to keep In the hope that tine aC-
uuisition of Norway. would prove an on
set The offer of the crown prince, a.
ready referred to. was the climax OF the
cordial treatment accorded NorWiN'
Many Swedes concurred in this otter,
which. I'm view OF the origin Of the union
must be considered generous. Even thls
has been refused.
The Norwegian party asks Tor IN. re-
suits Of negotiations In advance OF thclr
completion. and insists upon special.
separate consular system. II cannot ear
ry this through. however, as II requires
not only the consent of Sweden but that
Of all sovereign powers to which consuls
are To he accredited.
II certainly must seem tncNphchble INV
"A people treated with 80 much consiuera,
ton should show genuine hatred toward
a sister nation. That this ~ the chSe
every Swede and every Norweg ,l'i
knows IN The fact that the Scandl-
navian peninsula Is near RUSSIA ana thal
| II bars the latter country from IN
oceans Of the world has been made use
| Of by professional politicians as coil-
venient weapon against Sweden. Never
theless Norway Is quite AS much eH-
| posed To conquest by ltussia ny ~
| Sweden But Ii looks as " Norway Woulu
| rather share the fate Of Finland thtn 70
continue In the union-solcly FOR the
| pleasure OF putting sweden In dlleuina
| The interior conditions of Norway Win y
| permanent and sovereign storthing hnt
| with only one chamber of deputies Rnu
| universal suffrage have caused 20 HpInne
| IN "A class OF professional politicians VINO
| when they can advertise themselves IN ne
| other way stir up hatred against IN
Swcdes Herein lies the secret OF th'
| whole trouble. 81,
| who run the errands Of the Norwegans
| That Is what those who are seeking u
abolish the preseht sSs'epr' :" n1nescham
| her system are doing. They consider I'M
| attainment of this goal OF more lmpor
lance than the honor and S Ssl5Ire D :, Sn
! cratic party, which aims az the anon
ton OF present social conditions, Is SUD
servient TO the Norwegians, Many , OLD
party factions. which cannot be reierre
| 10 herr have found themselves IN agree
ment with Norwegian, aims IN some re
spects. Any one not ignorhnt Oh poiIit,o
can fudge for himself IL 1t Is not proba
| HE thai foreign powers whose lnterer
IL is to have "A weak and DIVIDED Schnu
nevla have not had hand IN the s"e ea
OF influential tools The most contempt
Bile cause OF tho trouble is the priyTah,
ambition Of certain NorWeglnns' 1"
Bjornson- hansen fight proves u
| In conclusion we may say tnat Noi
wav has never suffered any wron
through Sweden; that sweden mas a.
ways had to LOOK after the interests .
both countries and Is AZ this very mo
ment prepared to do all that Is In ae
cord with common sense IN acqulescln
in the wishes OF Norway. That the SCI
arate consular system demanded VIII p
found on closer investigation TO
neither desirable nor useful IN user
likely, for IL II simply means 70 an enc
Honest Norwegians, and of such ther
are surely many. will admit that'-Chl
cago Daily News