The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-09-20
SWEDEN'S GREAT
LEADER IS DEAD
Continued from First Page.

in the hand of every Swedish man; and
the other to put the relations OF Sweden
and Norway on such basis OF absolute
the act of union to yield those fruits
of prosperity and happiness which 1T
was so we'll fitted to yield.
Twisted by rheumatism, bent by age
and saddened by the innumerable OBJ
stacles that rose in his path continually,
he now passes away without either OF
his great purposes fully attained, but
yet with the happy prospect that the
final settlement Of the union crisis prob
lem viii not only lead to amity between
the brother nations, but will also give
an impetus to the spread Of liberal
principles in Sweden, and eventually
break down the barriers of conserva-
tism and class privilege. Adolf Hedin
has not lived in vain. His name will
in days. to come be revered by Swedess
everywhere as that of the father of
Swedish political liberty.
His Riksdag Swan Song.
AS the father of the house, he sat in
seat No. on the extreme right of the
simply furnished but spacious room in
the new rilzsdag building, where the
second chamber meets. On the day of
the final debate, he looked if possible
| more bent, more wan, more feeble than
ever. 1.-THE provision that it was to be
| his last appearance doubtless strength
| ened the old man s purpose, and as he
arose toward the end Of the debate,
there was a silence thru the chamber
that betokened how his every word was
to be marked by the attent assemblage
The newspaper men in the little gal
lery allotted to them. conscious Of the
historic character Of the occasion, made
ready not to let a word he said escape
leries leaned forward so as to miss
nothing, for the once clear voice thai
was wont to ring out in threats anc
warnings and pleading, was now weak
and quavering. Sometimes it rose tt
something like its old strength, reveal
ing the indomitable purpose and the UNI
wavering uprightness Of the great lead
er Of the opposition. His opening
words were:
ct win use this opportunity to say
my last words in this chamber
They were traglcally prophetic, 70!
launched into denunciation of tn,
loan as not in consonance with thu
peaceful purport Of the special commit
tees report. I sent to h e Journa
at that time the following brief sy'nop
sis Of his remarks, which now assume
deeper meaning in the light of hi
| DEATH:
Synopsis Of His Last Speech.
elf loan was to be floated it shout,
be ordered directly by the riksdag as
nothing else. The worst Of it was, h
said, that this. money was to 90 int
the hands Of persons yet unnamed. H
should not give his vote to it, even j
he stood alone. If parliament woul.
only take proper measures and not in
4 vite trouble by such loan, peace woul,
reign in the north. And he hoped TO
| he was firm in the belief that thes
two nations were bound by the yer,
nature Of their position to defend eacl
i other. There had been much talk of
defensive alliance, but such an allianc
must be founded on joint declaration
! of permanent neutrality. Under sue
conditions these countries could defen
!; it we of Sweden arrive at such
state Of things that every Swedish nj
had voice in the business of his cour
try. The readiness to sacrifice himsel
, would follow close upon the attainme en-
; of full citizenship by every Swedis
man. Without that he hoped for notf
j ing. It would be long and steep roa
to universal suffrage in Sweden, bu
it was. a road, he declared, that led ul
; ward in more senses than one.w
! A Pathetic Solitude.
Happily Herr Hedin s fears as to til
effect of the loan on Norway, seem no,
to have been unfounded, if, indeed, tn
predictions Of peaceful issue at Kar
stad come true. At any rate, his lii
eral colleagues having Joined in the r.
:, port refused to join in his opposition
the loan, and he stood by himself
save for the four socialist members
in voting against it. His solitude a