The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-05-16

willing to die in defense of the land of
their adoption.
1t is meet that we pause a moment
and review the events which gave
the world Il May seventeenth. BY the
treaty of Tilset in 1913 Norway, which
had been a province of Denmark, was
given to Sweden as her share of the
spoils which came out of the dissolu-
ton of the coalition against Napoleon,
Sweden having been one OF the allies
against the Corsican. while Denmark
had cast her lot with him.
But the patriotism of the Norwegians
was far too sacred to be trundled in
the market places. Her allegiance to
Denmark had been given with the
implied right to withdraw if she chose.
That country having failed to pro-
tect her rights and at the same time
having placed the Norwegians in the
power of Sweden without their con-
sent, the former revolted, not with
revolution and blood. but with reason
and intelligence. Representatives met
at Eidesvold in 1914 and on May seven
teenth gave the country constitution,
severing the relation between Den
mark and Norway and forever plant
ing the right of individual liberty on
country, and at an armistice the plan
of uniting the two countries in a COM
pact was adopted. Norway acknow-
lodged the crown prince of Sweden as
it's king but reserved forever her con-
stitution and the rights under it.
Never was the banner of liberty
planted on a more devoted soil. Never
was holier offering made to freedom.
Is it any wonder that in a land where
the fires of patriotism burn brightest
on liberty's altar that the people ir-
respective of nationality should join
in the celebration of the day which
gave nation constitutional liberty, in
defense of which it's richest blood
would have been willingly spilled?
Such effect of such devotion to prin-
ciples can only make for the eternal
good of the nation in which so many
of the people of Norway have cast
their lots.
Patriotism is more than reverence
for the flag Or allegiance to the state.
1t is the love Of liberty implanted in
the heart. 1t is what man is willing
to sacrifice for the good of his fellow
men. 1t is what he is willing to do
in defense of his home and his prin-
ciples.
This patriotism is not limited by
boundaries of nations nor forgotten by
those who cross the seas. Every one
of those who have come from the
land of the midnight sun have brought
with him his patriotism and he is liv-
ing it today in the country of his
adoption. To him the flag is dearer
because it represents that which he
loved before.
On tomorrow then let the people
of this state which is so much in
debted OF the Norwegians for it's pros
perity, join in a tribute to the day
which marked the dawn of the rising
sun of liberty in the land from which
they came. 1t will re-inspire us with
patriotism and re-kindle the fires of
liberty Pay tribute to the day as we
do to the one on which from the belfry
of old Liberty hall rang out the It'd
ings which aroused a world in the
dawn of liberty, and the people will
be better for it. Long may the flag of
freedom wave DER the rugged hills
and grassy slopes of Norway. Long
may her people enjoy the blessings of
the constitution which they received
on May seventeenth. Their liberty is
ours, our freedom theirs.