The daily tribune., 1906-01-12
THE NEW NORWAY.
PEACEFUL WITHDRAWAL FROM
SISTER MONARCHY U'NPAR-
ALLELED IN HISTORY.
Frustration. of Cherished Ideal OF
Sweden to Gradually but Completely

Absorb Norway-PersonaIit OF New
Monarch.
A new monarchy has been founded
and its King rules his people to-day;
yet the accomplishment has been
made without one deed of violence.
Fancy, a few hundred years ago, the
secession Of a powerful people from a
yet more powerful one. The new
regime would needs have possessed Z
genius and daredevil for leader,
and then waded with him through
rivers of blood in order to establish
the new throne.
But in the case of Norway, the bal
lot box was the only weapon used and
the case is without parallel in his
tory.
The strange anomaly, too, is pre-
scented of the birth of a new dynasty,
while the most aristocratic and auto
cratic dynasty, situated Immediately
adjoining It, is tottering to Its fall.
BY vote of the Storthing, Norway's
legislative body. the Norwegian people
decided to separate from Sweden; by
vote Of the Norwegians the new re-
gime was selected in a monarchial
form; and again by vote Of the Storth-
ing, Prince Charles of Denmark was
oCiCCICu 10 tllc uSW AClo WCio
a number of the bright lights of Nor
way who favored republican form of
government, but they could only mus
ter to their banners about twenty per
cent. of the entire vote cast.
The separation of Norway from
Sweden by vote Of the .Storthing is but
the elimination of a struggle that goes
way back to the early part of the pres
ent century. The general cause as
signed for the separation is the refusal
OF King Oscar of Sweden to grant Nor
way a separate consular service OF its
own. But this overlooks salient fact
of history.
Intended Effacement Of Norway.
Bernadotte, Napoleon's marshal,
when invited by the Swedish mobiles to
become king, pledged himself for him.
self and his successors, to make 1t the
great principle of Swedish diplomacy
to gradually effect the absorption and
effacement of Norway The nobility
of Sweden hoped by this method to
atone for the loss of Finland. Berna-
dotte was unable TO complete this pro-
ject, but instead arranged union
which gave Norway many rights. His
pledge he kept SO far as he could and
each of his successors has felt it bind
ing on him. King Oscar of Sweden,
kind and good natured, would prob
ably have been glad enough to give
the Norwegians their separate consul
lar service, but for the promise made
by his ancestor.
Throughout the eighty-seven years
that the line of Bcrnadotte has been
on the Swedish throne Norway has
never relinquished the demand for in
dependence, and the fruition of this
great dream is certain to be followed
by determined efforts toward progress.
They are intensely democratic, are the
Norwegians, in marked contrast to the
Swedes, who have the habit of aris-
tocracy strongly fixed upon them.
There are said to be only five noble
families in Norway, while there are
three thousand In Sweden.
Outwittlng the Russian Game.
With such difference in tempera-
ment many expected the people of
Norway TO vote for a republic, but
since the separation became a certain
ty there has never been a moment that
anything but monarchy was possible.
Had a republic been selected, such a
government would have gotten little
sympathy from any Of the powers of
Europe, so that Russia. which has al
ways cast longing eyes at Norway,
might easily absorb the Norwegians
when the time for the blow came. The
split between Sweden and Norway
seemed to offer new chance for Rus
sia to pounce upon the little mouse,
but the cleverness of the diplomats of
Norway in selecting King Edwards
nephew as ruler and thereby making
England an ally, thwarts Russia in all
efforts to absorb the new monarchy.
With Prince Carl, second son OF
Crown Prince Christian OF Denmark,
the new King of Norway. the Berra-
dottes do not cease to reign over the
upper half OF the Scandinavian penin-
sula, popular opinion Notwithstanding.
The mother of the new Norwegian
King was ut one time Princess of Swe-
den and Norway: her father, Charles
XIV, ruled over the union prior to
King Oscar lis accession to the
throne.
King Haakon VII
The King is a young man Of thirty