The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1906-01-11
THE new NORWAY.
PEACEFUL WITHDRAWAL FROM
SISTER MONARCHY UNP4R-
ALLELED IN HISTORY.

Sweden to Gradually but Completed,
Absorb Norway-Personality 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 rev
regime would needs have possessed a
genius and daredevil for a leader,
and then waded with him through
rivers of blood in order 10 establish
the new throne.
But in the case of Norway, the bal
lot box was the only weapon used and
the case is without q parallel in his
tory.
The strange anomaly, too, Is pre-
sented of the birth Of q 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
selected as the new ruler. There were
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 q 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 separate consular service of its
own. But this overlooEs 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 a 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
In h,,t rA he do
by his ancestor
Throughout the eighty-seven years |
that the line Of Bernadotte 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.
Outwitting the Russian Game.
With such difference in tempera-
ment many expected the people Of |
Norway to vote for republic, but |
since the separation became certain
ty there has never been a moment that |
anything but monarchy was possible. |
Had republic been selected, such !
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 a new chance for Rus
STA to pounce upon the little mouse,
but the cleverness of the diplomats Of |
in selecting King Edwards |
nephew as ruler and thereby making |
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 Berna.
dottes do not cease to reign over the t
upper half Of the Scandinavian PENN |
sula, popular opinion Notwithstanding. |
The mother Of the new Norwegian |
King was at 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 young man of thirty