The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1906-01-05

: Illustration of Cherished Ideal o.
{. Sweden to Gradually but Completely
Absorb horway-Personality OfNeW
Mvnarch.
A new monarchy has been founded
/ and its King rules his people to-day;
T yet the accomplishment has been
made without one deed of violence.
t Fancy. few hundred years ago. the
. secession of a powerful people from a
: yet more powerful one. The new
regime would needs have possessed a
J genius and a daredevil for a 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 il without a parallel in his
tory.
The strange anomaly, too, is pre-
i sented 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 byNyote of the Storth'
ing, Prince Charles \of Denmark was
selected as the new rhler There were
a number Of the Nright lights of Nor
way who favored a Republican form of
government, but III could only mus
ter to their banneN about twenty per
cent. of the entire Vote east.
The separation tof Norway from
Sweden by vote of IN Storthing is but
the eulminaton of stNuggle that goes
way Blk to the early part of the pres
ent century. The geneNal cause as
signed for the separation n the refusal
of King Oscar of Sweden TIE grant Nor
way separate consular service of its
own. But this oyerlooks salient fact
of history.
Intended placement 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 it the
great principle of Swedish diplomacy
to gradually effect the absorption and
of Norway. The nobility
Of Sweden hoped by this method to
atone for the loss of Finland. Berna-
iotte was unable to complete this pro-
iect. 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
ng on him. King Oscar of Sweden,
kind and good natured, would prob
ably have been glad enough to give
he Norwegians their separate consul
ar service. but for the promise made
BY his ancestor.
Throughout the eighty-seven years
hat the line of Bernadotte has been
IN the Swedish throne Norway has
never relinquished the demand for in
and the fruition of this
great dream is certain to be followed
)y determined efforts toward progress.
they are intensely democratic, are the
Vorwegians in marked contrast TO the
5wedes, who have the habit of aris-
ocracy strongly fixed upon them.
There are said to be only five noble
antilles in Norway, while there are
hree thousand in Sweden.
Outwittlng the Russian Game.
With such difference in tempera-
nent many expected the people Of
Norway to vote for a republic, but
ince the separation became certain
y there has never been moment that :
.nything but a monarchy was possible.
Had a republic been selected, such
government would have gotten little
ympathy from any Of the powers OF
Europe, so that Russia, which has al
Ways cast longing eyes at Norway
light easily absorb the Norwegians e'
rhen the time for the blow came. The b;
pitt between Sweden and Norway h
eemed to offer new chance for Rus G,
ia to pounce upon the little mouse
ut the cleverness of the diplomats OF IN
Torway in selecting King Edwards W
ephew as ruler and thereby making al
,ngland an ally, thwarts Russia in all pl
forts to absorb the new monarchy. h;
With Prince Carl, second son of il
rown Prince Christian of Denmark, CO
be new King of Norway, the Berna- T
ottes do not cease to reign over the ca
pper half of the Scandinavian penin- D:
ula, popular opinion Notwithstanding. w
he mother Of the rev Norwegian Ii,
ing was at one time Princess of Swe- u:
en- and Norway; her father, Charles 81
", ruled over the union prior to
ing Oscar lis accession to the m
1rone. ST
King Haakon VII. M
The King is a young man of thirty m