Martinsburg statesman. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1869-1906, 1906-01-05
The new NORWAY.
PEACEFUL UITHDRA WAL FROM
SISTER MONARCHY UNPAR-
ALLELED IN HISTORY.
Illustration of Cherished Ideal OF
Sweden to Gradually but Completely
Absorb Norway Personality OF New
Monarch.

ILLUSTRATION OF Iher1Sncd IdeaI oil
Sweden to Gradually but Completely
Absorb Norway-PersonaIity 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, few hundred years ago, the
secession of a powerful people from a
yet more powerful one. The new
regime would needs have possessed a
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 is without parallel in his
tory.
The strange anomaly, too, is pre-
scented of the birth of a new dynasty,
while the most aTistocratic 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 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 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 it's
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 it 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-
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
FTbrp1 oh tho ai oh o,p,, ,-aarg
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 arts,
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 a republic but
since the separation became 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 a new chance for Rus