The Washington times., 1914-08-07
SWEDEN AND RUSSIA.

that Germany has sent what amount
to ultimatums. to Doth Italy and
Sweden, demanding to know If they
will stand with her in the war, and
indicating that if they do net side
with the triple alliance, they may
count themselves its enemies, and be
so treated by it.
Italy has declared her neutrality,
taking the ground that the trip
artite pact is a pledge of mutual
aid for defense, but not for aggres-
sion, and that the present war is
one of aggression by Austria and
Germany. Back Of that, Of course,
lies the general unpopularity OF the
alliance with the people of Italy;
the fact that it binds them to their
ancient. enemy, Austria; and that
Queen Helena, beloved of all Italians.
is the daughter of the royal house
of Montenegro. Little Montenegro.
in the late Balkan war, struck the
spark from which has grown the
flame of the present Continental
confagration.
Sweden is in a different position.
She has long regarded Russia AS
her traditional foe, determined to
seize Scandinavia in order through
it to have an outlet to the open
Atlantic. She is naturally the ally
of Germany and Austria in oppos-
ing the aggressions Of the vast Slav
power.
Yet it is reported from Stockholm
that if war must come, Sweden will
probably appear on the side Of the
entente. 1t is a striking demonstra-
ton of how Germany has lost caste
with enlightened humanity as re-
suit of her appearance as an arro-
CANT aggressor against the peace
of the world. Sweden prefers to
side with the entente, doubtless
convinced that if she does so she
will be able to trust to the loyalty
of France and Britain to stay the
hand of Russia.
The student of history will find
in the story of Sweden's rise and
fall among the powers Of Europe, a
parallel and precedent for the pres
ent position of Germany. There
was a time when Sweden was sec
ond to no national figure at the
council boards of Europe. For a
century and half, beginning with
the Seventeenth Century, Sweden
upheld the lamp of liberty and lib
eralism in northern Europe with an
arm of iron. 1t is worthy of obser-
vation now, that she came to the
zerith of her greatness by reason
of vanquishing the House of Aus
tria in the Thirty YearG' war; the
war which northern liberalism
waged for religious liberty against
the reactionary movement that Aus
tria led in the vain hope of quench-
ing the light that Luther had made.
Charles TX first allied Sweden with
the other advanced countries. In
one of his wars he so far humbled
The united power of Russia and Po-
land that Russia made peace whose
conditions included agreement to ac-
cert the son of Charles as their
Gar.
1t was the son of this Charles TX
who became King as Gustsyus Adol-
phus, one of the most able, enlight-
ened, brilliant, and humane rulers
that have given their splendid stories
to adorn the pages of any history.
He reclaimed great territories that
had been seized by Denmark, and
then in turn smashed the power of
Russia, Poland and Austria. 1t was
he whom the divided Germans ac-
cepted as their delivcrer from the
assaults of the House of Hapsburg.
He took Munich, he set up his court
at Frankfort, he crushed the arms
of the fanatically reactionary Fred
erick ii of Austria, who not unlike
the present dynasty at Vienna had
plunged Europe into war in the hope
of extending his domain and sub
DUNG the advancing spirit of liberty.
Gustavus died in battle while yet
a young man; and for over q CEN
fury Sweden, though with varying
fortunes, held much of the great
place he had made for it.
Then came the day of reverses for
Sweden. Charles XII came to its
throne, and for a time repeated the
successes of Gustavus Adolphus. He
waged splendidly successful wars
against Denmark and Russia, and his
career for a time was Napolecnic.
Like Napoleon, he fell because he
conceived the tremendous perform
ance Of attacking Moscow. He saw
Peter the Great building st. Peters,
huro and undertook to dislodpa hin,