The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1917-05-17
NORWEGIAN DAY
SHOULD MAKE A NOISE TODAY
NEARLY A REPUBLIC, But
HAVE 4 KING.

Today, being the tlh OF May, Is
the 105th anniversary of Norwegian
declaration OF independence from the
/ Danish crown. Throughout the
world where Norwegians live, this
day is observed with both organized
bodies and as families and indiyid
uals. TO them IL has every signifi-
canoe which our Fourth of July has
to ue. This year, perhaps, in view
of the fact that the county is itself
involved I'm q war. and thar their al
legiance IS. 20 a man, to the couAttE
of their adoption. less Is done inTho
way Of observance Of The Norwegian
holiday than is usually done. Ger
tain cities are. however. remember
ing their country fight for indie
~pendence.
For 400 years previous TO 1872
Norway had been under the domin
ion Of the Danish crown Napoleon
had torn Europe to pieces, and had
finally been caught and hock-tied.
Reconstruction Of the man was being
undertaken to i'm some measure re
pair the ravages made by the man oi
destiny. and delegates and represent
atives of various affected counttteH
were me- TO make the treaties which
would again settle the |wavering
country frontiers. I'm that treaty.
by the majority, Norway was 10 be
separated from her traditional pro
tector. Denmark. and made a PROV
Iince of Sweden.
Now the Norwegians had ideas OF
their own. many Of which they
thought to be as good as any that
could be furnished them by outside
nations. one of them was a preJu-
dice i'm favor of self-government.
The idea OF being a subject nation.
essentially free themselves, without
n blood nobility, being placed IN q
yassalage TO Il nation which rceog
nized rank as being OF btrth bu'
which vet tolerated the notorious
ursurpation of the plebtan Berna-
dotte family on the throne-Well.
they wouldn't do IL.
The people Of the various countries
sent representatives and protested.
Their protest was not needed They
ala as the Yankees had lone not so
many wears previous-they drew mp
the most liberal constitution known
eopied much after that OF france
and as democratic as that oil SWltheT-
land. and adopted il. Then they
went ioyfully TO war with Sweden.
They fought right earnestly Tor
two wears. At the end OF hat time
a treaty was concluded which gave
the Norwegians complete autonomy
True their king was the Swedish
king But the two countries. under
that one executive head. We're abso-
. mtely separated politically. the
N~orwpgians had their stortlng, elect
ed directly by the people, This body
automatically divided itself INTO Two
bodies on convention, for the purpose
of legislating. From them the pre-
! ~yafling political party elected mem
! hers of the cabinet or council. Ih'
/ people voted directly. and BY extend
ed suffrage from time TO time SUI
p. frage has come to be universal.
some wonder is expressed as u
I the adaptability Of the Norwegian u
7 nnr forms and systems Of govern
ment They arrive in America. ant
I before they can speak the Language
J with ease they are packing thel
: grips every two years and going u
the state capital TO make laws 70
ms I'm local government they ar
rive AT an even earlier date an
n while the Language they use is oltei
q nnintelligible. their administration
wholly in accordance with America
: institutions. -
The explanation is simple. ne
have been doing the same thing 2
= their own country for nearly As ION
y Al we have in ours. with the adVai
tage that they have not had the grea
! foreign element of southern turop
s or other monarehies TO educate
Tbev come to our shores prepared
.e avarv way but the one of language |
take immediate part in ~ciuZenshll
Their government is more democrat
than is our own. Their king can nc
veto a law. And when the cabint
acts against the wishes Of the mi
ioritv i'm power they reslgn-te
I, their offices cease. So, in this couI
- try instead of making il a MOI
~aristocratic form. their influence
wholly toward a more perfect demo-
racy.
. In the unpleasantness now eXlstin
;, between ourselves and the kaise
4 every Norwegian is loyal TO the coul
- try. We have heard of Germans b.
i ing arrested for d~isloyalty. Irishme
~ and even at times Americans. III
y there are no Norwegians thus far u
: der suspicion of being an admirer
~ Kaiser Bill.
lll In the past few years they seleett
~ a king of their own from the DAMS
ooe royal family. and support him wi
" pride. knowing that all he has TO {
ne with actual administration of Cover
(, ment Is to look pretty on state Q
~ casions. People must have a hes
rs man TO point to with pride"
,r.