New-York tribune., 1917-07-25
NorwaySS Difficult Position
Bu ". 4. GreUstdd

a German gun, and would nave oeeh Pto
even if the violation of Belgian neutrality
and the outrages in Belgium and northern
France had been unwritten chapters.
The political instincts and Ideals OF the
people were stronger than the culturai tes
by which the leading circles were bound 10
Germany. AS the character Of the worid con.
test gradually became clearer the current oi
national opinion absorbed the German eddies
and set with swelling volume toward the
powers fighting for democracy -,
It is an interesting coincidence that, while
Germany to-day is the most autocratic coun-
trv in Europe, Norway, inhabited by the
rorthernmost branch of the Germanic race, Is
the most democratic, and has been for CEN
turies. Beginning at very early period OF
her history. her political development took the
opposite course from that of the southern
German lands She remained untouched
alike bv Roman and Hun. The civil law con-
ouered Germany; Norway maintained her
native fabric of law almost intact and thus
I preserved the spirit of sturdy manhood and
individuality that is the source OF liberty and
democracy.
Cermany became the cradle Of the feudal
system: Norway is the only country IN Eu-
rope where the feudal system never obtained
foothold Her kings were not permitted 10
usurp autocratic powers nor to oppress the
people for any length Of time. Strong per-
sonalities as many of them were, they were,
in fact, only more or less assertive presi-
dents, depending for their tenure OF once
upon good behavior. The speech OF Norway
of those times was a twin OF Anglo-Saxon
and her intellectual and commercial inter-
course was mainly with the peoples OF the
west.
Ready to Do Its Share
The political history of modern Norway
presents interesting parallels TO her demo-
cratic tendencies of earlier times. Durlng
the past century she leaned upon the western
powers and received political inspirations
from France, England and the United states
Her constitution of 1914, the Oldest among
the written organic laws of the Old World, Is
still the most democratic in Europe. In the
course of the many upheavals OF the nine
teenth century it was exposed TO many oah-
gerous attacks inspired or directed oy frus-
sia and Austria. But the people OF Norway
have always defended their Magma Charta
as stubbornly and successfully as nave tne
French their sacred Verdun.
These scattering rays upon the history OF
NORWAY may reveal in measure the char
war. She is a country OF a double personal
ity; of two faces, yet not double-faced. In the
| finer webs of her culture, as in her eating and
drinking and manners, she is closely allied
to Germany; and she has held the German
people in high esteem, excepting German
tourists doing" Norway, whose conduct ap.
pears to have been somewhat prophetic OF
that of the submarines of these latter days
Every time her people attend church Germany
appeals to them through Luthers hymns and
teaching.
In spite of all these subtle forces the faces
Of the Norwegian people are set sternly
against Germany in this war. For they can
see that victory for the Central Powers
would mean the end Of an independent and
free Norway. They feel, almost with passion
that the Allied Powers, and especially the
United States, are fighting for what is the
ife-breath of Norway and all other coun-
tries: Justice and freedom on land and sea-
untrammelled democracy, national indepen'
dence and peaceful world in which even
small nation may have its place In the sun.
And if they shall be called upon to do their
part of the work they may be relied upon to
fight like men.