Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1917-05-12
THRONE
SHAKY, REPORT
OF CHRISTIAN
SUITE OF KING CHRISTIAN OF DEN
MARK RETURNS TO COPENHAGEN
WITH DISQUIETING NEWS OF
SWEDISH CONDITIONS.
TIDE OF DEMOCRACY, ALREADY IN A
HIGH STATE, CONTINUES TO RISE
AND NOW THREATENS THE
THRONE OF OSCAR ITSELF.
Especial to The Iierald.)

quoting IL the naw> brought back from
suite who accompanied the Danish ruler on
his recent visit to Stockholm To confer
with King Gustaf. In private conversation
some Of these recent visitors to the Swcd-
ish capital have painted a most gloomy
picture of the present condition of social
dom. The situation. in their opinion. j.
much more critical than the press dis
patches have indicated. SO critical has
the situation become. in fact, hat there i
open speculation on the possibility of King
Gustaf being deprived of his throne. and
this ut not very remote date. The unrest
in Sweden l. deep-scatcd and has been
gathering force for many wears. To begin
With. the Swedish people are naturally
the most democratic in the world.
the royal institution has been allowed
to exist in the country l. due largely 10
the personal popularity enjoyed by the late
King Oscar and the further fact that Meth
CIR he nor the present occupant of the
throne ever made any serious attempt to
exercise the royal prcrogative> i'm "A man
ner contrary Ia the Wish of the people.
The tide Of democracy has continued it,
steady rise. however. and now it threat
ems to cngulf the throne itself. The war
has imposed xlny hardships upon the
Swedish people and a. q consequence the
of the social democrats in fav-
or of a political overturn lave fallen into
willing ears. The success of the democrat
ic movement in Russia also has made n
profound impression upon the people of
Another important factor in the situa-
ton j. the lack of popularity Of the pres
ent king. Gustaf j. in favor neither with
the CLASSES or the masses. lie IL entirely
in those. qualities which made his
the late King Oscar. beloved of hi~
people. while the ancient nobility Of Swcd-
On has never looked with any degree Of
upon the royal family. The king
j. only a ercat-erandSon of the Gascon law
clerk B,rnadottc and De~iree Clarv. the
daughter of n French wine merchant. and
the Baden dynasty. from which Queen Vie
torla comes, IN it, present line >prang from
the union of the last Zachringcr with one
Of his low-born miStrc>~c~. On the 9th
or hand. the members of the Swedish no
hlity-at least the majority Of them-can
trace their descent back a dozen genera
tions. They therefore have always refused
to take seriously the claims of the present
Swedish royal family To- regal prcroga-
tivcs. Nor have they ever forgotten that
Marshal Bernadottc. the founder Of the
dynasty. owed his rise in life To the %rcvolu-
ton. that he had taken part in the mas>a-
crc> of the French ari~tocracy and roval
family, and that mt his death the words,
death 10 the tyrant- and 10 the ~ari>to-
Gratis" were found tatoocd on hi~ arm.
Gu~taf il known a. a man 1T energetic
character and 4 prediction for miliiar-
ism. II j. not considered likely that hc
would follow the example Of the late Gar
of Russia in mcckly yielding his ihron,
without 4 struggle. The Swedish ruler he
~licvc4, like Emperor William. with whom h,
has always been ON terms of intimate
friendship. that the mailed fist il prefer.
able to velvet glove in solving difficulties
Some years ago. when he was still crown
prince. he awaited himself Of the oppnr.
tnniiy of some public meetings in Stock
holm openly Ia express hi~ opinion that h,
did not approve Of hi father, tendency
70 tcmporizc with opponents instead OF
attacking and crushing them.
GIStaf Is not looked upon a. 4 states
man Of every great abilities. nor can h,
lay clam 70 intellectual achievements il
any way approaching those Of his father
Instead of being n ihcorist and u dreamer
he j. substantially "A man of action. all TIA,
romance he may have inherited having
bccn stamped out of hi> nature when h,
was forced ~ a young man to break oft
the engagement which he had made to mar
~ the daughter Of Il Swedish country pas.
tor. with whom he had become infatuated
and to wed, not for love. but merely FOL
state and dyna>tIc reasons, the by n,
means attractive daughter Of the Gran,
Duke Of Baden.
The policy he has followed since comm.
to the throne indicates that GuStaf pos
sc~se~ II strong will and Il high sense ot
justice. hut he certainly lacks that pccul
lar attractivcncS, which 80 much di~ting
ui,hed hi father and which undoubtrdl,
would stand him in good stead al the pres.
cat crisis, when. according 10 most rcIiabl,
information. he i in immediate danger d
being forced to JOIN the growing list Of
kings without thrones.
The government of Peru will give TWEEN