Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-03-25
(By G. S. S%trandvold.)

(By G. S. Strandvold.)
Just at this time when delegates
from the Scandinavian countries are
present at the peace conference in
Paris to take part in the discussion of
the league OF nations project, it may
be Of more than passing interest to
note how such a league, Informally
but effectively. has existed in the
north, especially during the past five
years. In order to fully realize the
significance of that international COM
munity of good will and cooperation
one must cast a glance at the develop
ment of the past centuries in the three
countries.
1t Is reasonable to believe that the
ancient dream about the United States
of Scandinavia lately has come nearer
to its fulfllment than at any other
time since November, 1920. when the
Kalmar Union Of 1897, after having
been a merely perfunctory and po-
ltically insignificant federation for
quence Of the Danish King Chris
terms defeat Of the Swedes at Boga-
sund. The restoration Of the union
was a result OF the kings insane and
vainglorious desire to be Prince of
the North in defiance of popular
wishes, and when he ordered the
event celebrated with the horrible
Stockholm massacre. The felt that the
triple crown rested securely upon his
head.
King Sent to Dungeon. I
sighted to anticipate that when. he
baptized the revived union in the
blood OF a large number of Sweden's
most powerful mobiles, he sealed his
own doom and that Of the united
countries. Three years later the fed
Grafton was dissolved when G%ustavius
Wasa was crowned king Of Sweden
and when even personal and hitherto
stAunch friends Of Christiern in Dem
support from him. He departed for
Holland an exile Gas did another fall
len monarch four hundred years
later). and when he returned ia. his
former domains nine years after his
departure. It was az a prisoner who
was destined to spend the remaining
twenty-odd years of his life in, a
dungeon. :
Since then the idea Of a united
North has appeared from time to time
and always seemed convincing ana
plausible enough to interest some OF
the keenest minds In the three u
tries. During the seventeenth and
the eighteenth centuries the plan wa
but rarely discussed because Of eyer-
lasting strife and frequent wars be-
tween the ulster countries but In the
middle OF the nineteenth century ii
bscame . fad In the academic circles
OF Copenhagen, Chftsttania and
Stockholm, and during the imriedi-
atoly ~succaedinE decades continued to
appeal to the university youth In no
small measure.
Idea Dsd Not Coaae From People.
The chief difaculty during this
period Of what may be called lyrical
Standardization was that the desire
for Q union did not spring from the
peoples themselves It VA fostered
among young and sxuberant univer-
Gty students and was carried forward
In poetry and song, and It mass meet.
tnSD n 1egy ara enthusiastic oratory
limited gto . Gphere vary remote from
that OF ths mnltjtudee whose senti-
ments wsre not taken Into consider
afisD.
inst ths mevemsntla ala not meet
with favor from the fSspsctjye gov-
srnMente WAs often ana alphabetically
eyl4enead, aud th0 roaoon appeatU to
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