Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-04-22
lBy q. S. straudxoId.l

nounces plans for an America day to
be celebrated May ~ for the purpose
Of stimulating active and virile
Americanism, and Of protesting
effectualiy against certain disloyal.
propaganda still rampant in many
parts Of the country in the form Of
transplanted Bolshevism.
Most likely, it is an accidert.t that
the celebration has been set for the
seventeenth day of May, but even II
SO, 1t carries with it a., peculiar Sig
n%ifcance in view Of the fact that the
date marks one Of the great steps
taken by a part Of Humanity I'M the
direction of freedom, democracy and
independence. ..i
On May II, 1874. the Norwegian
national assembly gathered at Eids-
void. no far from Christiania, adopted
a constitution which, in practicE.
meant that legislative power was con-
ferred or the people while the king
retained only executive authority.
This document forms the basis for
the declaration Of independence.
adopted W days later by the mem
bers Of the assembly who solemnly deA
clared the political union with Dem
mark dissolved, and proclaimed Nor
way a free and sovereign state.
Preferred Death t Slavery.
There is a touch Of strong manli-
declaration: .
NORWAY wishes and hopes to live
in peace, with other nations. The Nor
Xegian people feel convinced that the
powerful states which during the last
few years SO strenuously and sue
cessfuily have fought in order to re-
store freedom and peace in Europe,
will refuse 60 consent ito the subjuga-
%;or 30 - ~@~~1@ ,,,l@-1 --I,, a>->--
is that it be left to live in liberty
among it's mountains-a people who,
if this hope be futile, is determined to
prefer death to the chains Of slaves"
Echoes of the French revolution of
f789-of the proud defiance OF the
Americans of '76?
Yes-and something more: A
prophecy of what was to come!
Norway's declaration of 1914 was
aimed against autocracy and foreign
aggression. All other nations who
since have declared their independ-
ence, did so with the firm determine
ton not to tolerate tyranny, from
within or subjugation from without,
and when Belgium one hundred years
after Norway found her supreme OPP
|portunity to show that she, too, pre-
ferred death to the chains Of slaves,
the principle was reaffirmed, and the
spirit generally recognized. Z
The Menace OF Mob Rule.
Like Hydra, the Peloponnesian
monster slain by Hercules, national
evils perpetuate themselves. It will
be recalled that Hydra had nine heads
and that every time one was OF
1.-two grew forth: ...
When the tyranny Of emperors,
kings and dukes in a number Of in
stances destroyed during the recent
world war, a new species of tyranny
developed into a menace, threatening
not only the existence OF one nation,
but that of many. When the idea of
foreign aggression appears to have
become obsolete, the aggression from
within assumes a much more form
liable shape and creates a new type
of social and national danger.
In other words, when gilded au-
tocracy has fallen, ragged autocracy
takes its place. 4
That is what we see in Russia.
Hungary. Bavaria, Saxony, Prussia
and many other countries this very
day. s1t is a form Of reaction too
tangible to. be considered merely a
HARMLESS spectre.
IT, Eeznents of Danger. i
. A chief source of danger of the new
mob rule which has supplanted au-
tocracy on thrones is its ability to
COut4lCC lI1OuSdIuuS VI uHIllINNlOR
people that it is democracy. 1t stands
to reason that undisguised autocracy
is easier to combat and conquer than
autocracy robing itself in the guise OF
democracy, and that consequently,
masked autocracy is the most danger
Gus Of the two.
1 If the new mob rule confined itself
to countries where the old type OF
~autocracy had been successfully over
| fhrnuyn II MIGHT mt ha rnpoScorry IN
consider it. an international danger.
But the fact is that it has eaten its
way into other nations whose very
vitality it seeks to sap, violently and
systematically.
1t. therefore, looks as though a new
fight for independence will be neces-
sary in several Countries fight to
vindicated for generations by free
dom-loving peoples.
Nomenclature is comparatively i'm
material in this connection. It is not
the name that counts, but the essence
of the thing, n for the time .being
the autocratic democracy-the most
hideous form of ~despotisnr known
is most popularity recognized by the
name Of Bolshevism.
Seeking a Home Here.
It is impossible for even unbiased
minus 70 ESCAPE from the conclusion
that this autocracy Of the unthinking
mass is seeking a home in the United
! States. Given what it demands, it will
u~ndepnine the nation. because its
principal method is that of appealing
-
Northwestern
Newfoundland