Show THE NORWEGIAN QUESTION the present quarrel between the two kingdoms occupying the scandinavian Scandinavia nn peninsula la is commencing to be interesting tf tf the european powers inasmuch as ll 11 becomes clearer with each successive movement of the norwegian radicals radi cala that their real aim is the dissolution of the union and the kotab lish ment ot of a republic on the western slope of kiblen by the tt t of the peace of kiel 1814 norway was to be ceded to sweden as a a compensation for finland having been transferred to russia but the norwegian Norwegia ns were NO eo in their resistance that nothing snort short of a war would have subdued them A compromise was waa therefore effected by which norway was made an independent kingdom to be governed by the swedish king and to have a foreign representation and consular service in common with 8 eden under this arrangement the two countries have bave grown together happy tor for more than three quarters of a century and norway has particularly had the benefit of the unions un ionas is evidenced by the phenomenal phenomena develon cevelo ment of ti at country since it obtained its present station but it E beems that t 0 radical element Is bent upon a separation lees of the A fierce battle was 1 ought fought oni only y a few years ago concerning the p prerogatives of the crown the kings always insisted that they had the at abao abeo ao lute veto power la ia matters affecting the constitution of the country they regarded the constitution as an agree moot ment between two parties part par tiep and held atiat no change could be effected without the consent of both the norwegian radicals insisted that the constitution ution was given by ilia people alone and could be annulled by the people at will the kinc kin being only the chief executive of the nation A measure regarding the extension of the elective franchise we believe was made a test case the radical majority in the parliament bags pawed e d the measure repeatedly and the king vetoed it finally the parlia metat went to the extreme of summoning the ministers of the king before the rigs ret a court the majority of whose members were chosen by the parliament among the most radical politicians available the mini appeared represented by the ablest law yei s of the country but were notwithstanding the heavy arguments argument produced sentenced by a strict party vote to heavy fines and disgrace for life for having advised the king against the wishes of the parliament the king however instead of submitting to this decision dismissed his hia cabinet with the assurance of his kingly favor asif as if they bad not been disgraced and summoned ODed johan joban sverdrup rup to form a new cabinet sverdrup rup was the leader of the radi radicals a position which he subsequently abandoned to the great chagrin of his bis party the battle was now continued although with less fierceness the trouble now to 18 the concerning con consular fular and foreign diplomatic service the norwegian radicals insist that the country is ie under disadvantage as long as those these are common with sweden a eta tat ement all the more peculiar w when hou it is considered that a great many of the consuls and diplomats are corwe gians who represent both countries years ago sweden declared herself quite willing to cons consent nt to a reorganization of the ministry of foreign affairs upon condition that norway would consent to take an equal share in the defense of the territory of the two countries but this norway refused she wants it appears to manage her own foreign policy and dot de end partly on sweden for her defense a condition to which the swedes object the laut laist propositions made by sweden were rejected after twelve days of stormy debate in abe be parliament on the of march this year and the quarrel is as far from 1 a settlement as ever |