Norwegian Life | Page 8

(1855), by which the
latter powers promised to help Sweden and Norway in case of any
attack from Russia. General contentment prevailed during the happy
reign of King Oscar, and the prosperity, commerce, and population of
the country increased steadily. These satisfactory conditions did not,
however, result in weakening the national feeling, and the Storthing, in
1857, declined to promote a plan, prepared by a joint Swedish and
Norwegian commission, looking to a strengthening of the union. After
a sickness of two years, during which his son, Crown Prince Charles,
had charge of the government as prince-regent, King Oscar I died in
July, 1859, at the age of sixty years. He was married to Josephine of

Leuchtenberg, daughter of Napoleon's stepson, Eugene Beauharnais.
Charles XV was thirty-three years old when he ascended the throne.
The progress in the material welfare of the country continued during his
reign, and, like his father, he was very popular with the Norwegians.
Numerous roads and railroads were started, all parts of the country
were connected by telegraph, and the merchant marine grew to be one
of the largest in the world. In 1869 a law was passed providing for
annual sessions of the Storthing instead of triennial as heretofore.
Charles XV died Sept. 18, 1872, and, having no sons, was succeeded
by his younger brother, Oscar II, the late ruler of Sweden. The
Storthing appropriated the necessary funds for the expense of the
coronation at Throndhjem (July 18, 1873), while the king sanctioned
the bill abolishing the office of Statholder. But soon differences
between the Storthing and the ministry brought on sharp conflicts.
Long before Norway deposed King Oscar II (June 7, 1905), disruptions
and war would doubtless have occurred had it not been for the wisdom
and tact of the king. The last straw that broke the camel's back in this
instance was the refusal of separate consular representation for Norway.
The basis of this last demand was not mainly the commercial value to
Norway of having its distinct consuls, though this was an element, but
the right of Norway as a nation entirely independent of Sweden to be
represented as such in its commercial relations with foreign nations.
Sweden and Norway are now not only two distinct nations, but are
competitors in trade and commerce. Norway's shipping and carrying
trade far exceeds that of Sweden. The Norwegians have always been a
seafaring people, and Norwegian sailors and marines are found in large
numbers in the commercial marine and navies of all Europe and
America. From the standpoint of Norway, common justice demanded
that Norwegian merchants and sailors should, like every other nation,
have their own consuls to represent and protect them in foreign
countries.
Not being able to secure the approval of the king for separate consular
representation, the Storthing, on June 7, 1905, passed resolutions
declaring the dissolution of the union between Norway and Sweden,

and that King Oscar had ceased to be the ruler of Norway. In the place
of the king, the Storthing appointed the members of the Norway
Council of State to act as a temporary government for the nation. The
Storthing further declared that Norway had no ill feeling against King
Oscar or his dynasty of Sweden, and asked the king to cooperate in
selecting one of his own house to be king of Norway.
The Riksdag of Sweden met in extraordinary session, June 21, 1905, at
the call of King Oscar, to consider the action of the Norwegian
Storthing in declaring the dissolution of the union between the two
countries. The opening of the session was marked by the usual
ceremonial pomp, but also by a gravity and solemnity befitting the
unusual occasion. The emotional feeling was intense and repressed
with difficulty by both speakers and audience. The king, in his address
to the Riksdag, maintained with dignity that he had acted within his
constitutional rights and that Norway had not the power to dissolve the
union which legally could be effected only by mutual consent.
Nevertheless, it was with great sadness that he now urged negotiations
for the severance of the ties between the two nations, believing that
"the union was not worth the sacrifice which acts of coercion would
entail." The bill prepared by the government was immediately
presented to the Riksdag. It was of the same tenor as the king's address,
and asked for authorization to negotiate with the Norwegian Storthing
for the establishment of a common basis for the settlement of the
question involved in the separation of the two kingdoms. The bill
encountered strong opposition, both in and out of the Riksdag. In the
Senate it was referred to a committee of nine anti-government members,
while in the lower house the composition of the corresponding
committee was equally divided between the two opposing