THE CRISIS IN NORWAY,
[To THE EDTTOE OF THE "SPECTATOR." J
Sia,—In January last year you opened your columns for a brief outline of the principal features of the Constitutional crisis in Norway. This crisis being, to all appearance, just in these days about to end in the most desirable manner, a few sup- plementary remarks on its last stages may, I hope, not be unwelcome. It is, I think, pretty well known to your readers that the Storthing at last had recourse to the only Constitutional weapon now left it,—the impeaching of the Ministry by the "Rigsret," or Parliamentary tribunal, in itself a clumsy and not very commendable expedient, and in this case aggravated by some high-handed and questionable proceedings in the com- position of it. After a long and circumstantial trial, in which especially the advocate of the Ministry, Mr. Bergh, shone out brilliantly by his vigorous and eloquent defence, the defendants (Ministry) were all of them found guilty ; some of them were condemned to forfeit their office, some were only fined.
It might now be hoped that the King would give up the pro- tracted and, in the long-run, probably hopeless struggle ; and such was almost unanimously the advice given by the leading foreign journals. The King, however, decided not to give up the point yet. A new Ministry was formed, at whose head was placed one of the very men just sentenced, some few of the others also retaining their office; the rest were new men, mostly chosen among the narrow circle of the staunch upholders of the abso- lute veto and the King's prerogatives. Indeed, that seemed to be, for some at least, their only qualification. The general in- dignation rose to a high pitch, the .Storthing's relation to the Government becoming even more defiant, and the little knot of adherents to their cause appearing to waver in their fidelity, when suddenly, as a first harbinger of the longed-for peace, a Royal resolution was issued in the last days of May to put a stop to some petty trials of Liberal journals, which had been the inaugurating act of the new Ministry, and the expected cause eelibre of which was that of the poet Bjiirnson, then residing in
Paris, who was put on his trial for alleged disrespect to Royalty in some articles which certainly, it must be admitted, did not do honour to his good-taste. A few days after it was rumoured that the King would arrive in Christiania, with a view to try a compromise. To the surprise of all—indeed, it remains still a mystery to the public how this change in the Royal mind has been brought about—this proved to be true. On his arrival, the King -entered into communication with Professor Dr. 0. T. Broch, who is to form the new Ministry, and through him a compro- mise has been brought about with T. Sverdrup, the Leader of the Opposition, of which the chief points are the following :— The Bill admitting the Ministers to the sittings of the Storthing is to be passed again in a somewhat altered form, and then to obtain the Royal sanction. Thus the famous resolution of June 9th, 1881, by which the Storthing rashly declared this thrice- carried Bill valid law, and thus intruded upon the Crown's privi- lege, has virtually been admitted to be "a blow in the air," and the point in dispute concerning the absolute veto has been evaded. Some minor Bills, which had not been sanctioned by the late Government, are to be acceded to by the new one. And thirdly, a new Ministry is to be formed on Liberal principles, into which two of the leading men of the Opposition are to be admitted. It is characteristic of the democratic spirit of our society that one of these latter is a poor peasant, who has lived in the country as a petty tradesman. As a member of the Storthing he has gradually, without possessing any of the outward gifts of a public orator, by the mere force of his ability—chiefly in the financial line—and by superior judgment, risen to be a man of leading influence in the Storthing. The new Premier, Dr. Broch, was ten years ago a member of Stang's Ministry ; but, disagreeing with his colleagues in the matter of the Ministers' Admission Bill, he resigned, and has since chiefly resided at Paris, as a delegate to the International Metre Commission, whose President he has had the honour of being. Among the other names are those of Mr. Sibbern and Mr. Richter, our Consuls-General at Paris and London. Several of them belong to the older Liberal group, and played a prominent part in the Storthing some years ago ; but not going far enough in the hot strife of later years, they were ousted, and have remained since, holding important offices, in retirement, abiding their time. Two of the late Ministry have also come to an agree- ment with Mr. Broch, and are to remain in office.
The little knot of the Intransigeant Right who for so long time have had the Royal ear have, of course, made the most frantic exertions to frustrate the compromise, or " capitulation," as they term it. Indeed, they seem to have been able to keep the matter in suspense now for nearly a fortnight, and they must have made of it a hard time to his Majesty ; but the telegrams tell us that the compromise is un fait accompli, and that only a Minister for the Church is still wanting. This will, it is confidently hoped, extricate us from the political deadlock, and inaugurate a new era of Constitutional government, fruitful of beneficent reforms. It is already said that Mr. Broch and the Storthing have come to an agreement about the extension of the suffrage, a new organisation of the Army, and the Jury system.—I am, Sir, &c., T. [The King has gone still further, according to the latest accounts, and has made Mr. Sverdrup Premier.—En. Spectator.]
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