Page:The Annual Register 1899.djvu/354

 346] FOEEIGN HISTORY. [1899.

Suffrage Bill, which found favour with Liberals and Radicals alike, and, although the representative of a town division, he was liked by many.rural members on account of his pronounced sympathy with a policy of greater economy. M. von Priesen also was apparently quite independent of the Radicals, who had not been particularly successful in their efforts for the advance- ment of Liberalism, although they made no small noise whenever an opportunity offered itself. M. von Friesen's Suffrage Bill, the main feature of which formed an important part of the Liberal election programme, was based upon the principle that political suffrage should be given to all who were entitled to vote in municipal matters. To counterbalance this wide reform a somewhat extensive compulsory military service was at the same time to be introduced. There was, however, no certainty as to the actual results of the election, and it was anticipated that many of the new members would show less enthusiasm for a Liberal suffrage reform in the House than they had affected on the platform.

Another prominent feature of the electoral campaign of 1899 was the attitude of candidates towards the total abstinence movement ; unprejudiced observers held that this question could easily be mixed up too closely with politics, to no benefit for either, and it was felt that on this subject more than one candidate had made rash promises which would be difficult to fulfil.

The once all-important question of protectionism and free trade was forced into the background, indicating that no great reforms in this direction were asked for or promised. Conse- quently more stability was to be looked for in the Swedish tariff, which promised to work beneficially for all concerned. It would, however, appear that the free traders were slowly gain- ing ground, and at an election to the Upper House in October at Norrkoping, a great manufacturing centre and formerly a protectionist stronghold, a free trader, M. Carl Schwortg, was returned, an event which would have been impossible some five or six years previously.

The Norwegian flag question was before the J oint Councils of State (Swedish and Norwegian) on October 6 and 11. It transpired during those councils that the Foreign Minister, Count Douglas, held a view differing from that of his colleagues and of the King, his Majesty acquiescing in the demand of the Norwegian Councillors of State, that the resolution of the Norwegian Storthing should be pronounced law. The resig- nation of Count Douglas as Foreign Minister, which had for some time been rumoured, promptly followed, and M. Lager- heim, Swedish Ambassador to the German Court, was appointed his successor. The War Minister, Baron Rappe, also resigned, M. von Crusebiorn succeeding him ; another change being that of Consulting Councillor of State, Baron Akerhielm, being replaced by M. Rostadius. M. Lagerheim's acceptance of office