No. 453.
Mr. Stevens to Mr. Evarts.
United
States Legation,
Stockholm, January 20, 1879.
(Received Feb. 10.)
No. 35.]
Sir: Saturday, January 18, at noon, the annual
session of the Swedish Parliament was opened by the King with the usual
impressive ceremonies. The Queen, who was absent on a like occasion last
year, owing to temporary residence in Germany because of serious ill-health,
was present with three of the princes, the crown prince being now absent on
a visit of some months in Southern Europe.
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The foreign ministers and secretaries of legation at this court were
generally present in the diplomatic gallery, and the large hall was
compactly full of members of the Parliament, of Swedish officials, and
citizens of both sexes. As usual, the King read his address in an admirable
manner. A copy of the same, printed in French, sent to this legation from
the department of foreign affairs, is inclosed, as well as an English
translation of the same.
It will be observed that His Majesty alludes to the business depression
which, sooner or later, has affected all civilized and commercial countries.
Perhaps, relatively, this country has suffered in a less degree than Great
Britain and Germany. Yet Sweden is so closely connected with those two
countries in her material interests that what strongly touches them affects
all Scandinavia. Timber and iron being the chief articles of Swedish export,
the greatly lessened foreign demand for these productions has seriously
reduced, necessarily, the available exchange resources of the country during
the past year. This, of course, has tended to embarrass home business and
lessen the government revenues. During the last six months of 1878 there was
a considerable number of heavy failures, chiefly in Gottenburg and
Stockholm. But none of the banking institutions have suspended payment, and
private parties have lost nothing by their misfortune or bad management.
Generally these established financial associations seem to be administered
with much caution and fidelity. The firmness with which they maintain their
position tends to lessen essentially the evil consequences of the commercial
depression.
It may be said also in justice to the Swedish people that they seem to avoid
extravagance in dress and living, have a marked regard to economy, and
appear strongly desirous of limiting their expenditures to their means.
It will be observed that the King advises the increase of the excise on
brandy, and of the import duties on spirits, tobacco, coffee, and sugar.
Change in the tariff laws seems to be the order of the day in most European
countries. All that I can discover touching the facts and the discussion of
this subject on this side of the Atlantic, but tends to confirm the opinion
of the present financial policy of the United States, and regard for
incidental protection to our industries in raising our national revenues,
are wise and patriotic, because clearly proved to be promotive of the
development of our vast natural resources as well as of the prosperity and
happiness of the entire American people.
I have, &c.
Royal address at the opening of the Swedish
Parliament, January 18, 1879.
Gentlemen: Welcome to share with me the cares
for the good of a beloved country. Having recently been united in our
common prayers, let us here make the promise to devote to it our common
efforts. While our amicable relations with all foreign powers have been
uninterrupted, the development of all branches of the administration has
progressed tranquilly at home. As the result of new bases already in a
great degree applied for the organization of the central administration,
the advantage of a simpler method of labor has been acquired without
abrupt transition, while offering the employés of the State a more
suitable remuneration for their labor.
The procedure in matters of judicial seizure has been regulated, and the
new law relative thereto has been in force from the commencement of this
year.
The general synod, after having deliberated on several questions of great
importance for our church, has adopted various bills, which will be
submitted to your approbation.
Public instruction, generously endowed by the Diet, sheds its benefits
with success, according to a plan from day to day more generally
applied. The labors of legislation
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are pursued without interruption, and new bills
will be submitted to you in proportion as they shall have been
definitively examined.
The law on the adoption of the metrical system for weights and measures
has been promulgated, and the ordinance fixing a mean time for all the
kingdom has gone into operation.
In an economical point of view the past year has not presented an equally
satisfactory aspect. The country, it is true, has been favored with an
abundant harvest, but the products of our mines and forests have not
found advantageous markets. The financial situation has suffered so much
the more because capital, too considerable perhaps for our resources,
has been immobilized temporarily for the construction of private
railroads. Not only has embarrassment resulted to a great number of
private persons, but the consequences have been as sensibly experienced
by the State. The sources of the public revenue have diminished and the
budget of the coming year will have to be regulated without recourse to
anterior excess at the same time that the available funds are
reduced.
In this state of things it has been my duty to reduce as much as possible
the appropriations which will be asked of you, and defer to a more
favorable time such propositions as would have involved increased
expenditure.
But the appropriations which are imperiously required could not be
covered at this time without an increase of taxes. I have thought it
then my duty to propose, in the first place, an increase of the excise
on the manufacture of brandy and of the customs duty on the importation
of spirits and tobacco; thus the greatest part of the new charges would
affect articles which should not be classed among those of prime
necessity, and which, until this time, have been with us less taxed than
in most other countries.
To obtain the rest, I have thought it would be least onerous for the
tax-payers to raise, in some degree, the duties on the importation of
coffee and sugar.
I declare the present session opened, and I assure you, gentlemen, most
earnestly, of my good will.
