view of the eminently popular aspect of kingship in Norway to-day, (p. 585)
is such difficulty likely to arise.

[Footnote 818: Art. 79. Dodd, Modern Constitutions,
II., 137-138.]

*645. Political Parties: Liberals and Conservatives.*--Prior to the
accession of Oscar II., in 1872, the preponderating fact in the
political development of the kingdom was the gradual growth of
parliamentary power on the part of the representatives of the
peasantry. Between 1814 and 1830 the business of the Storthing was
conducted almost wholly by members of the upper and official classes,
but during the decade 1830-1840 the peasantry rose to the position of
a highly influential class in the public affairs of the nation. The
first of the so-called "peasant Storthings" was that of 1833. In it
the peasant representatives numbered forty-five, upwards of half of
the body. Under the leadership of Ole Ueland, who was a member of
every Storthing between 1833 and 1869, the peasant party made its
paramount issue, as a rule, the reduction of taxation and the practice
of economy in the national finances.

After 1870 the intensification of the Swedish-Norwegian question led
to the drawing afresh of party lines, and until the separation of
1905, the new grouping continued fairly stable. By the amalgamation of
the peasant party, led by Jaabaek, and the so-called "lawyers" party,
led by Johan Sverdrup, there came into being in the seventies a great
Liberal party (the Venstre, or Left) whose fundamental purpose was to
safeguard the liberties of Norway as against Swedish aggression. Until
1884 this party of nationalism was obliged to content itself with the
role of opposition. Governmental control was lodged as yet in the
Conservatives, whose attitude toward Sweden was distinctly
conciliatory. In 1880 the Conservative leader, Frederick Stang,
resigned the premiership, but his successor was another Conservative,
Selmer. At the elections of 1882 the Liberals obtained no fewer than
82 of the 114 seats in the Storthing. Still the Conservatives refused
to yield. In the meantime the Odelsthing had brought the entire
ministry to impeachment before the Rigsret for having advised the king
to interpose his veto to the measure giving ministers seats in
Parliament. Early in 1883 Selmer and seven of his colleagues were
sentenced to forfeiture of their offices, and the remaining three were
fined. March 11, 1884, the king announced