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NATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS. MORAL AND SOCIAL CONDITIONS. 143
to pass a decree for the forfeiture to the Crown of the great majority
of tCrotrn Lands*, that had been giren away or leased to the nobility, more
especially by Qaeen Christina, and this >Reduction» was put into practice by the
King on such a large scale that it forms a distinct epoch in the record of the
possession of the soil of Sweden. The major part of the estates thus forfeited
by the nobles, passed by purchase into the hands of peasant proprietors, and that
class thereby attained so firm a standing, economically, that the effects of
the same can be very plainly traced in Swedish political life of the present day.
— With regard to the nobility, who, during their period of greatness, had split
np into two markedly distinct groups — the higher and lower aristocracy — the
forfeiture of their landed possessions left them as a class very numerous but
very much impoverished, and they were fain, for the iftost part, to procure a
livelihood by accepting posts in the public service.
This »grand forfeiture», that Charles XI effected, did not do away with the quarrels
between the Estates in Sweden. In the 18th century they again broke out, the bone of
contention now being the privileges enjoyed by the nobility, more especially their
exclusive right to the higher government appointments and to the possession of
untaxed land. (It is to be noted that the ancient immunity from certain taxes was
now attached to the land as such). Once again a grand social reform was effected,
this time, in 1789, by Gustavus III, who, by abolishing in large measure the
above-mentioned privileges enjoyed by the nobility, secured the acquiescence of
the other Estates to the inauguration of the (short-lived) reign of royal
absolutism. The privileges that still remained to them after that process, the nobility
voluntarily relinquished after the political revolution of 1809.
Thus, the Estates became leveled socially, though they survived as political
nnits until the year 1865, when the time-honoured subdivision of the Riksdag into
four bodies, representing the four Estates, was revoked, and a new, two-chamber
system took its place. The members of these two chambers are elected by
constituencies of qualified voters of all classes unitedly. A titled nobility still exists, it is
true, but as a corporative body it is only concerned with the administration of
certain funds, and since the above date, additions to its ranks have almost ceased. In
1892, moreover, the last relic of the ancient social status, the exemption from
taxes, mentioned above as attaching to the possessors of certain descriptions of
land, was also withdrawn. The rivalry between the Estates, that had prevailed
for centuries, was thus brought to an end and a new epoch was inaugurated.
Strife no longer prevails between »Estates» but between »Classes».
The aspect of affairs in the country of Sweden at the present day is
in many ways unique. Since 1866 the class of peasant proprietors has
had a preponderating voice in politics. In so far the present age might
also be termed »The Peasants’ Epoch of Greatness». Moreover it is to
be noted as a special feature that the peasantry in Sweden bring a
direct influence to bear on politics, and are not represented there by
men chosen from other walks of life. The number of peasants who have
seats in the Swedish Diet, is upwards of 100 — a state of things that
has no parallel, save in Norway and Denmark; in neither of those
countries, however, is the proportion so large. Of the labourers’ class,
though, the great majority are still without a political vote.* If, then,
the Sweden of our times may be said to present, politically, the picture
* During the coming session, in 1902, of the Eiksdag, the Government will bring in
t bill on in extension of the franchise.
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