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HANDLINGAR TILL GEORGE SCOTTS VERKSAMHET I SVERIGE 283
understood; but it is not so easy for Britons to comprehend why
a government should allow itself to be placed at the mercy of such
disturbing elements. Yet it is an afflictive fact, that the Swedish
gov[ernmen]t has allowed a power to grow up opposite to the
throne, mightier than the throne itself. The object of the
Missionary in dwelling so fully on this part of the subject will appear
when the following extract from the Minerva, this highly
monarchical and conservative paper, is read and pondered. On the 21st
April the following language appears there in the form of a letter
from Stockholm to Sundsvall: »we now reap the fruits of 1838. Yes,
I could almost undertake any day to carry through any measure I
please, if I can only first gain over the Allehanda and the
Aftonblad for my project. I need only then hire a few labourers and
sailors to make a noise an evening or two, and break some windows
and then the authorities will agree to all I desire. Alas! what a
government! Alas what a police! Last summer during the riot at
Count Horn’s, the Governor M-m with hat in hand and almost
with tears prayed the disturbers of the peace to disperse. I
believe many retired commiserating his terrified and supplicating
manner. The deputy Governor K-a it is said keeps up a regular
telegraphic communication with the office of a certain great paper and
arranges all his measures according to the change of the wind there,
and the Police Master B-g sends daily his brother to wait upon
the Editors and sound them. This may be all very well. But the
Aftonblad and Allehanda are too wise to suppress an element
which they can with great advantage let loose for the decision of
great questions, however much they may seem to disapprove of it;
and from this state of things arises the weakness, confusedness,
de-jectedness, I had almost said oldwomanishness on the part of our
authorities and government, which permits every man with some
energy to browbeat them and do whatsoever he pleases.»
That no disturbance would have taken place, but for the
exciting proceedings of the press may be safely averred, how far the
papers referred to had good ground for their accusations may be
judged of after properly regarding the testimonies of known
individuals on the other side.
Thus one clergyman (Lindstedt) writes the Missionary: »only
national vanity can be hurt by the dark picture. The shades are
not extravagant. Luther was carricatured but his cause prevailed.
Charles the 14th is represented in comedy in France, but when in
such a way a shade is sought to be thrown on any one, the
attempt must fail and that shade follow closely its original.» Another
(Sundelin) [in] his first letter to the Missionary: »notwithstanding all
the attempts to make you & your operations hateful in the eyes of
the nation, I have not been able to find anything but the purest
zeal and desire to promote our best interests. A third (Rolin): »I
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