The cover image was created by the transcriber and is placed in the public domain.
THE KING’S MIRROR
THE KING’S MIRROR
FOREWORD
Among the many arguments that have recentlybeen advanced in support of imperialistic ambitionsand statesmanship, there is one that justifiesand demands aggression in the interest of humanculture. According to this rather plausible politicalphilosophy, it is the destiny of the smaller statesto be absorbed into the larger and stronger. Theapplication is not to be limited to the so-called“backward races”; it is also extended to the lesserpeoples of Europe. These have, it is held, no realright to an independent existence; only the great,the powerful, and the mighty can claim this privilege,for they alone are able to render the higherforms of service to civilization.
To this theory the history of the Scandinavianlands provides a complete and striking refutation.In the drama of European development the Northerncountries have played important and honorableparts; but except for a brilliant period in Swedishhistory (chiefly during the seventeenth century)they have never weighed heavily in the Continentalbalance. Their geographical situation is unfavorableand their economic resources have never beencomparable to those of the more prominent statesbeyond the Baltic and the North Sea. But whenviiiwe come to the kingdom of intellect the story is atotally different one. The literary annals of Europein the nineteenth century give prominence to aseries of notable Scandinavian writers who not onlyachieved recognition in their own lands but founda plac