The Sun.
London, England, 1848-04-19 00:00:00

DENMARK

Mr. DISRAELI then rose to call the attention of the
House to the affairs of Denmark. He fully felt the
great inconvenience of alluding to such matters at the
present moment, and was disposed to leave their super-
intendence to the Minister of State for the Foreign
Department; but there were cases, and Denmark
was one of them, in which it became the duty
of the House not to allow them to pass without
observation. Denmark—in the prosperity of which
this country was deeply interested—formed an excep-
tion to the general rule. It was unnecessary to ,remind
the House of the general character of the country. The
House knew,tbat, in population it did not rank amongst
the first of the *ions of the Continent, bait was one of
those nations whose importance was to be measured by
the character of its people and its geographical position.
Denmark had been inherited by a brave people, and,
from what he bad stated, exercised a peculiar influence
on the fate of the other nations of Europe. Let them
bear in mind that the present Monarch had only
ascended the throne this year, and when he did
so he assented and accorded to the people a free
constitution, and that upon a large and liberal scale.
He wished they would contrast his conduct with
others who had been full of promises to their subjects
which they never intended to fulfil.—(Hear, hear.)
This great boon was made by the King of Denmark at
the commencement of the present year, when there was
but little chance of the movement being made that had
taken place in Europe. The King of Denmark, too, had
then his wish to incorporate all his dominions in the
privileges he had granted of the thorough representation
of his people and a free press. Holstein objected to this,
and the King at once consented to the adoption of any
mode they might wish should be pursued. ADA,' all the
unfortunate discussion that had taken place no one had
chalked out a system of freer institutions than the King
had offered to his subjects when Europe was at peace.
In the midst of all this the French revolution had taken
place, and what had occurred in France was endeavoured
to be imitated in Schleswig, and a Provisional Govern-
ment was attempted to be established there. At the
time a quasi revolution had already taken place at
Berlin, where the Monarch had already granted free in-
stitutions to Prussia. The King of Prussia upon the
events he had alluded to having taken place in Schles-
wig, and Holstein pursued a course which he must de-
signate as most unwarrantable, he had marched his sol-
soldiers to Schleswig and Holstein without
appealing to the Diet. It was, therefore, an
invasion without sanction, and without cause, and
since the Provisional Government of Schleswig had
made decrees fully confirming all that the King of
Prussia had done ; all this he considered most unwar-
rantable towards a monarch who had acted as the King
of Denmark had done. The people in his dominions
supported the King of Denmark to a man. To the
present moment not a single attenspt had been made to
vindicate the course that had been pursued by
Prussia with respect to Denmark ; the only pre-
text for the invasion of Schleswig and Holstein
was the preservation of German nationality, it being
contended that where the German language was spoken
the German flag ought to wave. Such a pretext was
totally without foundation. Germany was the centre of
Europe, and ought not to complain of her territory. It
was to command the Baltic and the mouth of the Elbe
that this plea of nationality had been put forth.
He would not argue the case upon the interests
of England, but it was the interests of England
at
epaecaececoshuloduld bo
not be maintained if the
maintained, and he
con
andt
eEnudreodp
carried out. He might be asked bow England could
principles adopted by Prussia were allowed to be
interfere in this? Why, England was bound to Denmark
ethatht
by treaties, and she
d into should be carried into
ought to take care that the
l experience this
effect. They had awfucof the
oo in country
nsin
taskingita,ti
acquainted with the
neglect of the House of •► inm
that had Been
stipulations
stipulations she had entere
with Foreign Powers in
entered into by this country