The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-03-20
The schleswig-HoIstein War.

1t not tor the finst time that | have addressed
you. bearing upon the relative position of the
European na tons to each other
In your article headed I" The Danish Nation and
the Schleswlg-HOlstein War;" you give a short
outline OF the supposed causes that led to the very
serious difference between the mother country and
her provinces but these causes are different
from the real and genuine ones, and feel myself
called upon to correct you.
Now, Mr.. Editor, allow me to tell you, that
Schleswlg- Holsteln have been, for more than 400
years, provinces OF Denmark, and governed by the
KING OF Denmark, bearing the title of DIXIE of
Schleswig H0lsteln, being represented by a Stadt-
halter, who, until the outbreak of the present war
resided in the city OF Schleswig, IN the so named
duchy. Under King Frederick the first the union
took place, after many battles being fought, in
which, most times, the Schleswigers wereisuccess-
fu; they at latt came to think that they would not
DO better than live peaceably together, and made
relgning house existed In the male line, it should
bear the title of Duke of Schleswig and Holsteln,
and govern these countries, which were also to
eDey the same privileges as Denmark itself, or
hrmed under the famous King Frederick iii, and
has been cons dered valid and binding, as also
agreeable to both parties, up to the last years of the
reign OF the late King Christian VIII, who, in his
ing King Frederick VII. This man, the last of
his line, the last descendant of a line of famous
ancestors, was naturally anxious to extend his
race, and married early; but not getting any Issue
for divorce, obtained it, and married, shortly
after, Meklenburg princess, who also bore him
no children. This all took place during the reign
OF The late king, and attracted the notice of num-
Der OF demsgogues In ScheswIg, Rcndsburg, and
kie; and three years before the death of Christian
VIII, numerous pamphlets appeared IN the duchIes,
arguing the question, who was to govern In the
duchles OF King Christian VIII, and his son Free
derrick Qhe present klng) were to die without male
issue.
This gave offence, and was warmly taken up
BY the Danes, and IN 1S45 King Christian brought
forth his famous "open letter, stating the concern
he felt on such question being thus publicly com.
menfed upon before his DEATH and that of his son,
then beng in the prime Of manhood. He told the
duehles that their rights should not be nfringed,
and gave his opinion that Schleswig could never
be severed from Denmark, and that the possession
OF Holsteln had been guaranteed to his family by
Rus STA and England, in 1888 or 49,
This latter assertion, though an undlsputed fact,
was certainly very foolish to be made public, there
being plenty OF time publication in case 1t was
needed at all, namely--atter his death, and after
his son giving up all hope ofgetng male issue. Asst
was, he now gave those demagogues chance of
being noisy, and they did not neglect this oppor-
and applied at once TO the Diet of Frankfort for
protection of their rights. The subject was in
troduced into the Baden Chamber OF Assembly,
where Mr.. Fred Hecker and other distinguished
men delivered very elaborate opinions on it, as
sertng the rights OF the duchIes, and stirring UP
The flames to an outbreak. In the meanwhile It
must be remembered that the king had granted the
duchles al privileges they asked for. They
Commissioner who attended it was In rank no
higher than any OF the members Acts passed in
those parliaments with the sanction of the COM
missions, were carried into effect. The Ho!.
stelners were allowed to build railroad from AL
tona to Riel, and tue king found great part of
the money; all old statutes were revised, the cri
mina law reformed; In short, no person could find
a compliant which was not attended to. But all
fbIa xvuE nor enff tnv Tax
men. who, IN want OF any other occupation, found
It either profitable, or pleasure, gratifying to
their vanity, 10 renew the old feud. On apply
ing tor free press, and obtaining it, they employ.
ed 1t In publishing threats against government,
and creating the most bitter feeling among the
two countries. The Danish press, instead of
treating their hostllites with contempt, retorted,
and when matters stood thus, the old much es-
teemed king, Christian Will, suddenly died.
Whatever may be the private character of his
son and successor, Frederick VII. land much Is
SAID against II on, dare say, good authority he
commenced his royal career, evinclng DISPOSE
tlon OF nbefaniy towards the Duchles altogether
unprecedepted in the annals OF history His ora nts
were manifold, and well calculated to engender
better feeling amongst his German provincias.
But It was to o, nc purpose Immediately after the
and only, one month after that, on the 9th OF
March following the ioimer Stadthader, HIS own
cousin, Prince Frederick of Schleswig- Sender
burg Augustt nburg, took, at the head of a rep,-
ent OF Jagers, the strong fortress of Readsburg,
by coup de nam, established a provisional go
vernmeDt, and here commenced that dreadful war
which has been wageo ever since.
The writer of this ia Dane by birth, and was in
Denmark on the outbreak OF the war; was even,
for short time, engaged IN it himself and, there
fore, can speak facts relative 10 the disposition Of
the parties now opposed to each other In deadly
suite. TIE Danes Dear Their German Opponents
no spite, but show merely determinations to re-
tam the dominion over those provinces I'll, at
least, by the death Of the present king, without
legally dissolved Nin,-tentns OF ;he population
OF SchleswIg Holsteln felt most comfortable uader