Polynesian. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu], Hawaii) 1844-1864, 1856-12-27

I . sun .s POHteIy lhqnlrlnS " nat snail we say
for her ~
SeaHdiaaVia---Denmar rlS N md the Duchies.
I Since the commencement of the late waragainst
Russia down TO the present dav public attention
! has mainly concentrated itself on the Danube the
Crin1ea, the Caucasus the Euxine, the Bosphorus,
and the Dardanelles. Onthese districts much his
torical and biographical knowledge has recently
been accumulated, of great value in the discussion
and settlementof questions relating to inernation-
al policy; but for reasons presently 10 be assigned
lit is highly desirable that accurate information
should be circulated concerning the political posi-
ton of Scandinavia. Under that cOmpendious
/ term are included Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and
Finmark. five except Finland, it is only because
fH is Incorporated with Russia Schleswig is
scandinavian duchy dependent on Denmark, as are
i Iloste:n and Lauenburg; bot the two latter
are portions OF the Germanic Confederation.
These distinctions are highly important, thou Oh they
have been confounded bysmany pubhcists. To
speak of Schleswig- Holstein as one and the. same
IS to violate correct notions of ethnography and
represent two inmical races as united in one eom-
nationally yet this error has been frequently
committed. The interests and policy'of Frederick
! VII. as King of Denmark and Duke of S,1.r wig,
are purely Scandinavian :as Duke of HSisI-ifrand
l.auenburg.he is a member of the Germanic Con-
federaton, and in that character is represented in
the Diet of Frankfort. In consequence of these
|
1 barrassmg. Should the Confederation declare war,
he is bound to furnish his contingent. as Duke Of
Holstein. though King of Denmark he may
| have pledged himself to neutrality, or even made
a treaty offensive and defensive with the nation at
tackled by Germany; thus the King and the Duke,
/ that is Denmark and Holstein, may come into col
lison. Sucb is the.anomalous position assigned to
the Danish monarchy by the Treaty of Vienna,
Il6I5.
! In earlier times some of the German Dukes had
ldispHfed the rights of. the Kings of Denmark to
Ethe Duchy Of Schleswig but that controversy was
settled in 1920 under the guarantee of France and
England, when Schleswig was definitely mcorpo-
rated with Denmark According TO Al. Lallerstedt,
Denmark Proper extended southwards to the Elder,
and the German portion of tle kingdom was includ-
ed between the Elder and the Elbe. The Elder,
! from time immemorial, has been recognized as the
true limit of the Scandinavian territory, and beyond
it even Charlemagne never extended his conquests,
nor indeed have any German invaders passed its
banks. Tradition records that Charlemagne hurled
his javein into the river, exclaiming 80 This isthe
/ limit of the Empire" 49,
! Christian Will, King of Denmark, who died on
the Goth of January, 1878, by an imprudent act,
afforded a colorable pretext to the enemies of
scandinavian unity for carrying out their schemes
of dismembe ment. He appointed his brOther-in-
| law, the Prince of Noer, brother to the Duke Of
Augustenburg, Governor of Schleswigs and Hol-
stein, thus giving to themthe semblance of ident-
ty. Those Princes were of a German family, and
entertained the ambitious hope of founding for
themselves an independent State formed Of the two
Duchies: hence arose dangerous intrigues, contIn-
ued 10 the present hour, and fomented by Prussia,
/ long desirois of becoming a naval Power. That
desire, however can never be realized, so long as
she is confined to the Baltic hence she covets the
possession of kiel, an excellent port In Holstein,
as well as Flensburg and Apenrade, admirable
! maritime positions in Scheswig. To compass
,f
the Holsteiners and the disafected in Schleswigi
their agitation against Denmark, TO embitteEan
anita ponism between the Scandinavian and German
ic natonalities-the objectsofPfu being to use
the Princes of Augustenburg as tools, witrthe uit-
mate design of seiziRg- the Duchies for herself
These facts explain the cause of the late war be-
tween Denmark and the Duehes, swhen.the troops
| of the King Of Prussia and of the Confederation
invaded Schleswg and Jutland, under pretence Of
defending Holstein.
-~ On the 25tf August 1S4S, the armistice of Nal
mo was concluded between the King Of Denmark
name of the GeTmanic Confederation, but hostil-
ties were soon resumed. While war was raging
Frederick VII redeemed the pledge he had given
/ on ascending the throne, and granted TO Denmark
constitution founded on uni versal sufffa ge. This
compact between the Crown and the people was
lsigned on the 5thof January, l849 but as Sches-
wig was still in revolt, it was not included, but a
EtioRal document =" All that concerns the govern
Inent of the Duchy of Schleswig tO.be regulated
Fafter peace is established" Onstil' 9Th Of July,
i 1850, the final treaty between Denn rrk and Prus-
sia was signed. Russia next intertered in Scan
dinavian politics BY eprotocol Of Warsaw, dated
5th June, 1851, and although protesting friendship
fer Denmark, supported the views or Austria and
Prussia, as members of the Gernanic Confedera-
ltion The result of these negotiations intrigues
is thus described by Mr. IAllerstedt.
! "The arrangement consisted in the granting of
separate constitutions for the Duchies the plans
chosen by the Cabinets of Vienna and Berlin, and
Hof one constitution common to- all the monarchy,
while Jutland and the Isles preserved the consttu
ton of Ie49. This complicated representation
imagined by diplomacy, was full Of srares. First,
the Incorporation of SchlesV1g into Denmarks for
/ which Frederick VII had with right taken arms,
was condemned. The patriot party of the Elder
lists, Who hadso boldly defended the rights OF Scan
I ldinavian nationality, was defeated m the
second place, the project ofa common constitution
introduced into the heart of the Scandinavan prov
/ inces the German eleme1ts which the Eiderlstssso
fus,Iy misdoubted. They knew too well the en-
icroachino spirit of Germansm, which, ike drop
of OIL spreads where it touches. They saw IN this
fpretended community an attack ON scandinavian
I-a7perpetual war; under the appearance OF trater-
Ini,y.--<Fhe work of German diplomacy was doubly
tueffdious. While the Danes claimed union with
Schleswig, they were sapagated from i by con-
CONSTITUTION apart while they refused any eounect-
! ION with Holsten beyond personal union, they
were ioined TO 1t by commop constitution Fl
| naly, the DANISH party in Schleswig would be mu-
tilated and weakened by che obstinate CATION
Of -the German compact with Hoistein; ochisSwlS
we,keued by lis separation from Jutland and Hol
stein strengthened BY an the influence OF German
ROYALTY. The insurrection had been conquered oy
arms, vet it was made triumphant BY diplomacy
1 The Cabinets of Germany were perndIons' thatot