Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1864-03-25
Germany and Denmark-The
Question in Dispute.

i Question in Dispute.
' 1t is generally known in this countr
, that war is in progress between German
and Denmark. The question which ha
led to the war is not so generally known
The monarchy of Denmark is compose
of kingdom and three duchies. Th
kingdom consists of the islands and north
ern portion Of the Cimbrain peninsula
, called Jutland. The central portion c
the peninsula is the Duchy of Slesvig
the southern portion the Duehy of HoIs
tein, and on the southeastern frontier o
Holstein lies the small Duchy of Lauen
burg. These territories all belong to the
Danish crown, but are held by differen
titles. Jutland and the islands have al
ways formed part of Denmark +; Sesvie
from the most ancient times has in SOM
way been attached to Denmark, whil
Holstein and Lauenburg were depend
encies Of the Holy Roman Empire. The
boundary between Slesvig and Holstein-
the river Eyder-was also the boundary
between the feudal dependencies of the
German Emperor and the Danish King
Occasionally in ancient times these tive
territories were under the control of Den
mark, but usually they were divided
among various rulers. For instance, the
King of Denmark took portion of each
Of the two Duchies, the Duke of IIols.
tein Gottorp, ancestor of the Emperor OF
Rassia, another part, and the remainder
was divided among other Ducal families.
Subsequently it was found to be for the
interest Of rulers and people that those
subdivisions should cease. The Gottorp
portion of Slesvig was reunited TO Dem
mark in 11l3 under the guarantee Of
England. In 1913 the whole of Hols.
tein became subject to Denmark. When
peace came after the wars of Napoleon,
a re distributions Of territories occurred,
and Denmark, who had been his ally,
was punished by being robbed of Norway,
but as an offset the little Duchy Of
Lauenburg was ndded to her territory
Since that distribution was made, Ger.
many has aspired to become a great naval
power, and to this end her sea-coast re-
qurcs to be considerably extended. Its
present scaboard is limited and is ILL.,
furnished with harbors, aud what harbors
it has, are to considerable extent, conf
manded by the territories of other pow
ers The existence Of Denmark is
serious hindrance to the ambitions pur-
poses of Germany, and if the Duches of
Slesvig and ilolstein could be separated
from Denmark and joinel to Germany,
the monarchy OF Denmark would be u
mere name.
Germany then desires to become a
great naval power, the dismemberment of
Denmark is essential to that end, hence
Germany urges the grievances Of the
IIosteiners and Slesyiger in order that
her purposes may be effected. a COM
mjtee Of the House of Representatives
at Berlin in 1860 reported that
Without these Duchcs an ctf3ctual
protection OF the coasts Of Germany and
OF the North Sea is impossible and the
whole CT Northern Germany remains
open to a hostile attack as long as they
belong to Il power inimical to Germany"
The special plea urged by Germany is
the Shleswrig-llolstein theory that Sles-
Wig and llolstein =" had been united for
four hundred years under the King Duke,
and were Independent Of the rule Of
Denmark bat it is the ola form Of
quarrel betw zen -t+'sss who would con-
quer and those who would not be con-
quered between those who mean to ROB,
and those who object to being robbed.
The alleged grievances in the Duchies,
and the designs OF Germany have ripened
earlier than they might otherwise have
done through the death of Frederic VII,
King Of Denmark, who died without
male issue. \ dispute has arisen as to
the succession. Frederic I, who died in
1888 had two sons Christian and Adolf
Christian had two sons, Frederic and
Hans Adolf had one son, Christian
Albrecht. These three grandsous, OF
Frederic [, were the progenitors Of the
line Of kings. From Frederic came the
royal Danish lise, which by the recent
death OF Frederic VII, is extinct so TAR
as male heirs are concerned. From Hans
came two lines, that Of Augustenburg, the
eldest, and that of Glucksburg, the young
est. From Christian Abrecht came the
House OF llolstein Gottorp, the present
Imperial House of Russia BY the
Danish law female heirs Of Frederic III,
could inherit tne throne when the male
heirs were exhausted. Uuaer the female
succession Prince Frederic Of lfessa was
heir to the throne, bat he Ienouuced his
rights and his sister Mary did the same.
The crown therefore fell to his second
sister Louise, who renounced her rights
in favor of her husband, and Prince
Christian Of Glucksburg is the present
King.
In anticipation of a dispute as to the
succession in the death Of Frederic VII.
the Great Powers decided that his SUE
cessor should be Prince Christian of
Glacksburg, and accordingly rcnun-
Citations were obtained from Prince Fred
eric Of Hessee, from his sister, from the
Emperor of Russia, aud from Duke of
Augustenburg, who had fled the country
on account Of melting a rebellion. The
Treaty, fixing the succession, was drawn
up and signed by the Great Powers at
London. In conformity with tbs Treaty
France, England, Russia aud Sweden
have recognized Prince Christian, but
Austria and Prussia hold back. A son