Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1866-06-28
YNisfeMauea11sA Attieles.
What the European War is About.

What the European War is About.
We may expect to hear now, by every
mail, that nearly million of men are en-.
gagged in hostility in Germany and Italy,
and that the whole of the European CONT
nent is shaken by the shock There has
not been since 1915 promise half so strong,
of general war. 1t wss not difficult, after
all, to "localize" as it is called, the Belgian
Dutch war, or the Austrian Hungarian war,
or the Russian. Turkish war, or the French
Austrian italian war. These we're all
avowedly waged about interests essentially
local, or else were so far removed from the
great centres of European affairs, that any
of the great powers which chose to stand
aloof could do so without difficulty. But
this war, which is on the point of breaking
out, will rage in the very heart of European
civilization, and, though nominally for the
possession of strip Of territory, is in reality
waged to shape the future Of one Of the
great races of the world, and to decide
whether one of the oldest and proudsst of
European empires shall, or shall not, vanish
from the map.
And yet nine out Of every ten of our
readers have probably no idea at all, or a
very vague one, of what 1t is all about
There is a confused notion in the public
mind that Schleswig. Holstein is somehow
or other at the bottom of it, but how it got
to the bottom of it, or why it remains there,
very few indeed know. Most people have
been deferred from following the Schleswig-
Holstein controversy at all, owing to the
general and not unnatural belief that it was
incomprehensible. The efforts of most Eu.
ropesn journals to throw light on the mat.
ter, have made it as clear as mud. Punch
published year or two ago an amusing
burlesqae on the subject, which was proba-
bly, of as much value to most readers, as the
most serious of the previous attempts at
explanation. ...
We do not propose to follow the dispute
through all its ramifcations. An "exbaust-
i've" treatise upon it would fill several VOL.
umes But the gist of it is this: The
Duchies of Schleswig and Holstein are
subject to the Salic law, which prohibits a
woman from reigning In 1850 they we're
inherited by the King of Denmark, and
they remained in the hands of his desoen-
dauts until the time of Frederick VII, who
died in 1868 =; with him the direct male line
terminated, and the Duchies legally revert
ed to the young Duke of Augustenburg.-
In view of this contingency, however, con.
ference of the great powers was held in
London, in 1852, at which it was resolved,
for various considerations, affecting the
peace of Europe, but perhaps from defer
ence to Russia as much as any other, that
the Duchies should remain annexed to the
Danish Crown, and should not pass in the
legal order Of succession.
When the King died in 1868, however,
it was found that the popular party in Ger
many were by no means, disposed to acqui-
esce in the arrangements of the diplomatists.
Holstein is German, and has always been a
member Of the German Confederation,
though governed by Danish Prince, and
there was a general outcry against its an
nexation to Denmark. The clamor grew
louder every day, and at last found formal
expression through the Diet, which ordered
the King of Denmark to take himself out
of Holstein. On his refusal, "federal ex.
ecution" was ordered-that is, the troops
of the Confederation we're ordered to turn
him out, and put the Duke of Augusten-
burg in possession.
Up to this point Prussia and Austria had
stood aloof. The movement against Den
mark being an essentially popular one, they
would have nothing to say to it; but as
soon as the troops began to move, they an
nounced that if there was to be any fighting
done, they would do it themselves, and
would not allow the smaller States to inter-
fere. By this time Denmark had yielded
Holstein to the Federal army; bat Prussia
now came in, and demanded Schleswig also
and sent the Federal army about its bust.
ness. Austria then sent troops to the scene
of action also. Denmark prepared for re-
sistance, Lord Russell swore by the nine
gods that Denmark should not be harmed
but the Prussians kept marching Duppel
was taken in due course, and then a con.
ference was held in London, in May, 1864;
but Prussia refused to suspend operations
during its sittings. After q fortDight's
wrangling it accomplished nothing, and it
had hardly broken up when Alsen was taken
the war was over, and Denmark was pros.
trate at the feet of the invader. A treaty
was made at Vienna in October of the same
year, by which Denmark ceded Schleswig,
Rolstein and Lauenburg to Prussia and
Austria jointly, but Prussia bought out
Austria's interest in Lauenburg for 2,OOO,-
900 thalers.
So far all had worked harmoniously e.
nough. But the trouble was now to begin,
as the spoil had to be divided. The two
powers found themselves in the Ducbies
what the German lawyers call conaomint-
joint rulers and proprietors. Eaca of them
sent down Civil Commissioner and Mil
ltary Com missioner, and these four officers
speedily began to quarrel. The Austrian
Il n..I- e