Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1866-07-14
What isIt About?


from the earliest times, became he
reditary in 144S in the House OF
Oldenburg, the first representative
of which was Christian |, who was
placed on tho throne by the Danish
Dict, after the death of the last sci
on of "the princely house ofSlSiold,"
The crown had been hereditary
one in q while for a short time be-
fore this period, but never long at q
time. 1t remained in the House OF
Oldcnburg, however, for about four
centuries. The direct male line OF
that house became extinct at the
death Of the sixteenth king, Frcde-
rick VII, on the 18th November,
1868. In Wow of the probable death
of this king, without direct heirs,
tho great powers of Europe, Eng
land, France, Russia, Prussia, Aus
tria, Sweden and Denmark, "taking
into consideration that the main
tenance of the integrity of the Dan
ish monarchy, as connected with the
general interests Of the balance of
power in Europe, is Of high impor-
tance to the preservation of peace"
signed a treaty at London, May 8,
1852, by the terms of which the sue
cession to the crown Of Denmark
was made over to Prince Christian,
of Schleswig- -Holstein-So -Sonderburg-
Glucksburg, to the exclusion of sew
eral other collateral relations
Prince Christian succeeded to the
Danish throne November 18th, 1893.
The Duchies of Schleswig and
Holstein are governed by the old
Salic law, excluding women from the
throne; and, inasmuch as the male
line by which they were united to
Denmark in the fifteenth century
had become extinct with Frederick
VII, it was held by many that they
to the Duke of Augusten-
berg. The people of Holstcin are
German, and were never we'll af-
fected towards the Danish rule
Being a member of the Germanic
Confederation, the States of which
are bound to assist each other, Hol-
stein applied to the German Diet
for relief from the Danish auth ority.
The people of Schleswig afterwards
made q similar request. The upshot
Of the matter was that the German
Diet ignored the treaty of London,
and ordered the troops Of the Con-
federation to oust Denmark and Sc
cure the Duke of Augustenberg in
the possession of the two Duchies.
This was in March 1864, up to which
time Austria and Prussia, the lead
ing powers of the Confederation,
had remained quiet. Now, however,
they claimed the privilege, as the
greater powers, of doing the fight
ing. Prussia took the lead and Aus
tria co-operated. Denmark called
on England for aid, in view, we sup
pose, of the treaty Of 1852, and also
on the ground of a treaty offensive
and defensive entered into between
the two countries at the time of the
marriage of the Prince of Wales
with Alexandra, daughter of the
reigning King of Denmark, whom
Great Britain had helped to place
on the. throne. Lord John Russell
vengeance if Denmark
should be attacked, and called q con-
ference of powers, which Prussia
refused to attend. The conference
ended in smoke, and Prussia, sus-
tanned by Austria, forced Denmark
to yield not only Schlcswig and Hol-
stein but Lauenberg also TO her de-
mands. At Vienna, in the month
of August, 1864, the plenipotentia-
ries of Denmark, Austria and Prus
sia signed an agreement, in the first
paragraph of which ellis Majesty
the King of Denmark renounces all
his rights to the Duchies of Schles-
wig, Holsteifl and Lauenberg in ia
vor of their Majesties the King of
Prussia and the Emperor Of Austria,
engaging to recognize the arrange
ments their said Majesties shall
make in respect of those Duchies. I"
Those arrangements were the pur-
chase by Prussia of the Austrian in
terest in Lauenberg for two millions
of dollars, and a joint proprietor
ship of SchIeswig-Hol tein, which
led to quarrel and toS treaty ac-
cording to Austria the right to hold
Holstein and Prussia the control of
Schleswig. Soon afterwards, how
ever, Prussia took advantage ofsome
pretext to order her ally out of Hol-
stein. They divided as long as pos
sible, and when the division of the
spoil came to an end, the serious
difficulty commenced. Austria re-
fused to obey the command to quit
and either she made an illeged dis
turbance in Bohemia the pretext for
beginning to arm, or Count Bismark
of Prussia, made Austria's necessi-
ty the ground of such an accusation
and an excuse for beginning to place
Prussia on a war footing, and for
onening negotiations with Italy
As a part of Italy belongs to Aus.
tria. this determined her to increase
her military preparations, and thai
in turn induced Prussia to enlarge
her warlike arrangements; and 50
as usual, one thing has brought on
another until Europe is threatened
with a general and bloody war
Gal. Neics.
L.. D.. a. Cbnrnkee chieffol