The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1866-06-21
The European Quarrel.

ropean quarrel, which threatens to bear such
fearful fruit, is that abstruse Schleswig-Hol-
stein controversy, generally considered unin-
telligible and dismissed with laugh since MI.
Punch offered his famous explanation OF IT'S
merits. A late number of the Nation pre-
sents so clear a view of this matter, lhae we
are led to believe it is reasonably mteiilgipie
after all. and worth considering in connection
with the warlike movements Oh the european
Continent. The Nation says
The (mcbies of Schleswig and Holstein are
suh;act to the Salic law, which prohibits a wo
maj, from reigning. In 1860 they were nher-
ted by the King Of Denmark, and they re-
n,ainei in the hands of his descendants until
the time of Frederick VII, who died in.
1853; with him the direct male line termina-
ted, and the duchies legally reverted to the
young Duke OF Augustenburg. In view OF
this contingency, however, a conference OF the
great powers was held in London in 1852, at
which it was resolved for various considera-
tons affecting the peace of Europe, but per-
haps from Difference to Russia as much as any
other, that the duchies should remain annex
ed to the Danish Crown and shouldnot pass
in the legal order of succession.
When the King died in 1858, however, it
was found that the popular party in Germany
were by no means disposed to acquiesce in
the arrangements of the diplomatlsts. Hol-
| stein is German, though governed by Dan
ish prince, and there Was general outcry
| against its annexation 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 execution" was ordered-that is, the
troops of the Confederation were ordered to
turn him out, and put the Duke of Augllsten-
| burg in possession s.s
Up to this point Prussia and Austria had
stood aloof The movement against Denmark
being an essentially popular one they would
have nothing to say to it; but as soon as the
troops began to move, they announced that il
there was to be any fighting done, they would
do it themselves, and would not allow the
smaller states to interfere. by this time Den
mark had yielded Holstein to the federal ar
my; but Prussia now came in, and demanded
Schieswig also, and sent the federal army
about its business Austria then sent troops
to the scene of action also. Denmark prepar-
ed for resistance. Lord Russell swore by the
nine gods that Denmark should not be harm
ed; but the Prussians kept marching. Dup
pei was taken in due course, and then a con-
ference was hastily called in London, in May,
1864; but Prussia refused to suspend opera
tons daring its sittings After fortuight's
wrangling it accomplished nothing, and it had
hardly broken up when Alsen was taken, the
war was over, and Denmark was PROSTATE at
the feet of the invader. A treaty was made
at Vienna in October of the same year, by
which Denmark coded Schleswig, HOlstein
and Lauenburg to Prussia and Austria joint
ly, but Prussia bought out Austria's interest
in Lauenburg for 100000 thalers.
So far all had worked tremendously enough.
But the trouble was now to begin. as the spoil
4 had to be divided. The two powers found
themselves in the duches what the German
lawyers call cond0mini-jo;nt rulers and pro-
prietors. Each ofthem sent down a civil COM
missioner and a military commissioner, and
| these four officers speedily began to QUARREL
| The Austrian commissioner coquetted with
the Duke of Augustenburg, and encouraged
demonstrations of attachment to him ON the
| part OF the inhabitants; the Prussan commits
sioner forbade these demonstrations, and the
pickering became SO serious that an effort was
made to terminate it automatically. The con-
vention of Gastein was accordingly made
in 1865, by which it was arranged that Prus-
STA should hold Schleswig, the harbor of Kie,
and the federal fort Of Rendsburg, and Austria
Holstein. This was, however, simply provi-
sional arrangement; nothing was determined
as to the ultimate disposition ofthe conquered
territory.
LII FEBRUARY OF the present year, BlSmark
who makes no secret OF his belief that Aus
tria has no business in Germany, that she is
not German power, that her proper capital
is Pesth, and her proper mission the civiliza-
ton of the barbarous countries of Eastern
Europe-impudently and brusquely gave her
notice that he wished her to evacuate HOlstein.
She was naturally somewhat taken aback by
this arrogant demand, and declined compli-
ance. About this time some disturbances
broke out among the Jews in bohemia. Aus
tria moved troops up to restore order, and Bis
mark at once cried out that she was ar1ning
She denied it,; he insisted she was, and he at
once began to put the Prussian army on
war footing and sent agents into italy to stir
up the Italians, and it is strongly suspected.
cntcrcu Iffuo secret COHvenuIOn WIFI v lcUOr
Emanuel. On nereeivina the, rnaInnant in
Italy, Austria began to strengthen her forces
in Venetia BismaIk affected to regard this
as another threat and pushed on his prepara-
tons with greater vigor than ever, but offered
to let the Austrian corps in Holstein retire
unmolested. The "notes" which have been
since interchanged are mere formalities.
Prussia is clearly determined on trying con-
clusions with Austria, and the manner in
which the quarrel has been begun and carried
on leaves no room for an honorably exit to
either party, nor does it seem that ANYTHING
except Bismark's or the Kings death could
now avert an appeal to arms.