The New York herald., 1870-10-22
DENMARK.

Parliament in Scssion-Democrncy and Roy
alty-What the King Said of the Wnr
Crisis-Political Pnrties-The Leaders, the
People and the Franchisc-The schIeswig-
Hostein Questi0n-visit from u French
ssEed.',
COPENHAGEN. Oct. 3, 1870.
On the Sd inst, at noon, the Danish "Rigsdagn
Pariament) was opened by the King in person.
Denmark is a very democratic country and very
little attention Is paid to pomp and mere external
display. The opening Of the Rigsdag may be said TO
be the greatest soemnity In the course OF the year.
but even this Is plain aid simple affair enough.
After attending divine service In the royal
chapel the members assembled In the great hall OF
the second chamber In Christiansberg Castle OF
which wing affords accommodations for the use of
the Rigsdag. The galleries were well filled with
spectators some time before twelve O'CLOCK, little
before which time the royal gallery was entered
by the Queen and Princess Thyra, accompanied by
the Kings brothers, William and John. I'm
medlately after the King ana the Crown Prince
made their appearance in the hail, accompanied
by the Ministers and a suite OF court officials.
The King who was heartily cheered by the members
OF the legislature then assembled the throne, over
which was thrown the royal mantle OF ermine. At
the base Of the steps were placed the three Danish
silver lions, almost In life size. Having received
the manuscript from the President Of the Council
the King proceeded to read his speech which he did
in a very distinct and emphatic manner Repeated
cheers OF '.Live the King' followed the delivery,
after which his Majesty left the han and the cere-
mony was over. No foreign diplomats were present.
The part OF the speech which touches upon the
relation Of Denmark to foreign Powers ran thus
Mighty events have shaken Europe since the last
session of the Rigsdag. The war has approached
coasts also; but by strictly maintaining the neutral
attitude which we assumed in the beginning, we
have succeeded In protecting the country from the
evils OF war. Although 1t is not granted to human
EYES 70 aoresee inc OF .als great connic
this place remains firm that the question which
Still remains unsettled between Denmark and Prus-
sia Will receive such solution that the indepen-
dence OF the Kingdom may be secured for the future
and the amicable relations with cur powerful south
ern nel2hbor be further strengthened.
THE REPRESENTATION.
The Danish Rigsdag consists OF two chambers, of
Which the first is called the Landsthing and the
second the Folkething. The members Of the FoIke-
thing, which body is by the constitution clothed
with the highest legislative power are elected
directly by the people, according to the law OF uni
versaI suffrage. 1t is consequently in It's compo-
nent elements the expression Of the political views
OF the general mass Of voters. The Landsthing on
the contrary, whose province is to represent the
conservative interest Is made up OF different mate.
rial. II partly consists of members chosen for life
by the King, and partly OF a larger number Of men,
bers returned from certain electoral districts which
more particularly represent the interests of the
various classes OF the community. The corporate
towns and the country communes also in
these districts elect certain number OF
delegates according to their population, with
OF the highest taxed voters Of the district mostly
the wealtnier landed proprietors. This body Of
electors vote for their candidates for the Lands
thing according to system OF election which Sc
cures the rights OF the minority, and originally
introduced IN Denmark by q former prime and
plan has Since been proposed in several for
eign countries-in England, for instance by Mr..
this system each Of the three electoral groups If
they work together, Will be able to return certain
number OF candidates thus securing In the Lands
tnlng fair representation or the various classes
and interests OF the country, to w.t. the aristo c.
racy, the town populations and the lesser proprIe
tors OF the soil. TO which are added the members
chosen by the King, who represent the views OF the
various governments in power at the time. Every
phi In order a, !" BECOME @ & iaw must be passed after
sanction OF the King, who has the power OF absolute
veto. motion may he made by member Of the
government as We'll as by members OF both Cham
bers.
PARTIES.
The political parties In Denmark NAV be divided
as IN all other constitutional States, in three main
groups-a conservative .'right,n moderately pro-
gressive centre and more radical cleft" Within
each OF these parties there exist further divisions
OF every political shade and complexion. Tie
right Is chiefly made mp OF the great proprietors
sented IN the Landsthing but are almost unknown
In the Fslkehug, the lower chamber.
The Danish MOBILITY has, properly speaking, only
In late times participated in the political life OF the
nation. Being from the FIRST decidedly opposed 10
liberty, II kept alooi-wtn some very few excep-
tions-irom the Court during the whole reign OF
Frederick VII ns4s-e3l On account of the
Kings morganafic marriage with a giri OF the
people wnom he ennobed under the title Of
Countess banner, and from all political
movements well. AT that time the right was
composed Of the higher ranks OF public function
sries-the bureaucracy-whicn have now almost
disappeared from the Rgsdag, being substituted by
the landed aristocracy. The right, both the former
and the present. has on several occasions Joined tile
iet against the moderate liberal party ana the last
DANISH Ministry, Frus-Frsenborg, came to power by
such coalition, though not single member OF It
was selected from the party OF the left, and with
which IL indeed did not long harmonic. The centre
or the so-called national liberal party. represents
the views generally prevalent In Copenhagen and
the corporate towns, II was this party which, be-
fore fS4S, made itself most conspicuous In the
struggle for liberal institutions and on that account
was particularly obnoxious to the government OF
the absolute kings. 1t came TO power for the first
ume In Is4s and its leaders have ever since up TO
1864 with but short intermissons been at the head OF
government. While the domestic policy Of this party
has been shaped with reference to a steady but
cautious progress in liberal spirit iSs foreign policy
has chiefly been based upon the preservation OF
Danish national independence, and its particular
aim was TO unite the ancient province OF the Grown,
EcbleawtQ bV more intimate bonds to the Kingdom