, 1873-01-01
".rH e AVIS"
Stri8lta4ste8, 81, groix.
WEDNESDAY 1sr JANUARY 1878.

On the opening of a New Year, it is but
natural to cast a retrospective glance on
the year that is past not for the purpose
OF giving a full historical account, for that.
would be impossible, as long as we are
still IN the midst Of events but in order to
set it clearly before our minds what the
past year has brought, what e~ndeavours
and desires ha"e been. achieved, what ex-
pectations have been disappointed or at all
events not fulfil ed-perhaps only deferred,
and to collect in one sum the total result
OF the events transpired, and of the efforts
made during the year now gon4 by. It is
but natural also to cast a glance on things
around us, in order, as far as possible, to
examine the programme or Order of Day
for the New Year, whatever name you may
attach to the series of wishes and desires
winch will be connected with the coming
year, and of which not SO very few will
have passed over in inheritance to '73 from
It's predecessor, some even from earlier an
cestOrs
In taking such q glance it will, again, be
but natural to commence with our far re-
mote and much hOnored MothercoUntrv.
The Slesvig question is a vital one to
Denmark and her colonies :: not because it
would be imposslb for her to carry on an
independent existence if the severed por-
tons OF North Slesvig were motto be re-unit-
ed with her; for although that increase
OF souls and Of area would be of great i'm
portance to a sma.l and conf ed country
like Denmark, still it presents no physical
condition for existence; but that question
is q vital one because Prussia's NEGLECT
or unwIIIingness to bring the stipulations
of the Treaty of Prague into execution.
threatens the existence Of the Kingdom of
Denmark, and with it the colonies, direct
ly or Indirectly y. That small number OF
human souls and that small bit of land en-
certainly be no matter of acquisition for
Prussia, especially in her present state
OF grandeur; and the reluctance of those
Slesvigers to subject themselves to Prussian
yoke, would only seem to Increase difficult
ties, and in the long run turn out to be a
source of weakness rather than a source of
gain. Why, then, are they held in that
firm grasp ? Possibly in Difference to the
Prussian Junker-and Militia. y-Party, who
are jealousy watchful of every inch of
land gained by force or strategy; but
there must certainly be a more definite
purpose in retaining North-Sleswig, and
almost all politicians agree in the view
that it must be i,cause Prussia would
spare her. elf the trouble of Recommending
that land Lin in other words, because
the desire of conquest does not end here,
but exte IDS further, and would swallow
up the whole of Denmark and with her
the Colonies must stand or fall, directly
or indirectly. This question has not ad-
vanced further towards solution in the
past year.
In the past year our mothercountry has
been visited by one of tho fearful gales
which have so often proved such ter BILE
scourges to the tropical region, to which
they were almost supposed to be conf ed.
Her peaceable coasts, and other northern
regions, have beco>n tie scenes of the
most heart-rending caIamities, caused by
the tremendous storms and foundations of
November last.
Fortunately our little Island has this wear