The New York herald., 1874-08-01
N0rsemen the First Colonists
in America.
THE NEW CONSTITUTION.
The King Of Denmark Joins in
the Solemnities.
The Men and the Women
OF Iceland.

to-day in an isolated but interesting country on
the confines OF the Arctic Ocean. 1t IS the cele-
bration OF the millennium OF the first colonization
OF Iceland, which took place in the year s74 and it
is also the day on which new and liberal consti-
tuition, granted to it by the King Of Denmark goes
into operation. The lceanders are comparatively
few in number, but they are people noted for
their great intelligence, for enterprise as naviga.
tors, and lor having maintained what may be
called pure democracy for many centuries,
despite the efforts OF powerful nelghbors to reduce
| them to subjection. Whether it was that Nature
placed obstacles IN the way OF armies being sent
against them or that their country was not well
| adapted for military operations, or that their
poverty was SO great as not to make
1t an object to conquer them. the Ice
landers have, through all the vicissitudes
OF their history, managed to retain in their
own hands the right or self.gOvernment.
Besides this they have wonderful attachment to
their dreary and nhospitabe island. This, how
ever, has not prevented several hundred Iceland
ers during the past few years emigrating to the
United States and settling In the Northwest, be
followed, no doubt by many more OF their country
men. In this connection 1t has to be mentioned
that recent researches have brought to light
certain evidences to show that nearly five
hundred years before Columbus started on his voy-
age to America Icelandic mariners found their
way to this Continent, and established colonies on
the coast OF New England, which they called Vine
land. Some extracts from old scandinavian
records on this subject are given below. They
have afforded much matter for speculation to per-
interested in the history OF the country before
the Spanish discoveries The Icelanders are. there
fore, to Americans, in many respects, people en-
titled to sympathy. They long upheld republican
institutions in their Arctic homes, and were prob
ably the first to Introduce Christianity and clvili-
zatOn on this Continent though all traces Of both
were lost in course OF time. The King of Denmark,
attended by fleet, is to participate in the festivi-
ties in Iceland that commence to-day.
THE NEW CONSTITUTION
The gift of Christian TX to his lcelandic subjects
on the occasion OF the millennium jubilee is the
new constitution, which is conceived in a very
liberal spirit, having in most or its articles been
closely moulded upon the Danish charter OF 1s49,
one of the freest in Europe. His Danish Majesty
comedies to Iceland. in all matters concerning the
island aud not belonging to imperial Jurisdiction,
| its own independent legislation and admins.
| tration, superintendent by an Assembly-the
Althing-conslstlng OF thirty-six members, thirty
| OF whom are to be elected by popular suffrage on
q very liberal franchise, the remaining six to be
nominated by the King. 1t puts at the mead OF
affairs Minister named by the King and residing
in Copenhagen, but responsible to the Althing and
residing in Iceland and invested with an extended
authority in all matters OF pressing nature or OF
local Importance. Finally, it fully and to the same
extent as the Danish charter guarantees the inde
pendence Of the courts, the freedom OF the indi-
vdual, liberty OF religion, Of the press OF public
meetings. OF invoability Of property, OF selfgOv-
ernment OF the municipalities and the
EQUALITY OF ALL CITIZENS BEFORE THE LAW.
Some dinlculties had to be overcome before this
result was reached. Last year the Althing
expressed q wish that II the King should
be disinclined to grant their full demands
he would by an act Of his royal au-
thority cut the knot by according to the island
a constitution for its internal administration and
legislation, and this IS what now has been done.
The population has been prompt to acknowledge
the vivid feelings OF gratitude which the grant has
awakened IN their hearts, and the sense OF loyal
duty they obeyed in Offering to the King their
thanks for charter giving to the representation
of Iceland iu legislative and financial authority.
Referring to the fact that the grant made this
year, when memory carried them back through the
span OF thousand years to the first settlements
on the coast, the Iceanders proceed to say,
sYour Majesty has thus touched the innermost and
longest vibrating chords OF our hearts, and placed
your royal grace in the, to US, dearest light In
the royal proclamation it Is graciously recorded
]
the home and she heart of national lie that was
destined by the preservation Of the language OF
our forefathers and the historical poetcal COM
memOratiOn OF their deeds, to become OF the high
est Importance to the Scandinavian North. From
the last royal gilt OF liberty this national life may
take fresh start and higher development, and
that will afford us a new guarantee that also for
centuries to come our and our ancestors Ian
guage will be preserved. AS long as 1t survives it
ing than brass, and when in coming days our sons
and the sons of our sons are writing down the
feats and events OF our time, they Will name as
the deed worthiest to be remembered and richest
IN blessings Your Majesty's royal gift OF libertyu
These words no doubt betray strong national
spirit among the poor but patriotic islanders as
distinct from that Of Denmark proper.
THE PAST OF ICELAND.
The authentic history Of Iceland commences at
the dawn OF the ninth century. As early a. 800 A.
d. Dane named Garder was drifted from Scot
land in stormy weather northwards to an unknown
coast He wintered In the country and called it
Gardershom. In s6l Naddod, Norwegian
adventurer, also found hts way there. Seven
years later the country was visited by another
Norwegian, named Flake, who remained year
and called it Island, one OF the earliest records
| OF this isolated territory states that Christian
relics were found by the Norwegians on their
arrival, consisting OF crosses, &C.. which had
been erected previously, 1t is supposed, by Irish
settlers. However this may be, 1t is certain that
the nrst successful colonization OF Iceland was
made under Ingof who was driven into exile on
account Of the crueties OF the Norwegian King
Hagar. Ingolf, with his foster brother, made
iruitess attempt to locate on the southern coast
in $40, and finally succeeded in s74 just 1000 years
| ago, in establishing himself near the place where
Reykjavik, the capital OF the island, now stands
Others followed the two brothers. and that seques-
tered spot became the seat OF religion, learning
and OF an enlightened republic In the thirteenth
| century Iceland came under the sway of Norway
| and allowed considerable degree OF self
government. When Norway was united to Den
| mark, in $780, Iceland shared the same fate The
| inhahifanta lor anna a&~z~~ia