, 1874-10-21

the present dispute. The Danish Government
demands the execution of the 5th Article of
the Treaty of Prague, which was concluded
between Prussia and Austria in August, 1866,
and is the basis of the present Constitution of
Germany. This Article Is as follows -
His Majesty the Emperor of Austria transfers
ito His Majesty the King of Prussia all the
rights he acquired under the Peace of Vienna
"on the 30th of October, 1864, to the Duchies
" of Holstein and Schleswig, with the under
standing that the people of the Northern
"District of Schleswig, if by free vote they
"express q wish to be united to Denmark,
shall be ceded to Denmark accordingly"
When such a provision is inscribed in the
public law of Europe, it is no wonder that
Sohleswig should be the scene of what the
Germans call a Danish agitation. There it is
in black and white that if the Schleswig Danes
wish their territory to be reunited to Denmark
they shall have their way. 1t is equally clear
that from that time to this the Prussian Gov
ernment has never taken any steps to carry out
the Article in question, and that, in fact, it does
not mean to take any. Iu fact, everybody
in Germany believes that the Government CON-
siders the Article a dead letter. The opinion
of Prince BISMARCK on pt6bISclteS was placed
on record in the matter of Hanover and the
other States annexed to the Prusslan kingdom
in 1866. lie protested the most complete con-
tempt for the ~favourite device of French
Imperialism, and stated boldly that conquest
was a sufficient basis of public authority.
This opinion he has frequently repeated. ana
some time since, in q conversation published
by a Danish patriot who had the privilege of
an interview, the question was treated in the
most practical manner by the Chancellor.
The Press speaks still more frankly. The
fact is Germany holds the Danish districts OF
S~chlesWig, and is resolved to hold them. 10
give them up would. she thinks, be to narrow
the limits of the Empire in Difference to vague
sentiment and imaginary obligations. If there
are people in Schleswig who speak Danish and
think themselves Danes, the next generation
will speak German and be proud of being Ger
mans. The narrow language and nationality
must necessarily be absorbed by the great
German mass. BY holding the Danish district
against the ignorant impotence Of the inhabit-
ants the German Government is only carrying
out the DEGREES of PROVIDENCE. AS for the
Treaty of Prague, it was concluded with Aus
tria, and the right Of demanding its fulhiment
rests with Austria alone. No other State or
nation was a party to it. It does not ~stipulste
any time or method for testing the opinion to
which it refers, nor does it specify what terri
tory is meant by the Northern District of
S~chlesWig. The execution of the Article Is
not only inexpedient, but impracticabFe.
Against such a denial of justice as this the
Danish agitation is directed. The Danes,
although their society is saturated with Ger
man speech, and manners, and habits of
thought, cling to their political independence,
and never did their patriotism burn more
strongly than now that the kingdom is restrict
ed to the islands and the peninsula of Jutland.
Our Danish Correspondent has lately given
an account of the activity of the opposition
carried on by the Danish Press In the disputed
district, and of the repression to which German
authority resorts. The victims find a ready
sympathy at Copenhagen, and at the present
time the anti. German spirit runs as high as on
the morrow Of the war. There have been
rumours of difficulties between the two Govern
ments, and of communications in which the
expulsion of certain Danes from Schleswig
was treated as a matter of national concern.
These are declared on semi-oficial authority
to be inaccurate, but there can be no doubt
that the Danish Government shares to the full
the sentiments of the people, We heartily
wish, though we have little hope, that the
German Government would of its own &C.
cord nropose some measure of cancellation.