, 1874-10-21

Treaty OF Prague, but the whole province
OF Schleswig, would be restored to Dem
mark, while Germany would receive an
ample equivalent in the acquisition of the
Danish fleet. AS modern biologists hold
that the changes which have formerly af-
tected the surface of the earth are still con-
tinuing an uninterrupted progress, curious
students of mythology may observe in its
inception the contemporary formation of
historical legends. Theoretical projects
are embodied in some definite scheme
which is then attributed to any heroic
figure which for the time occupies popular
Imagination. There is no doubt that, with
the addition of the entire Cimbric PENN
sula and the adjacent islands, Germany
would look on the map more complete,
and would be strengthened by the addi-
ton of a hardy maritime population. In
the fabric of q dream it is not necessary to
consider practical inconvenience. The ex-
perience of many States, including both
Denmark and Prussia, shows the disadvan-
tage of annexing alien territories inhabited
by a disaffected population. The Danes
are not without reason hostile TO the Ger
man Empire, and their national sympa-
thies would follow their chronological
affinity with the other Scandinavian coun-
tries. The other part of the scheme, con-
sisting in the restoration of SchlesWig to
Denmark, is still more preposterous. The
German inhabitants Of the southern part
of the province had long borne their Dan.
iah connection with Impotence and, in
default Of the local independence which
they would perhaps have preferred, they
are proud of their position as subjects
both of the Prussian monarchy and Of the
German Empire. A transaction by which
their allegiance would be b%artered for an
external advantage would be ~repugnant
to public opinion both in the province
itself and in the whole of Germany.
The agitation which ended in the sepa-
ration of Schleswig and Holstein from the
Danish monarchy was founded both on
legal and on political grounds. All Ger
mans were with good reason convinced
that Holstein shared the rights Of o con-
federate State, and they had convinced
themselves by plausible arguments that
SchlesWig was inseparably united with
the more thoroughly German Duchy.
The obstinacy of the Danes, toe often en-
couraged by iIl-informed foreign advisers,
alone prevented an equitable settlement of
the dispute; but Germany would never
have a%ssented to any compromise which
would nothave included the undisputed pos
session of Kiel. The port itself was with
in the i~ndisputabIy German territory of
Holstein, but it was used for the naval pur-
poses of the sovereign who was also King
Of Denmark. A part of the bay was in
cluded in the province of Schleswig, which
was claimed as an indeleasible possession
of the Danish Crown, The Northern
coast Of Germany is but i'll supplied with
naval stations and it seemed intoIerab'e
to patriotic jurists that a German harbour
should be occupied by q foreign Power.
In an earlier generation it had been
thought perfectly natural that an indepen-
dent King should also be a prince
of the Roman Empire, or, at later period,
q member of the German Confederation.
The statesmen who framed the Treaty Of
Vienna failed to understand the change
which had passed over national feeling dur
ing the long wars which followed the
French Revolution. 1t was commonly
supposed, except by scholar-like German
politicians, that the objects Of the Conted-
o 4hon cnhetitutoA for the obsolete