Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-09-02
ASHvILLE. TENN, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2. 1874.


head, and envelopes her form like amautel
"Some interesting literary documents
have already been published in the form o
an elegant hymn of greeting from America
and the curious Ieelandic programme
These appeared in the old Morse language
but were Immediately followed by artistic
tanslations which reveal love for these
frOzen-barren and volcanic regions thai
would be called true patriotism in the in
| habitants Of SUMMER elimes. A thousand
lashing this baren shore has only con
firmed the people in the simple but earn
est love Of their native land.
'It has been said that Iceland is of no
special use TO the world, that no one was
greatly benefited when it rose out Of the
sea, and that the world would suffer no
great loss if it were 10 sink back into the
waves. And yet, men from the most inn
portant nations of the world were present
at its one thOusanth anniversary, when
Denmark gave il a new constitution.
"The republic was organized in S74 and
passed under the yoke of Norway in 1864.
lt came under the power of Denmark in
1880, but kept the inherent love of liberty.
An improvement in the Government of
Iceland was noticed in 1900, but the an
cient Althing, or House Of Representatives
was not restored until 1874. Inuthe new
Constitution, which has just been adopted,
Iceland has made an important advance in
freedom, as its Government has been
placed under the direction of the Danish
King Christian TX; and as he is the first
of those kings who ever visited the eOun-
try, it is not likely that he will go so far
out of bis way IS TO trouble himself about
its affairs.
''As the people Of Iceland travel on
ponies, and such a thing as a road is al
most unknown, it is said that only three
thousand out of the seventy thousand in
habitants could be present to welcome their
King. However, they received him with
enthusiasm, as they believed that he had
come to remove all oppression and to re-
store their liberties.
''In the kings reception it is remarkable
that there was not a soldier present, and it
is said that in the whole Of Iceland there
are but three policemen, two Of them
having recently been appointed, as the one
who had charge Of the whole country
thought that occasions might possibly arise
i'm which he would need assistance.
"The grand millennial celebration, we
are tod, was held in the plain of Therg-
yalla, the former seat OF justice, where the
people cOmmemOrated the birth of their
nation and received 4 new constitution
from the first Danish king that ever paid
them a visit. IL is thought that Christian
TX. has thus removed the cause Of hatred
that has so long existed between his people
of Denmark and Iceland, thus abOlishing
the heavy taxes which have so long Op-
pressed his distant subjects.
"The Lutheran ChuTch has been adopt
ed by the nation, but every man is allowed
to worship God according TO the dictates
of his own conscience. Then, besides
this, the press has been made free, and lib
eral arrangements are made for public edu-
cation.
"JOhn SigIrisSOn, the leader Of the pop
ular party, has been called the Bismarck of
Iceland, and there can be but little doubt
that, under his management, the progress
Of the nation is assured.
''Near the first Of last month, the mil
lennial celebration of Iceland took place,
and, Of course, great preparations were
made for so important an event. a large
delegation Of the people, and many visitors
from distant countries assembled to well
come the Danish King, Christian TX, to
those northern shores. The religious eX-
ercises were witnessed by some fifteen
hundred persons, and many others waited
outside, as il was impossible for them o
gain admittance to the crowded Cathedral.
"There can be but little doubt that the
music on that OccaSon was impressive, es-
pecially when the well-trained voices joined
in singing the grand millennial hymn, COM
posed by the famous JOchumsOn.
'''O God, Of our land, o, our lands GOdl
We live as trembling strawsj
We die II Thou art not our light, the life
Which lifts Us from the dust.
o be Thou each morning our sweetest life,
And our guide through the trouble Of days,
And at eve be our heavenly Test and our shield,
And our captain through our national path.
Iceland's thousand years,
BE they growing national life, with lessening
And may ii increase on the heavenly kingdoms
path
'.On the plain Of Thingualla the kings
camp was placed, and several speeches
We're made in the presence Of the
assembled multitude, but the speech by
King Christian IX. was particularly i'm
preSSiVe.
If we reflect upon the part that Iceland
is said to have taken in the discovery of
Iearly five hundIed years before
Columbus made his celebrated voyage, we
may be highly entertained in studying the
millennial anniversary of liberty in that
And arguing from the name that
the NOrmans have already made for them
selves in the history Of the past, we may
expect from them, in the future, a career of |
honor and national greatness"
The paper was received and ordered 10
be filed with the archives Of the society.
The society then adjourned until the
next regular meeting.