, 1876-06-10
THE SPECTATOR ON THE CRISIS
IN DENMARK.

Affairs in Denmark are in a bad way, and
between an Opposition whose RadlcaIlsm
has a rather deep Socialist background,
and q King and Conservative party who
apparently fancy that unconstitutional
government is the best to prevent revolu-
tions, it is not easy to see how matters
are going to improve. It Is quito plain
that all the fundamental principles Of
Parliamentary administration have been
long since openly set aside by the Conser-
yative party, which is unfortunately
1eginning to be spoken Of as the Kings
party, and it is becoming plain that some
at least of the Opposition leaders are in
clined to meet unconstitutionallsm with
nnconstitutionalism, and the partisanship
Of the Palace with the partisanship
Of the streets. This is the third disco
luton Of the Danish Parliament during
the past couple Of years, and this IS the
third time that q Dissolution has resulted
in a majority for the Left. Nevertheless,
there is still no sign of the King making
trial Of q Left Cabinet to cure or to miti-
gate the existing discontents. at present,
the Conservatives are simply nowhere in
lac AOWCt 14OuSOi vi 4 OlhCLull2s OuJ VI
one hundred and two Deputies, but TWEEN
ty-eight are supporters Of "the Kings
party" Is it not high time, according to
oil constitutional usage, as well as oil
sane reasoning, for the King to change his
partyf II he does not, if Christian TX.
persists in trying to govern IN the teeth
of the Constitution, and by a mere MAORI
ty in the LQndsthjug, or Territorial Senate,
his Majesty may be set down at once as
the arc~h-revolutionist of his little, but
most important kingdom. The situation
of Denmark makes such q contingency as
an attempted revolution subject of much
European interest. It would be impossi-
bic for Prince Bismarck to permit the as
cendancy of q semi-Socialist party on the
very borders Of Germany, at q time when
Socialist agitation already forms one Of
the leading embQrrassments of German
craftsmanship. Yet what would be the
result of i%ntervention2 The question is
hard to answer, but it is significant that,
even without the excuse of "saYing socie-
ty," tho ambition of Berlin is distinctly
recognised as in the highest degree formi-
dable at Copenhagen. Curious as it may
appear, the present discord in Denmark
invites the Prussian danger from both sides.
It is the cry Of the Conservatives, or So
called National Liberals" that increased
ornaments are required against Bismarck
ism. The Radical-Socialist opposition re-
fuse these ornaments, in order to put
pressure, and no unconstitutional pressure
either, on the King to choose his Ministers
from the Majority. The retention Of the
Conservatives in power thus means the
continued denial of means of indispensable
defence against the foreigner, and the
victory of the Opposition might amount to
such a catastrophe as would Immediately
provoke the intervention of that very
foreigner. It is to be hoped, however,
that Denmark will not be obliged to sit
on either horn of this dilemma.
The seriousness with which the country
has set itself to declare its want of conf
dence in the present Government becomes
all the more evident in connection with the
question upon which the Ministry chose
to dissolve the late Folkething. At any
moment, the anxiety which prevails
10 Denmark as to the future designs
OF Prussia would call for notice; but
when even that anxiety 10 avowedly SUBJ