The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-01-26
Al EMARKABLE MARRIAGE

The marriage OF the Duke Of Cumberland
to tho Danish Princess Thyra may seem for the
moment to have no political importance. but 1t
Is In other ways an event OF considerable sig
nilcance. 1t puts the finishing stroke to a bril-
liant and curious chapter OF dynastic history
TO the long list OF royal alliances which in the
course OF fow years have bound tho reignng
House Of Denmark TO tho strongest thrones Of
Europe. Tho anaogies. too. suggested by the
lineage and titles Of the parties to this union
recall some interesting personages and incl
dents in tho modern annals ~ England. Nor Va
II to be overlooked that tho relationships now
contracted bv the heir OF tho House Of Hanover
may we'll tend TO fortfy the Guelphlc party In
north Germany in its stubborn refusal to ac-
duiesce In Prussian coniiscation.
Twenty years have not elapsed since Prince
Christian Of SonderburR- Gl0cksburR was only
known rs an obscure and somewhat needy per-
sOnage whose right to tho Danish succession
had been hotly disputed in tho Parliament at
Copenhagen. and was certain to provoke armed
resistance from tho German portion OF the
nation. His accession TO the throne in 1868
gave the signal Tor the outbreak Of the Schles-
Holstein war and for the mutilation Of
Denmark. At this iuncture. however. the wan
ing dignity. II not ne shattered fortunes OF the
dynasty wore revived by tho Same expodlent
an analogous crisis Of depression and collapse.
Dvested Of his Elbc Duchies. and reegatod TO
the scanty area Of Jutland and the Baltic
Islands. bcset. too. by tho complaints and TX
actions Of a discontinued people. liking Chris
tian and his advisers seem to have pondered
the shrewd policy ascribed to an Austrian
Chancellor
Wars let others pursue; thou lucky Austria, marry
Bella gerant ali; tu felix Austria nubel
A first and signal step had been taken in this
direction before Prince Christians accession
by the union Of his eldest daughter. Alexandra.
to the Prince OF Wales. This was now followed
by tho marriage OF tho second sister. Dagmar
to the heir OF all the Russias and the alliance
with the great northern dynasty was further
cementcd. when n niece OF the present Car bo-
came tho vito OF George. second son OF the
Danish monarch and himself the elected King
Of Greece Again. in 1860. the Crown Prince Of
Denmark welded tho daughter and only child
Of Charles XIV. Of Sweden. thus ccntring In his
person tho hopes OF those who advocate a Sean
dlnavlan Union. And now the third Princess
has entered tho ROYAL family ot~England as
Duchess OF Cumberland. thus Emitting still
moro closely tho ties which already linked the
courts Of London and Copenhagen.
Besides his great but somewhat nebulous ex-
pectations tho husband OF tho Princess Thyra
has some splendid possessions and privileges
OF which Bismarck cannot deprive him. He has
HIS seat in the British House Of Peers az Prince
Of the blood royal nearer to the throne than tho
Duke OF Cambridge. and but for tho unexpected
birth OF n daughter 10 the Duke OF Kent in the
old age Of the latter no would be at this moment
the King OF Great Britain. Indeed. II was "a tho
nearest male descendant Of George Ill that tho
present Duke Of Cumberland's grandfather sue
Of Hanover. whero the Salic law prevailed. In
q word. the disinherited Grown Prince OF
Hanover. whatever may befall him in Germany.
cannot lose the lofty station which belongs to
him in England rs the first Prince OF tho blood
after the descendants OF the present Queen.
For the English people tho title Of Duke Of
Cumberland Ia invested with tho most contra
dctory associations. Neither tho partisnns OF the
Crown nor Of the Parliament can recall II with
unminglcd satisfaction. II WAS once identified
with the most spirited champion OF tho Stuart
cause. and afterward with the most relentless
chastiser Of Jacobite uprising In the seven
teenth century 1t carries back to the fields OF
Naseby and Marston Moor. and In the following
age to the sckening details Of Culloden. 1t was
Prince Rupert the grandson OF James J.. and
first cousin OF King Charles who earned the
title Of Duke Of Cumberland by a vigor and
want OF military sagacty. When Ruperts
grand niece. Anne. came 10 be Queen Of Eng
land. his title. which had lapsed. was conferred
upon her husband George. who was Prince
Of Denmark. OF this taciturn and harm
less parsonage who. unlike his modern
counterpart Prince Albert. never seems to have
conceived the idea OF deriving influence from
his position of Prince Consort. nothing but
the name Is likely 10 survive In English his
tory. Again the title lapsed. and was once more
recreated for the third son Of deorge H. who's,
gallant conduct at Dettingon and Fontenoy
might go far to Offset in the eyes Of English
Liberals his scverltics in the III shands Blu
again tho Dukedom Of Cumberland foil int
allegiance. and was finally revived for the fourth
time IA an appanage for the Nth son of George
III. This son. afterward King Of Hanover
but more unpopular in England than anS
member OF his family, was the grandfather o
the young man who has lately married she
Princess Thyra.
Should the present Duke n Cumberland
choose to content himself with his place at the
| head Of the British pooralso and forego his
| somewhat visionary claims to tho Crown OF
Hanover. he would forthwith secure a forum,
ON level with his rank. The immense ac.
cumulatons Of his father which were condi
tionay conllscatod ana IRE now administered
| by Bismarck under the name OF the Guclphi,
! fund. would unduestionably be restored to him
! Moreover, a frank recognition Of Prussla's a.
QUESTIONS and OF the German empire would
! probably romovo the solo obstacle 10 his sue
! crsSion IN The Duchy ot brunswick as q scmi-
| independent sovereign. hut II would be- con
| trury 10 precedent for the heir VI dynasty
| which has claimed 10 rule 10y tho grace Of tod
! o. formally rcnouuce his proten lions. Nrithel
| the Stuarts. nor tho BourhOn-. nor tho Nasa,
/ have ever done 50. Nor II il likely that the sol
al "A
! found moro tractablc after his marriage with
! lady whose .strrs nre 70 share the thrones U
| l,usSa and Of Great Britain.
ny MIIL FROM CUBI.
| snnn,. ImtnIn,. r..., a.......... Ill.,. A. 1.