The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-12-03

A CRISIS IN ICELAND.
Phases of an Interesting struggle for
Home Rule--1tigors of Danish Rule.

Phases OF an interesting s>tFugSlc ZOE
Home Rule-Rigors of Danish Rule.
The extraordiry session of the Ice
landic diet, ccnvokcd in accordance
with the sixty-Grst claus of the consti-
tuition of 1874 for the purpose of con-
sidcring the revision of the constitution
of last wear terminated on the 9th of
August last. the revision scheme hay
ing been passed by an overwhelming
majority, writes correspondent of
The London Times.
In u high-wordcd proclamation of
November 9, last year, the king an
nonnced to his "faithful Icelanders"
that the proposed revision could re-
ceive royal sanction under no circum-
stances. It's only effect has been to
consolidate the whole people into @ne
compact patriotic party determined
not to rest until Iceland has obtained
what for half century it has been
striving for-namely, full autonomy in
home affairs. Never before has such a
fervid interest been taken in a general
election as this year. Never before
has the language of the diet sounded
such clear note of menace rs at this
time. Emigration en- masse and
complete depopulation of the country
are hinted at rs a by no means improb-
able contingency should the present
state of political tension endure much
longer and no prospect open to SEN
sible solution. The fact is that the
state of the country is hopeless in al
most every direction. The fishing pop
ulation is in an actual state of starva-
tion and distress in various stages of
acuteness is the general condition of
the whole land. Knowing that the
main reason of this is simply misrule.
the government is sending quietly ship
loads of relief to the worst affected
parts of the country. of course, at the
expense of the lcelanders themselves.
The commercial treaty with Spain,
which terminated in 1888, and the re-
newal of which on the basis of the
most-favored nation clause, was nego-
tiated successfully in the same wear,
was thrown out in the Danish rigsdag.
merely by way of retaliation, the re-
suit being that the staple export Of
Iceland. Goldfish, has been practically
excluded from the Spanish market, and
the loss sustained by the poor popula-
ton who earn their living by fishing
has amounted yearly to nearly 100000
kroner. Reasons of state forbid
separate treaty being negotiated ON
behalf of Iceland, because it might be
construed as an acknowledgment on
the part of the government of Denmark
of Iceland as a separate unit in the
Danish monarchy.
Then the truck-system all over the
land is exercising the most grinding OPP
preston over the people. Icelandic
trade is carried on altogether with Dan
ish capital. At an interest of at least
Is per cent, the impecunious Icelandic
trader obtains his loan from the Danish
capitalist, which the formers starving
customers, of course, have to refund
him. The customer sinks deeper and
deeper in debt, and SO serious has this
state of things now become that multi
tudes of debtors have been forced by
the merchants to pledge all their
earthly possessions. and prospective
earnings, moreover, until their debts
shall be lquidated.
Yielding to the clamor of the coun-
try for bank, the government has just
| established one this year. But. in order
that it should be powerless to giTe any
relief to the oppressed trade of the
country, only 100000 kroner of incon-
vertible paper currency were issued, it
is made legal tender. and the conse-
quence is that customs and duties which
hitherto have been paid in specie will
henceforth be paid in paper. and what
specie imports were formerly required
for the payment of customs, ETC., will
now cease. Practically this means
withdrawing from the treasury at least
100000 krdher of specie yearly, and in
wolves ultimately the absolute financial
ruin of the island. BY such denom-
ination of currency as the bank has at
its disposal no assistance can be afford
ed or impetus given to the trade of tho
country. Starting without any capital
and unable to undertake any money
| paper, contracts and negotiations with
foreign banks will become all but inn
| possible. If it We're not for the excel
lcntly conducted Scotch trade with the
1 island. which is extending every year,
the condition of Iceland would now be
one OF unparalleled misery. Perhaps,
/ however, the worst feature of the situ-
alton is the INSCRIPTIONS seltishncss
and rare incapacity of the higher rulers
OF the people. to whom such thing as
study of national interests seems to be
something mira dignttatun,. Bureau
cratic superciiousness thrives appar-
entity well in the midst of misery. The
feeling in the country under these cir
cumstanccs is anything but reassuring.
! I,,, Il 4. ~