New-York tribune., 1891-05-17
SYBELS GERMAN EMPIRE.
THE sCHLESwIG-HoLSTEIN WAR.

THE FOUNDING OF THE GERMAN EMPIRE BY
WILLIAM /. BY Heinrich Won sybel. Translated
by Marshall Livingston Perrin, PHI D., assisted by
Gamaiiel Bradford, jr Vol. 3. Svo pp vi, 41s'
Thomas Y. CroweIl Co.
The third volume of Sybers history of the found
ing of the German Empire is occupied with the
Schleswig- -Hostein question and the war with
Denmar.- IN which it resulted. This is probably
the first time that the complicated and perplexing
question of the Duchies has been so stated as to
be Ineligible, and even here intelligibllity has
only been reached by. putting out of sight the
whole mass of arguments by which learned pub
icists and jurists and politicians on both sides Tor
years confused the matter and made all Europe
despair of understanding 1t. The historian quotes
the well-known story Of Lord Palmerston, who Is
related TO have said that there never had peen
more than three persons who really comprehended
the Schleswig- -Holstein question. Prince Albert
was one of these, and he was dead. The second
was a German officer, and he had gone mad. The
third was Palmerston himself, and he had forgotten
oil about it, There were, indeed, so many ques-
tions involved, and they were all so obscure that
the general confusion was perfectly natural. some
Of the points rested on the Interpretation of am
biguous phrases or words in treaties and other
documents Of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries
ance with his party interests and leanings. But
there were two broad lines Of issue; one concern
ing the rights and privileges of the Duchies, and
their governmental relations to Denmark; the
other relating to the succession
The rise of the Elder. Danish party-the motto
" which was Denmark to the Eider"-changed
Inc conditions of the dispute and rendered 1t in
initey harder to adjust. For this party pro-
posed no less than the absorption of the Duchies
into Denmark and the simple wlping-out Of all
but Danish laws, customs and language AS the
population of the Duchies was largely German
this movement created intense excitement and OPP
position in tho Duchies, whose political inde-
pendence and individual freedom were at once
attacked in the most headlong and unoompromis-
Ing manifer. In 1850 the German Confederacy
had, after fruitless negotiations, made war upon
Denmark in defence of the Duchies but owing to
internal dissensions and the interference of the
neutral Powers, this war proved barren Of results
In 1852, however O compact was entered into
with Denmark by which the Duohies were prom
ised reformed Constitution and the renewal Of
their ancient privileges. The influence Of the
Tider-Danish party soon caused this compact to be
practically ignored and King Christian VIII, pur
suing, as he thought, his own interests regarding
The succession, encouraged the Eider-Danes until
their aggressive policy became dominant OF the
succession question, and of the Augustenberg
claims. which were to cut a large figure in the
later complication, II is impossible to speak here.
We must confne ourselves to the more important
subject of the policy OF Prussia, as guided and
developed by her great Minister, Bismarck.
In no part of his career is his consummate
statecraft so well exemplifed as in this case. 1t
was situation bristling with difficulties all of
them serious and many formidable The oppres.
sion practised the German inhabitants of the
Duchies by the Elder Danes had already caused
great excitement and Indignation throughout
Germany, and the German people everywhere,
but especially in the Lesser States. were demand
ing prompt and vigorous action In defence of the
rights and liberties of their countrymen. This
agitation stirred up the German Diet which was
always striving to aggrandize either Austria. or
Austria and the Lesser States. at the expense of
Prussia 1t seems evident that at a comparatively
early stage of the quarrel Bismarck began to
perceive the possibility that Schleswig- Hostein
might be detached from Denmark altogether. But
the operation would require the incest and most
careful diplomacy. Austria, in the first place.
must he made firm ally. The Confederate Diet
must be kept in order. The Neutral Powers must
be handled with the utmost prudence, lest they
should interfere. Russia the side, and
France on the other, must be humOred. and Ma
many schemes and his professions and assurances
were regarded with general doubt and uncertainty.
England, 100, was the friend Of Denmark, and
Palmerston disliBing Germany, was employing all
his official influence and his standing with the
press to build up popular impression that Ger
many was in the wrong; that she was. in fact,
trying TO bully and browbeat Denmark because the
latter was weak Power.
Austria would have been hard to hold had
not her Premier Count Rechberg, been a real
friend Of the Berlin Government Fortunately
he believed strongly in the desirability of strong
Prussan alliance, and he was on intimate terms
with Bismarck, who succeeded finally in control
ling the Vienna policy. The fundamental differ
ence between the programmes of the two coun.
tries made this the more difficult The interest
Of Austria was to prevent the aggrandizement OF
Prussia. The interest Of Prussia was to develop
herself at the expense OF Austria. Yet Bismarck
was able to persuade Rechberg that he ought to go
hand in hand with Prussia, and what was still
more fortunate he was able so TO manoeuvre the
influence Of the two great Powers at Frankfort
that the Confederate Diet was prevented from
doing any mischief The story of Bismarclls man.
agement during these years is truly marvellous
record of prescience adroitness, happy choice and
use means, and steady prosecution of the policy
involved. 1t was necessary TO put Denmark in
the wrong In the eyes of all Europe The Elder
Danes took this out Of Bsmarck's hands by urg-
ing the Government on in further and further
violations of 6he Compact oil 1852, until oy the
enactment Of the so-caed November Constitution
that compact as efIectually repudiated as was
the Black Sea Treaty by Russia in 1871. Public
opinion in Germany had by this time reached such
height of excitement that something had to be
done The Confederate Diet was accordingly
called upon to decree a chastisement" against
Denmark This involved the occupation of the
Duchies by small force and the holding of then
until Denmark promised separation. 1t did moi
involve war, though war might very easily grow
out of ii, and in the temper of the Eider-Dansl
party nothing was more probable.
Bismarck had now resolved on the separation
of the Duchies from Denmark, but every step o
TIN around hnd 10 be surveyed in advance will