The sun., 1891-05-24

schleswig- Holstoln was q male nef. with sue
oession only In tho male line: but in Denmark
proper the so-ealled law OF 1860 had In the alb.
sencc Of sons. given daughters title to the
throne II followed that on the death Of the
royal male heir Danish princess or her son
would succeed in Copenhagen. while In Sches-
wig Holsteln tho inheritance would fall to the
younger branch Of the royal house. tho Au-
gustenburGs. Dy such deyolution the Danish
crown would lose more than third OF oil its
territory. This was not the only complication
in much earlier times tho line Of the Dukes Of
Gottorp had branched of from the Danish
royal house. and during many generations
had held territorial supremacy over certain
parts OF Schleswig- Holstein in common with
| the royal line, and over other parts In its own
name and right. After long contention the
| Gottorp claims had been extinRuished by force
In 1890 but they might be revived at any mo-
ment now that tho eldest branch Of the Got
torp family occupied the throne OF Russia. An
attempt to avert Russian interposilion was
made In 1874 through the marriage Of daugh-
ter OF Gar Nicholas to the Hessian Prince
Frederick. the nephew OF Christian VIII. OF
Denmark. and his favored candidate to the
throne. This project. however. came to Moth
ing owing to the premature death Of the young
princess. In the same year Christian VIII.
found his hand forced by the extreme Danish
party. and assented to the declaration carried
through the Danish Diet that the Danish mon
archy formed an invisible State Unbeatable as
a whole. This declaration excited tho most
| strenuous remonstrances on the part OF the
| Holsteinsrs. who made earnest endeavors to
| enlis: public opinion in their favor.
though at first with little success.
the powers OF Europe being disposed to
look with favor on King Christians unifying
Tk,t ~1sv
England. and Austria: it was only In Berlin
that the autonomy Of Holstein found out-
spoken champions. whose views. however.
King Frederick William Nv. had not the cour-
age to adopt. He had not the courage. because
four powers-for Franco had ultimately rallied
to the same side-had pronounced the integ-
rity Of Denmark q matter OF European interest
Even the Frankfort Diet coptented itself with
courtsously expressing an opinion In favor Of
the legislative autonomy OF the duchies and OF
tho principle OF succession asserted in HolJs
stein. The mildness of this utterance called
forth n storm Of indignation on the part OF the
German people which found vent after the
revolution OF 1s4S had for brief time given to
Germany q Parliament. Meanwhile tho duch-
les had risen IA one man. and by March.
1s4S, the question which Prussia had to deal
with was whether 1t would permit the rights
OF the Holsteiners to be forcibly set at
naught by Denmark. In this predica-
ment the Prusslan Government declared
war against the Danish King. and
when the latter's troops entered Schleswig
Gen. Wrangel led the Prussian Guards to the
storm of the "Dannevrke." ami pursued the
flying Danes far into Jutland; while the
Frankfort confederate Imperial authorities
recognized the provincial government estab-
lished in the duchies. ana sont North German
regiments across the Elbe. As timo went on.
however. the influence Of Russia. France. and
Austria working for Denmark weakened tho
Prussian energy for tho struggle. By the truce
OF 1840 Prussia recognized tho admissiblity OF
q separation OF Schleswig from Ho!stein. and
by the peace OF July. 1850. conceded to the
King OF Denmark the right OF requiring the
assistance OF the German Confederation In
restoring his authority in Holstejn. The grief
excited by these evcnts in Germany found
counterpart in tho arrogance aroused In Dem
mark. "The Prusslan dogs bark. but they do
not bite. snid the people In Copenhagen: ard
again. II four Prussians stand up aSninst one
Dane. the Dano has the advantage" Il
",
Whethor tho PrussiNn dogs would bite was
question which was answered when Bismarck
became Primo Minister. In December. 1852,
he wrote: Tho Danish question can DO sct-
tied In n way satisfactory to us only bv war:
on oo,, .,o, for oun a y,r c,n h. rou,,, =, ,,
moment when our position with regard TO the
great powers is favorable for Selling it,"
mh.,,,. "a ri, ;,,ainto,, ,oliav .h,, r..-..,,.
ihanks 10 MS 'ua'cious poiicy TINS inVorao'e
moment was approachinE and the Prnsslan
Ming; as wen as ms ninlstor was aelsrm'ned
10 'ake huvhhtnso ol ~ ~ any FISK III NO.
vember, 1863. tho necessity OF interference be-
came urrent On tho 10th of that month
.,h.tS.,an ~ who dnr,,od throrah ,an,aisa
Hh'is.'"u la "ho o'iA'ou 'n'o"kn .o"aleS
his tito 10 tho crown, was proclaimed at Co.
pentupen ruler of the united Dnnish king.
a., "a or ,h. s,,o dov ,no ,oI- =. H. .I.,
ooIu' anu oh 'no o"mo IVY 'ho no'F 10 tne tlie
Of Augustenburc announced that he should
entor upon his government as Duke OF Schles.
- u.,,,.,, wnu,a ,h. ph,. NJ.