The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1894-11-23
STRANGE IMBROGLIO.
Premier Estrup's Contempt for the
Will of the Danish People.
The Close OF Il Long and Most curious
Political StrugSlc-Characterist
e. of the Bismarck of
Denmark.

The late resignation of Jacob Estrup,
prime minister of Denmark. brings TO
a close one of the longest and most
curious political struggles of the pres
ent century, says the San francisco
Call TO understand it it is necessary
to go back nearly thirty years. In 1865
the present constitution of Denmark
was approved by the monarch. CEder
it the executive power was lodged IN
the hands of the king and the legls-
lative. power in those of the diet, con-
sisting of the landsthing and the
folkesthing. Under this constitution,
in 1875, Jacob Estrup became prime
minister. Five years afterward the
king and his ministry resolved to I'M
dertake system Of Notifications which
were to cost u large sum of money and
to involve heavy taxation. The folkes-
thing-which corresponds to our house
of entatives-refused to assent
to the project, and took that oppor-
tunitr Of insisting on it's right to init
ate financial measures and to require
the Resignation of ministry which
could not command its support. Both
demands were negatived by the king
He claimed the right Of choosing his
ministers without regard to the wishes
of the folkesthing, and he insisted on
framing budget to suit himself
Estrup haughtily refused to resign
office.
The dispute ended in compromise
by which the king yielded everything
except the right to choose his minis
try. But in 1881 the quarrel broke out
afresh with increased virulcncc. -Four
times the monarch dissolved the follzes-
thing. but at each election the lib
erals gained strength. In 1855 vote
Of want of confidence in Estrup was
passed by q large majority, and the
supplies were reduced to a minimum
before they were voted. Estrup went
on administering the government as
though there was no such body as the
foll1esthing in existence. The king ut
terly repud;ated the IDEA that the pco-
pie could dictate his choice OF minis
try. and il retaliation the popular as
sembly threw out every measure which
Estrup proposed.
The agitation gained strength until,
in 1855, the follzcsthing absolutely re-
fused TO vote the budget, and left the
obnoxious Estrup ministry without
means to carry on the government
The king rctorted by dissolying the
dict. Thus freed from popular inter
ference he and his minister's prolnul-
gated q royal law cmbodying list of
appropriations and empowering the
ministry TO collect taxes and make all
necessary expenditures for the c0nGuct
OF government. In other words the
constitution was suspended. This alb
normal condition Of affairs has gone on
ever since. The king and his ministers
frame 4 provisional budget, which is
approved by the landsthinG. or house
CT lords, and is rejected by the folkcs-
thing. 1t is nevertheless put into
force. the taxes are collected and the
government is carried on. Tnc pop
uiar house protests, but it has never
seen its way to enforce its protests by
an appeal to arms. Whenever a com
promise has been proposed the king
bill of indemnity for the unconstitu-
tlonal acts of the past eight years, and
the leaders of the popular party have
always refused to surrender their
right of impeaching the usurping min
iSters
The protracted existence of this curl
Gus anomaly has been due to various
causes. In the first place there is no
one in Denmark who can compare in
energy and persistency with Jacob
Estrup. He is like a rock against
which popular clamor dashes itself
with idle spray. He is not to be moved
by threats or argument. What he has
resolved upon has got to be. And he is
backed up by house of lords-the
landsthing-which merely exists to
register his desires. King Christian is
wcll-meaning, honest man of the
bourbon type. He believes he knows
what is wisest for Denmark far better
than the people do. In political af-
fairs he is like Charles ii. of Eng
land and Charles X. Of France rolled
into one. Personally he is delightful
man, genial, kindly, familiar with let
ters and art, and admired by all who
come into contact with him, He is the
father of Il large family; one of his
sons is lling of Greece, one of his
daughters is empress of Russia, and
another princess OF Wales. 1t may
safely be assumed that the leaders of
the foll1c&tling were notified when
they fell ont with his majesty that be-
fore proceeding to cxtrcmiiies. they
had better consider whether England
and RUSSIA might not feel impclled by
family tics to take hand in the con
trovcrsy. Now at last Estrup has re-
signed and Il new minister will prob-
ably be disposed TO seek his own com
fort by compo. ing his differences with
the people of Denmark.
DUck Farming.
1t is worthy of note that the Chinese
very, very long ago Matched out their