Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1895-05-16
A CRISIS IN ICELAND.

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Phases OF an Interesting struggle for
Home Rule--Rigors of Danish Rulo.
The extraordiry session of the Ice
landic diet, convoked in accordance
with the siXty-iirst clause of the consti-
tuition of 1874 for the purpose of con-
sidering the revision of the constitution
of last year, terminated on the 9th of
August last, the revision scheme hav-
ing been passed by an overwhelming
majority writes correspondent of
The London Times.
In high-worded proclamation Of
November ., last year. the king an
nounced to his "faithful Icelandcrs"
that the proposed revision could re-
ceivo royal sanction under no circum-
stances, It's only effect has been to
consolidate the whole people into ono
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
fervd interest been taken in a general
election as this year, Never before
has tho language of the diet sounded
such clear note of menace rs at this
time, Emigration en- masse and
complete depopulation of the country
IRE limited at as by no means improb-
able contingency should the present
state of political tension endure much
longer and no prospect open to SEN
siblc 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-
ton and distress in various stages Of
acuteness is the general condition Of
the whole land, Knowing that tho
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 tho
expense of the Icclanders themselves.
The commercial treaty with Spain,
which terminated in 1883, and the re-
n"wal of which on the basis of the
most-favored nation clause, was nego-
tiated successfully in the same year,
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 IL might DO
construed as IN acknowledgment on
the part of the government of Denmark
of Iceland as II separate unit in the
Danish monarchy
Then the truck-systcm all over tho
land is exercising the most grinding OPP
preston over the people. loelandic
trade is carried on altogether with Dam
ish capital. At an interest of at least
Is per cent, the impecuuious lcelandiO
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 liquidatcd.
Yielding to the clamor Of tho coun-
try for q bank, the government has just
established one this year, But in order
that it should be powerless to give any
relief to the oppressed trade of tho
country, only 800 600 kroner of incon-
vertiblc paper currency were issued it
is made a 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 Leash
100000 kroner Of specie yearly, and in
wolves ultimately the absolute financial
ruin of the island by such demon.
inaton of currency as the bank has al
its disposal no assistance can be afford.
ed or impetus given TO the trade of thu
country. Starting without any capital
and unable to undertake any money
transactions except in inconvcrtible
paper contracts and negotiations with
foreign banks will become all but i'm.
possible. If it were not for the excel
Icntly conducted Scotch trade with the
island, which is extending every year,
the condition of Iceland would now ba
one of unparalleled misery. Perhaps.
however the worst feature of the stu
alton is the INSCRIPTIONS sellishness
and rare ncapacity Of the higher rulers
of the people, to whom such a thing as
study of national interests seems to ba
something tnfrG dignitatam. Bureaus
cratic superciliousness thrives appar-
emily well in the midst of misery. Tho
feeling in the country under these cir
cumstances is anything but rcassuring.
and what the upshot will be 4 the king
should veto the revised constitution no
one can foretell
Tell Your Wife.